Healthy Communities Foundation
Healthy Communities Foundation is a private foundation based in Riverside, Illinois, that supports health equity and community-led solutions in a 27-zip-code service region covering Chicago and western Cook County suburbs. Its grantmaking centers community context, strengthens the local health ecosystem, and addresses immediate and emerging health needs, particularly for people affected by structural racism and systemic inequities.
Healthy Communities Foundation at a glance
In short: Healthy Communities Foundation gave $9.4M across 118 grants in 2024 (avg $80K), mostly in Illinois. 18% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $9,426,476
- +23.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 118
- +12.4% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $79,885
- +9.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $60,000
- Total assets
- $117,469,116
- -2.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (18 of 101, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Healthy Communities Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s 2024 filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations and directs applicants to submit a letter of intent and, if applicable, a full application through its online grants portal. The 2025 LOI cycle dates listed by the foundation were January 6, 2025, for the portal opening and February 14, 2025, for the LOI deadline; these dates have passed.
- Contact
Application contact: Maria Pesqueira
Mailing address: 19 Riverside Road 6, Riverside, IL 60546-2606
Phone: (708) 443-5674
Email: mpesqueira@hcfdn.org
Website: https://hcfdn.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from Healthy Communities Foundation
HCF: General Operating Support
Healthy Communities Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
HCF: Responsive Funding - Community Event Sponsorships
Healthy Communities Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
HCF: Responsive Funding - Urgent Response Grants
Healthy Communities Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Healthy Communities Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Mujeres Latinas En Accion ($528K across 3 grants). Together the top 10 received $2.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
532 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 210 grants of 532 (39%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated service region covers 27 zip codes in Chicago and the western suburbs of Cook County, within a five-mile radius of MacNeal Hospital. Its 2024 filing reports that all grant dollars went to Illinois recipients. The filing also states that at least 20% of the individuals served by an eligible organization must live in the foundation’s service region.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 118 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Healthy Communities Foundation open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 18 of 101 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $50K; repeat grants $103K. How we count
Medians: $33K first-time, $65K repeat.
- 70% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+15%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 203% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $7.7M (2023) to $9.4M (2024). In 2024 it made 118 grants totaling $9.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Forefront Chicago, IL | General Operating Support-Strategic Initiative | $368,000 |
| Erie Neighborhood House Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $220,250 |
| Alivio Medical Center Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $220,000 |
| Arab American Family Services Worth, IL | General Operating Support | $220,000 |
| Brighton Park Neighborhood Council Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $220,000 |
| Build Inc Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $220,000 |
| Enlace Chicago Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $220,000 |
| Esperanza Health Center Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $220,000 |
| Gads Hill Center Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $220,000 |
| Inner-City Muslim Action Network Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $220,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Healthy Communities Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $117,469,116 | $11,320,765 | $12,573,539 | $9,426,476 | 118 | $12,058,547 | $7,146,800 | $5,930,189 |
| 2023 | $120,153,005 | $2,203,070 | $7,980,823 | $7,652,711 | 105 | $9,865,634 | $1,623,034 | $5,803,442 |
| 2022 | $117,349,306 | $3,452,778 | $8,528,018 | $7,776,310 | 94 | $9,896,979 | $2,027,283 | $6,256,426 |
| 2021 | $142,715,452 | $16,322,321 | $17,833,727 | $8,219,796 | 106 | $9,752,314 | $18,346,688 | $6,573,330 |
| 2020 | $133,429,715 | $3,840,489 | $11,018,689 | $8,656,396 | 109 | — | $3,251,100 | $6,007,852 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Healthy Communities Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to measurably improve the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities in its service area by promoting health equity, quality, and access. Its grantmaking framework focuses on access to quality health care, social determinants of health, and advocacy for policy and systems change. Examples include culturally competent services, community safety, housing and economic well-being, grassroots leadership, and more inclusive policies and institutions.
The foundation says most of its grantmaking has gone to flexible, unrestricted support since 2018. Its website describes general operating support as a way to resource organizations and community-led efforts addressing the root causes of inequitable health outcomes. In 2024, it launched five-year general operating grant partnerships with 32 organizations.
The 2024 grantees illustrate the range of organizations it supports. Erie Neighborhood House describes its work as supporting immigrant and low-income families through education, critical services, and advocacy. Latinos Progresando says it provides information and resources to help people build secure, healthy, and productive lives. Inner-City Muslim Action Network describes its mission as fostering health, wellness, and healing through social-change organizing, arts, and a holistic health center. BUILD says it works with youth facing systemic obstacles through youth development, violence prevention and intervention, and coalition building.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 118 grants totaling $9,426,476. Grant amounts ranged from $40 to $368,000, with a median of $60,000. All reported grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois.
The largest reported grant was $368,000 to Forefront for general operating support and a strategic initiative. Other notable 2024 grants included $220,250 to Erie Neighborhood House and $220,000 each to Alivio Medical Center, Arab American Family Services, Brighton Park Neighborhood Council, BUILD Inc, an individual recipient, Esperanza Health Center, Gads Hill Center, Inner-City Muslim Action Network, Latinos Progresando, and Mujeres Latinas en Accion. The listed purposes were general operating support, except for Forefront’s grant.
The foundation’s website lists general operating support as an open program, with annual one-year grants awarded through an open, competitive cycle and multi-year renewable partnerships. Its responsive funding page says the responsive grants portal is closed until further notice; the foundation’s program information also describes urgent response grants and event sponsorships, with a portal reopening date stated as Fall 2025. The foundation’s 2024 filing says applicants use an online letter of intent and, if applicable, a subsequent full application. It states that eligible applicants are 501(c)(3) organizations, or organizations applying with a fiscal agent, and that at least 20% of the people served must live in the service region. Hospitals and university systems with operating budgets over $10 million may receive only project support for initiatives in the region that demonstrate a strategic partnership with local community partners. The filing lists exclusions including businesses, capital campaigns, government entities, individuals, national organizations not focused on the service region, partisan political activities, religious activities, scholarships, school districts, and individual schools. It generally does not fund more than 10% of an organization’s operating budget; only capital expenditures for materials are considered.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation’s 2024 filing lists Maria Pesqueira as president; Carl Bergetz as chair and board member; Amalia S. Rioja as treasurer and board member; Dr. Yesenia Yepez as vice chair and board member; and Joseph W. McInerney as secretary and board member. Other listed board members are Grace Hou, Elyse Forkosh Cutler, Caronina Grimble, and Dr. Ngozi Ezike. Charles W. Mulaney Jr. is listed as a board member through May 2024.
Healthy Communities Foundation is led by Maria Pesqueira, President on every filing since 2020; 2 of 14 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Maria Pesqueira
President
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$262K (2020) → $293K (2024)
Carl Bergetz
Chair & Board Member
Secretary & Board Member → Vice Chair & Board Member, 2021
Vice Chair & Board Member → Chair & Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elva Gonzalez
Chief Financial Officer
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$203K (2023) → $213K (2024)
Amalia S. Rioja
Treasurer & Board Member
Vice Chair & Board Member → Chair & Board Member, 2021
Chair & Board Member → Treasurer & Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Caronina Grimble
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Charles W. Mulaney Jr.
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Craig Huffman
Treasurer & Board Member
Board Member → Treasurer & Board Member, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elyse Forkosh Cutler
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Grace Hou
Board Member
Chair & Board Member → Board Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joseph W. McInerney
Secretary & Board Member
Treasurer & Board Member → Secretary & Board Member, 2021
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Yesenia Yepez
Vice Chair & Board Member
Board Member → Vice Chair & Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Corliss Garner
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eizabeth Sandoval
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ngozi Ezike
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Anne Marie Murphy PhD (2020–2023) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $293K, to Maria Pesqueira (President). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Healthy Communities Foundation
How much does Healthy Communities Foundation give each year?
Healthy Communities Foundation gave $9.4M across 118 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $7.7M across 105 grants.
What is Healthy Communities Foundation's typical grant size?
Healthy Communities Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $60,000, and its average grant was $79,885, across 118 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Healthy Communities Foundation that year got $50K on average.
Where does Healthy Communities Foundation give grants?
Healthy Communities Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (83 grants), Cicero, IL (6 grants), Oak Park, IL (6 grants) and Maywood, IL (6 grants).
Does Healthy Communities Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Healthy Communities Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (118 of 118) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Healthy Communities Foundation's largest grantees?
Healthy Communities Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Mujeres Latinas En Accion ($527,654 across 3 grants), Forefront ($378,000 across 2 grants) and Alivio Medical Center ($341,284 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 13% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Healthy Communities Foundation?
Healthy Communities Foundation reported $117.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $12.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $5.9M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Healthy Communities Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to measurably improve the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities in its service area by promoting health equity, quality, and access. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Healthy Communities Foundation?
The foundation’s 2024 filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations and directs applicants to submit a letter of intent and, if applicable, a full application through its online grants portal. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Healthy Communities Foundation's EIN?
Healthy Communities Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4324067. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Healthy Communities Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
The Chicago Community Trust
Chicago, IL
The Chicago Community Trust funds eligible nonprofits working to narrow the wealth gap and meet urgent needs, with priorities including economic mobility, education, jobs, homeownership, and community development in metropolitan Chicago and Cook County. Its 2025 grants had a median of $26,500, though amounts varied widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$7.1B
Grants
4,316
Total Given
$1.2B
United Way of Metropolitan Chicago Inc
Chicago, IL
United Way of Metropolitan Chicago funds nonprofits addressing basic needs and community priorities such as health care, housing, food assistance, early learning, workforce development, and legal services across greater Chicago, including targeted support for Chicago’s South and West Sides and south suburbs. In 2025, grants ranged from about $5,000 to $2 million, with a median of $25,000. The stated 2026 Impact Grants process was limited to current partners, and the BridgeBuilders application was closed; no open unsolicited application process is stated.
Assets
$48.8M
Grants
331
Total Given
$22.8M
John D and Catherine T Macarthur Foundation
Chicago, IL
The MacArthur Foundation funds work advancing a more just, verdant, and peaceful world, including climate solutions, criminal justice, journalism, technology, and Chicago. In 2024, its grants had a median of $160,000, though awards ranged widely; it generally does not accept unsolicited requests, with possible exceptions for specific open calls or proposals that meet program guidelines.
Assets
$9.3B
Grants
1,086
Total Given
$356.1M
Polk Bros Foundation Inc
Chicago, IL
Polk Bros Foundation funds community-driven Chicago nonprofits working to close the life expectancy gap, build community wealth, and foster participatory, multiracial democracy. Recent grants ranged from $100 to $250,000, with a median of $25,000. It does not accept unsolicited requests during its transition period, which ends in fall 2026; it currently offers targeted RFPs.
Assets
$334.3M
Grants
568
Total Given
$19.3M
Robert R McCormick Foundation
Chicago, IL
The Robert R. McCormick Foundation funds early childhood education, journalism and government accountability, support for service members and veterans, and community development, with much of its local work focused on Chicago’s South and West Sides, especially Englewood and Little Village. Its 2024 median grant was $50,000, though awards varied widely; funding is by invitation only, and it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.8B
Grants
255
Total Given
$106.1M
Arie and Ida Crown Memorial
Chicago, IL
Arie and Ida Crown Memorial supports education, the environment, health and human services, gun violence prevention, homelessness prevention, and Jewish community and Israel initiatives, with a strong focus on Chicago and giving across the U.S. and internationally. In 2024, its grants ranged from $500 to $3 million, with a median of $55,000. It uses an invitation-only process and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.4B
Grants
897
Total Given
$115.2M
More similar funders
More Funders in Illinois
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Healthy Communities Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/healthy-communities-foundation-morg_c3774097324c4634855ee8b265442bd5
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_364324067_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Healthy Communities Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/healthy-communities-foundation-morg_c3774097324c4634855ee8b265442bd5},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Healthy Communities Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Healthy Communities Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?