Monique Brinson Demery
Chair of the Board

Chair’s Letter

It is an honor to write this, my first letter to our community as The Brinson Foundation Board Chair, and at a time that feels particularly special. 2026 is the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Foundation. It feels like a great time to look back on where we have been and share a vision for where we hope to go.

When my father, Gary Brinson, initially funded The Brinson Foundation in 2001, he had two broad goals. The first was to create opportunities and encourage personal initiative, both in the city of Chicago and beyond, through private philanthropy. As articulated in his Founder’s Statement, the Foundation’s dedication to following best practices and a guiding set of principled beliefs have helped animate that primary goal. The Foundation has granted a total of $208,840,133 since its inception.

My father’s second purpose in starting the Foundation was to bring the family together through giving. The broad reach of early grantmaking was intentional. It reflected the different passions and life experiences of each family member. Now, twenty-five years in, the scope of our grantmaking has become more focused on a set of distinct priority areas. As a family, we’ve uncovered the value of greater alignment across our grantmaking. Thanks to the support of a dedicated and engaged staff, the current portfolio of grantees is larger than ever and, at the same time, the Foundation’s more concentrated priority areas reflect the best of our family’s learned experience and the power of cooperation.

It has been a privilege to be involved with the Foundation since its inception, including a year of working as a program officer alongside my sister, Tally. Twenty-five years on the Board of Directors, watching my father in his role as Founder and Chair, has been a master class in leadership. I especially admire his commitment to thoughtful risk taking and his ability to frame both success and failure as lessons to grow from. I aspire to continue his principled focus, his rational decision making, and his emphasis on clear communication. We are fortunate that he will remain part of the Board as Chairman Emeritus, and I look to our family, the Foundation’s exceptional staff, and the surrounding nonprofit community to make this Board transition as seamless as possible. I could not ask for a better team.

I would be remiss not to acknowledge the current climate of uncertainty and instability that many of our grantees are facing. The sudden reallocation of public resources due to shifting federal priorities poses significant challenges to many of the vital initiatives we champion together. This is an important moment for private philanthropy to respond with compassion and support.

I remain inspired by the extraordinary work of our partners and grantees, and grateful to have the opportunity as Board Chair to continue The Brinson Foundation’s support to them during this crucial time.

Sincerely,

Monique Brinson Demery
Chair of the Board