A History of the Pierce Family Foundation
PFF has published a document outlining our history and what we’ve learned. View below, and download here. If you would like a print version of this document, please use the Contact Us page.
PFF History Document in NCFP Collection
PFF’s history document is now part of the Strategic Lifespan and Limited Life Foundations collection curated by National Center for Family Philanthropy. (Scroll to the “Foundation Case Studies” section.)
PFF sunsetting plans announced
After 15 years as an integral part of Chicago’s philanthropic community, the Pierce Family Foundation will be sunsetting at the end of 2023, as part of a planned transition that was first announced at the end of last year. Trustees Denis and Martha Pierce will remain active as individual supporters of select nonprofits, but final grants …
PFF noted in Chronicle of Philanthropy article
Pierce Family Foundation was lauded for its support of nonprofits’ technology needs in an editorial by Chantal Forster, Executive Director of Technology Association of Grantmakers, that appeared in The Chronicle of Philanthropy on January 31, 2022. In “Grantmakers Should Stop Resisting Nonprofits’ Pleas for Increased Technology Funding,” Foster argues that both better communication within and …
Heather Parish named Field Catalyst
The Center for Community Investment (CCI) at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy is proud to announce the selection of the inaugural cohort of its Field Catalyst program. Among those chosen is Pierce Family Foundation Co-Executive Director Heather Parish. These 13 leaders from across the United States are established practitioners in community investment and development, racial justice, and …
PFF mentioned in Inside Philanthropy
Inside Philanthropy published an article highlighting the problems that nonprofits have with IT, particularly acute during the pandemic. The article profiled Technology Association of Grantmakers (TAG), and their important work in both providing nonprofits with IT resources and encouraging more foundations to support IT needs. Pierce Family Foundation was mentioned as a funder who is …
PFF on Fund the People podcast
Pierce Family Foundation Co-Executive Director Heather Parish recently appeared on Fund the People, a podcast with Rusty Stahl. She is joined by Lisa May Simpson of Forefront, and the two discuss the importance of knowledge sharing in the nonprofit sector. Give it a listen!
Co-ED joins other Black philanthropic leaders in open letter
Co-Executive Director Heather Parish joined other Black philanthropic leaders in an open letter published in Crain’s Chicago Business, How to achieve the just treatment of Blacks – and all people of color. “The 21st-century activists who lead peaceful protests in our city and around the world represent the full spectrum of race, class and gender identity. They …
PFF Participates in National Day of Racial Healing
The Pierce Family Foundation hosted a Racial Healing Circle for grantees on Tuesday, January 21 as part of the National Day of Racial Healing. More than 40 such circles were held during the week at agencies all over Chicago. At PFF’s circle, more than one dozen representatives from our grantees took part and offered a number …
Co-ED appears on national panel
The National Center for Family Philanthropy held its annual Forum on Family Philanthropy in Chicago in October 2019. Pierce Family Foundation Co-Executive Director Heather Parish was a featured speaker at the plenary session, “Everything Old is New Again: Gen Op, Capacity Building, and Multi-Year Grants.” The session argued for a strong investment in nonprofit’s personnel, strategic plans, …
