Advocate Bethany Community Health Fund

Advocate Bethany Community Health Fund

Status: Currently suspended for new applicants as of 2019; only current grantees eligible.

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.