In Times Of Transition, Philanthropy Helps Sustain Programs That Matter — From The Arts To Veterans’ Careers

CHICAGO, IL — As public funding landscapes shift with uncertainty, philanthropic investment continues to play a critical role in preserving programs that foster creativity, connection, and opportunity, especially for communities that too often fall through the cracks.

In Chicago, recent budget cuts led to over 1,400 public school employees being laid off, including more than 400 teachers. Many of those affected were arts educators — highlighting once again how music, theater, and visual arts programs are often treated as expendable, despite their well-documented benefits for student engagement and well-being.

At one high school on Chicago’s West Side, a beloved drama program was eliminated, but the school’s music program was able to continue thanks to sustained philanthropic support from the Tullman Family Office (TFO)’s Let Music Fill My World initiative. While that support offers a meaningful lifeline, it underscores how few programs have access to similar resources, and how many others are being left behind.

“Moments like these reveal the fragility of programs we know to be transformative for students,” said Cayley Tull, President of the Tullman Family Office. “While long-term public investment is essential, philanthropy has the ability — and responsibility — to act as a bridge, sustaining essential work while broader systems reorganize.”

That same philosophy is guiding other TFO-supported efforts as well, including a forthcoming collaboration with leading national partners to sustain and expand a digital advising platform that helps veterans and servicemembers transition into civilian career pathways. Previously operated by a federal agency, the platform is now being revived through philanthropic investment following the conclusion of government support.

The recent Crain’s Chicago Business commentary by philanthropic leaders emphasized that “when nonprofits delivering critical services become vulnerable themselves, the consequences aren’t just confined to the social sector; they cascade across our entire civic and economic landscape.” At TFO, we see this firsthand — and we believe the solution lies in reimagining how communities, funders, and government work together to meet evolving needs.

“Whether it’s a student building essential 21st-century skills through music education or a veteran planning their next professional chapter, we invest in programs that enable our friends and neighbors not just to survive transition, but to thrive through it,” said Tull.

The Tullman Family Office is actively seeking philanthropic partners and allies to help protect access to music and arts education, support veteran career transitions, and uplift community-rooted solutions nationwide.

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ABOUT LET MUSIC FILL MY WORLD: 

“Let Music Fill My World” was born in 2023 when Tullman Family Office (TFO) teamed up with Grammy-nominated artist John Ondrasik of Five For Fighting to empower students at Farragut Career Academy in Chicago. Ondrasik and eight students co-wrote the song, with the students contributing the lyrics, passionately expressing their personal connection to music. Despite evidence showing that music programs boost test scores, reduce disciplinary issues, and improve graduation rates, arts education continues to face cuts in lower-income urban schools, often being the first to go during budget constraints. “Let Music Fill My World” is on a mission to change that, supporting sustainable music funding and changing lives in the process. To learn more, visit: https://www.letmusicfillmyworld.com

ABOUT THE TULLMAN FAMILY OFFICE: 

The Tullman Family Office (TFO) directs the Chicago-based Tullman family’s philanthropy, political advocacy, business investments focused on social impact, and community engagement initiatives. We partner with visionary leaders, grassroots organizations, and creative thinkers to move beyond incremental progress — reimagining resources, accelerating impact, and activating collective solutions that advance equity and opportunity for all. For more information about TFO’s philanthropic work, visit: https://www.tullmanfamilyoffice.org/ 

PUBLICITY CONTACT

marketing@tullmanfamilyoffice.org