Supporting land conservation, artistic vitality, and regional collections for the people of the Chicago region and the Lowcountry of South Carolina.

We seek to sustain and build resilient, vital, engaged, and equitable communities in our two regions by supporting conservation, arts, and collecting organizations.

GDDF News

Explore recent news and stories from the Foundation, grantees, and partners.

For Immediate Release: Survey of 61 small arts organizations in Chicago reveals benefits of virtual programming, impact on plans for 2021

[header images – Silk Road Rising and Cerqua Rivera CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THESE IMAGES AND MORE] CHICAGO [January 26, 2021]—The Chicago-based Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation (the Foundation)—an organization that offers unrestricted grants to 175 small arts organizations in Chicago with budgets under $1…

Art to See (Virtually) – From GDDF Grantees

Grantee photos, clockwise from top left: Theatre Wit (IL), Charleston Jazz Orchestra (SC), Access Contemporary Music (IL), Khecari Dance (IL), Village Rep (SC). [If you have issues with the links below, please visit the Google Doc directly here.]

Inside Philanthropy: Seeking More Diverse Collections, an Arts Funder Looks Beyond Museums and Libraries

Seeking More Diverse Collections, an Arts Funder Looks Beyond Museums and Libraries by Mike Scutari, Inside Philanthropy One of the big themes across arts philanthropy is funders’ efforts to expand grantmaking and engage communities that traditionally weren’t on their radars. This work can take many…