Advocate Bethany Community Health Fund

Geographic Scope: Four targeted communities on Chicago's West Side served by Bethany Hospital:

• Austin
• Garfield Park
• Humboldt Park
• North Lawndale

Grants are awarded exclusively to organizations and activities located within these defined community boundaries.

Mission: Address the unique health needs of the Advocate Bethany Hospital community by funding programs that promote health and wellness and their determinants through nonprofit organizations that share core values of dignity, community investment, family, and spirituality.

Funding Amount

• Approximately $1 million per year for 14 years (2007-2020)
• Total awarded to date: More than $9 million to local organizations
• Individual grant awards range from $10,000 to $45,000 (based on 2018 grantees)

Priority Areas

All proposed programs must address one or more of these priority areas:

1. Diabetes - Age-adjusted death rate in Fund Communities is 73.3% higher than Chicago rate
2. School-Dropout Prevention - School-dropout rate at age 16 in Fund Communities is 20.2-36.5% higher than Chicago rate
3. Violence Prevention - Age-adjusted death rate due to assault (homicide) is 101% higher than Chicago rate
4. Workforce Development - Unemployment rate among civilian population age 16+ is 36-155% higher than Chicago rate

Core Values Required

All programs must incorporate one or more of the following values:

• Individual and Community-Wide Dignity - Respect for diverse cultures, beliefs, physical abilities and age groups
• Investing in Community Institutions - Access to education, training, arts, cultural activities, commerce, human services, recreation and conservation
• Family - Traditional and non-traditional family units as foundation for healthy development
• Faith and Spirituality - Hope, fellowship and values from faith communities and individual spirituality

Community Assets

The Board seeks to award grants to organizations that understand and incorporate community assets into programming, including:

• Buildings suitable for community activities
• Residents willing to serve as community leaders
• Congregations and faith organizations
• Educational institutions
• Health centers and networks of medical providers
• Community organizations and ministerial alliances
• Cultural productions and youth involvement
• Businesses and partnerships

Eligibility

• Current Status (2019+): Only current grantees (those who received awards in 2018) are eligible to apply for funding in 2019 and beyond
• New Applicants: Unfortunately, no new applicants are eligible to apply as of 2019
• Nonprofit organizations that share the Bethany Fund's core values
• Must demonstrate commitment to using community assets to promote positive community development

Additional Resources

• Online grant portal available for current grantees
• Bethany Fund annual reports available
• 10-year anniversary celebration documentation available

Application Process

Current Status: As of 2019, the Letter of Intent (LOI) process for new applicants is suspended for 2019. Only current grantees are eligible to apply.

For Current Grantees (2019):

• Applications available beginning July 31, 2019
• Eligible organizations: Those who received awards in 2018 for implementation in 2019
• Email notification with application instructions will be sent to eligible organizations

For New Applicants:

• Not eligible to apply as of 2019
• The Bethany Fund Board is undergoing strategic planning to reassess grantmaking strategy
• Check website for future updates on reopening to new applicants

Required Materials (Historical)

While specific current application materials are not detailed due to the suspension, organizations should be prepared to provide:

• Demonstration of alignment with one or more priority areas (Diabetes, School-Dropout Prevention, Violence Prevention, Workforce Development)
• Description of how the program incorporates Bethany Fund core values (dignity, community investment, family, spirituality)
• Identification and incorporation of community assets into programming
• Evidence of nonprofit status
• Program location within Bethany Fund Communities boundaries

Access to Online Portal

• Current grantees only can access the online grant portal
• Login credentials available through Advocate Charitable Foundation