Advocate Bethany Community Health Fund

Background: Established in 2006 by Advocate Health Care as part of ongoing commitment to support community organizations building and sustaining healthy communities on Chicago's West Side. The fund was designed to provide approximately $1 million per year for 14 years (2007-2020).

Geographic Scope: Four targeted "Bethany Fund Communities" on Chicago's West Side:

• Austin
• Garfield Park (extended east to Western Avenue to include East Humboldt Park)
• Humboldt Park
• North Lawndale

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

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

Eligibility:

• Nonprofit organizations
• Must share Bethany Fund's core values
• Must demonstrate commitment to using community assets to promote positive community development
• Programs must address one or more priority areas
• Must be located within Bethany Fund Community boundaries

Core Values Required:

• Individual and community-wide dignity
• Investing in and promoting community institutions
• Family (traditional and non-traditional units)
• Faith and spirituality

Priority Areas (programs must address one or more):

1. Diabetes - Age-adjusted death rate 73.3% higher than Chicago rate
2. School-dropout prevention - Dropout rate at age 16 is 20.2-36.5% higher than Chicago rate
3. Violence prevention - Age-adjusted death rate due to assault 101% higher than Chicago rate
4. Workforce development - Unemployment rate 36-155% higher than Chicago rate

Contact Information:

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

Current Status Note: Board undergoing strategic planning as of 2019. LOI process suspended for new applicants for 2019 (implementation in 2020). Only current grantees who received awards in 2018 for 2019 implementation were eligible to apply beginning July 31, 2019.

Application Process

Current Status: New applicant LOI process is suspended as of 2019. Only current grantees (those who received awards in 2018 for 2019 implementation) are eligible to apply.

For Current Grantees:

• Applications became available July 31, 2019
• Eligible organizations received email with application instructions
• Access online grant portal (for current grantees only)

For New Applicants:

• NOT currently eligible to apply (suspended as of 2019)
• Process will resume pending Board strategic planning completion

Application Requirements (when process resumes):

• All programs must address one or more of the four priority areas
• Organizations must identify and incorporate community assets into programming
• Must demonstrate alignment with Bethany Fund's core values
• Must be located within Bethany Fund Community boundaries