Advocate Bethany Community Health Fund

Geographic Scope: Four targeted communities on Chicago's West Side:

• Austin
• Garfield Park
• Humboldt Park
• North Lawndale

Background: Established in 2006 as part of Advocate Health Care's ongoing commitment to support existing community organizations. Originally designed to provide approximately $1 million per year for 14 years (2007-2020) to promote health and wellness in the Bethany Fund Communities.

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 Focus:
The Bethany Fund Board has identified four priority areas:

• Diabetes: Age-adjusted death rate due to diabetes in Fund Communities is 73.3% higher than Chicago rate
• School-dropout prevention: School-dropout rate at age 16 in Fund Communities is 20.2-36.5% higher than Chicago rate
• Violence prevention: Age-adjusted death rate due to assault (homicide) in Fund Communities is 101% higher than Chicago rate
• Workforce development: Unemployment rate among civilian population age 16+ in Fund Communities is 36-155% higher than Chicago rate

Eligibility Requirements:

• Nonprofit organizations
• Must demonstrate commitment to using community assets to promote positive community development
• Programs must address one or more of the four priority areas
• Activities must be located within Bethany Fund Community boundaries as defined by City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development

Core Values Expected:

• Individual and community-wide dignity (respect for diverse cultures, beliefs, physical abilities, age groups)
• Investing in and promoting community institutions
• Family (support for traditional and non-traditional family units)
• Faith and spirituality

Community Asset Requirements:
Organizations must identify and incorporate community assets into programming, including:

• Buildings suitable for community activities
• Resident community leaders
• Congregations and faith organizations
• Educational institutions
• Health centers
• Networks of medical providers
• Ministerial alliances
• Businesses and partnerships

Contact Information:

• Ina N. Owens, LCSW, Vice President, Office of Grants and Program Development
  • Email: ina.owens@aah.org
  • Office: 630-929-6928
• Tameeka Christian, Manager, Advocate Bethany Community Health Fund
  • Email: tameeka.christian@aah.org
  • Office: 630-929-6918
• Fax: 630-929-9900
• Address: RML Chicago, 3435 W. Van Buren, Chicago, IL 60624

Note: The Bethany Fund Board is currently undergoing strategic planning to reassess its grantmaking strategy. LOI process for new applicants was suspended in 2019.

Application Process

Current Status: As of 2019, the LOI (Letter of Intent) process for new applicants is suspended. Only current grantees (those who received awards in 2018 for 2019 implementation) are eligible to apply for 2020 funding.

For Current Grantees:

1. Applications became available starting July 31, 2019
2. Eligible organizations received email with instructions and application process details
3. Access online grant portal (for current grantees only)

For New Applicants:
Not eligible to apply as of 2019 due to strategic planning process.

Application Requirements:
While specific application details are not provided in the available content, organizations must:

• Identify and incorporate community assets into proposed programming
• Address one or more of the four priority funding areas
• Demonstrate alignment with Bethany Fund core values
• Ensure activities are located within designated Bethany Fund Community boundaries