Bennett Deborah

Deborah Bennett

Former Senior Program Officer, Polk Bros. Foundation

Deborah E. Bennett most recently served as Senior Program Officer at Polk Bros. Foundation in Chicago, IL. She brings more than 20 years of experience as a leading voice and respected grantmaker among foundation, government, nonprofit, and community leaders in Chicago, across Illinois, and beyond. In addition to overseeing grantmaking to nearly 100 organizations each year in affordable housing, community economic development, safe communities, and workforce development, Deborah identified and developed new grantmaking initiatives focused on helping Chicago recover and rebuild from the COVID-19 pandemic in ways that address persistent racial inequities. She has also been instrumental in championing and helping develop the Foundation’s current work to incorporate a more intentional racial equity focus in its grantmaking. Deborah’s work has been guided by the belief that policies and practices should be informed by the people closest to the issues, that historically disinvested communities of color are full of untapped talent and resources, and that an inclusive economy benefits all. Previously, she held positions at Shorebank Corporation and UIC’s Center for Urban Economic Development. Deborah has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in economics from Stanford and Kent State Universities, respectively. She is currently a Fellow in the University of Chicago Leadership and Society Initiative and sits on the boards of the National Public Housing Museum and Community Desk Chicago.