Healthcare Foundation of Northern
The Healthcare Foundation of Northern Lake County (HFNLC) is a private independent foundation established in 2006 following the sale of Saint Therese Medical Center and Victory Memorial Hospital to Community Health Systems. Based in Grayslake, Illinois, the foundation supports efforts to improve access to health services for underserved residents of Lake County, Illinois. The organization is designated as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and has been tax-exempt since September 2007.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$67.2M
+10.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.3M
-1.3% YoY
Grant Count
43
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$53K
-1.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Healthcare Foundation of Northern reported a distributable amount of $3.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to make a healthier Lake County where everyone—regardless of income or circumstance—has equitable access to care and services that enhance quality of life. The guiding philosophy is: "Those who have health, have hope; Those who have hope, have everything."
HFNLC provides financial support for:
- Primary care services, including direct medical, dental, vision, and mental health care
- Medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, and health care equipment
- Community health education
- Postsecondary education scholarship programs that prepare Lake County residents to pursue health-related careers and work in underserved communities
The foundation prioritizes addressing gaps in health services, increasing the capacity of effective organizations and programs, and fostering innovative solutions to persistent healthcare access problems. Approximately 80% of funding directly supports uninsured and underinsured populations.
Grantmaking
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Northern Lake County, Illinois, with emphasis on serving uninsured, underinsured, and medically underserved residents in the region.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue:
- Total assets: $67,247,985 (2024)
- Total revenues: $2,103,998 (2024)
- Total expenses: $3,287,347 (2024)
- Total liabilities: $1,840,000 (2024)
Historical Grantmaking:
- The foundation has invested $38.9 million to date
- Annual grantmaking has increased from $2.9 million (FY 2007-10) to $8.6 million (FY 2022-25)
Staffing:
- 3 employees as of 2024
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $67,247,985 | $60,664,628 | $64,118,835 |
| Revenue | $2,103,998 | $3,504,146 | $4,027,958 |
| Expenses | $3,287,347 | $3,454,479 | $3,150,714 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,906,105 | $2,905,041 | $3,293,230 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,919,843 | $3,334,585 | $3,858,477 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,001,388 | $2,850,554 | $3,256,857 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
161 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Healthcare Foundation of Northern
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include College of Lake County ($139,000), Arden Shore Child and Family ($110,000), Community Youth Network ($110,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ADVOCATE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION DOWNERS GROVE, IL | HEALTHCARE | $36,000 |
| ANTIOCH AREA HEALTH ACCESSIBILITY ANTIOCH, IL | HEALTHCARE | $65,000 |
| ARDEN SHORE CHILD AND FAMILY WAUKEGAN, IL | HEALTHCARE | $110,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF LAKE COUNTY WAUKEGAN, IL | HEALTHCARE | $60,000 |
| CANCER WELLNESS CENTER NORTHBROOK, IL | HEALTHCARE | $3,750 |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES CHICAGO, IL | HEALTHCARE | $52,500 |
| CHICAGO WORKERS COLLABORATIVE WAUKEGAN, IL | HEATHCARE | $40,000 |
| COALITION FOR HEALTHY COMMUNITIES WAUKEGAN, IL | HEALTHCARE | $37,500 |
| COLLEGE OF LAKE COUNTY GRAYSLAKE, IL | HEALTHCARE | $139,000 |
| COMMUNITY YOUTH NETWORK GRAYSLAKE, IL | HEALTHCARE | $110,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Venoncia M. Baté-Ambrus – Executive Director
- Angela Baran – Senior Program Officer
- Meredith Polirer – Associate Business Operations Manager / Office Administrator
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| FRANCES BAXLEY MD | CHAIR | 5 | — |
| LAURA RAMIREZ | VICE CHAIR | 5 | — |
| CASANDRA SLADE | TREASURER | 5 | — |
| MICHAEL DUFFY | SECRETARY | 5 | — |
| CAROL SONNENSCHEIN PHD | BOARD OFC AT | 5 | — |
| MYLEENE SUNGA BOSCH | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MEGAN BRADY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MELISSA CHEN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| IGAEL HAMBURG | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SAM JOHNSON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MAGDALENA MCELROY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JOHN REAKES | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| VENONCIA BATE-AMBRUS | EXECUTIVE DI | 40 | $235,946 |
Contact Information
Address: 1200 University Center Drive, Suite 333, Grayslake, IL 60030
Phone: (847) 377-0525
Website: www.hfnlc.org
Key Contacts:
- Dr. Venoncia M. Baté-Ambrus, Executive Director – Ext. 25
- Angela Baran, Senior Program Officer – Ext. 26
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Healthcare Foundation of Northern fund?
The foundation's mission is to make a healthier Lake County where everyone—regardless of income or circumstance—has equitable access to care and services that enhance quality of life. The guiding philosophy is: "Those who have health, have hope; Those who have hope, have everything." HFNLC provides financial support for: • Primary care services, including direct medical, dental, vision, and mental health care • Medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, and health care equipment • Community health educ…
How do I apply for a grant from Healthcare Foundation of Northern?
**Grant Amounts & Range:** • Typical awards range from $3,750 to $214,618 • General Program and Operating Grants: $20,000 - $100,000 • Two-year grants available for strong programs **Annual Giving:** • 2024: $2,291,900 in total grants • 2023: $2,321,150 in annual giving • 43 awards made in 2023 **Application Process:** • Two application cycles per year (May and November) • Decision time: approximately 3 months **Recent Grant Recipients (2024):** • Community Youth Network: $110,000 • Arden Shore…
Where does Healthcare Foundation of Northern make grants?
Northern Lake County, Illinois, with emphasis on serving uninsured, underinsured, and medically underserved residents in the region.
What size grants does Healthcare Foundation of Northern award?
In 2024, Healthcare Foundation of Northern awarded 43 grants totaling $2.3M — an average of about $53K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Healthcare Foundation of Northern required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Healthcare Foundation of Northern reported a distributable amount of $3.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Healthcare Foundation of Northern's EIN?
Healthcare Foundation of Northern's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-5253008. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Healthcare Foundation of Northern's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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