Advocate Bethany Community Health Fund

Background: Established in 2006 as part of Advocate Health Care's ongoing commitment to support community organizations. Originally designed to provide approximately $1 million per year for 14 years (2007-2020). As Advocate Bethany Hospital transitioned to a specialty hospital, the Fund Board committed to granting $1 million per year through 2020 for local programs.

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

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

Grants are awarded only to organizations and for activities located within these defined community boundaries as established by the City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development.

Mission: Address the unique health needs of the Advocate Bethany Hospital community by funding programs that promote health and wellness and their determinants. Mission carried out by nonprofit organizations that share core values of dignity, community investment, family, and spirituality, and demonstrate commitment to using community assets for positive community development.

Eligibility: Nonprofit organizations that:

• Serve one of the four Bethany Fund Communities
• Share the Bethany Fund's core values (dignity, community investment, family, spirituality)
• Demonstrate commitment to using community assets to promote positive community development
• Address one or more of the four priority areas

Current Status (as of 2026): New applicant LOI process has been suspended since 2019. Only current grantees (organizations who received awards in 2018 for 2019 implementation) are eligible to apply for continued funding.

Core Values

• Individual and Community-Wide Dignity: Respect for diverse cultures, beliefs, physical abilities, and age groups
• Community Investment: Support for institutions providing education, training, arts, cultural activities, commerce, human services, recreation, and conservation
• Family: Traditional and non-traditional family units as nurturing environments
• Faith and Spirituality: Hope, fellowship, and values from faith communities and individual spirituality

Priority Funding Areas

All proposed programs must address one or more of these:

• Diabetes: Age-adjusted death rate due to diabetes mellitus 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 civilians age 16+ in Fund Communities is 36-155% higher than Chicago rate

Community Assets

The Bethany Fund Board seeks organizations that understand importance of recognizing, using, and strengthening community assets, including:

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

Application Process

Current Status: New applicant LOI (Letter of Intent) process is SUSPENDED as of 2019 for implementation support from January 1-December 31, 2020 and beyond.

For Current Grantees Only:

• Applications for current grantees (those who received awards in 2018 for implementation in 2019) will be available beginning July 31 annually
• Eligible current grantees will receive email with detailed application process instructions and requirements

For New Applicants:

• Unfortunately, no new applicants are eligible to apply for grants from the Bethany Fund as of 2019

Online Grant Portal

• Current grantees may access online grant portal for application submissions
• Portal access restricted to organizations with prior award history

Information Required

Historic applications required:

• Organization description and mission
• Demonstration of how program addresses one or more priority areas
• Identification and incorporation of community assets into programming
• Evidence of shared core values (dignity, community investment, family, faith/spirituality)
• Program location(s) within defined Bethany Fund Communities
• Implementation timeline and budget