Advocate Bethany Community Health Fund

Background: Established in 2006 as part of Advocate Health Care's commitment to support community organizations. Originally provided approximately $1 million per year for 14 years (2007-2020). As Advocate Bethany Hospital transitioned to a specialty hospital, the fund continued grant awards through 2020.

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

• Austin
• Garfield Park
• Humboldt Park (including East Humboldt Park, extended to Western Avenue)
• North Lawndale

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

Mission: Address 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.

Focus Areas & Priority Funding Areas:

• Diabetes: Age-adjusted death rate 73.3% higher than Chicago rate
• School Dropout Prevention: Dropout rate at age 16 is 20.2-36.5% higher than Chicago rate
• Violence Prevention: Age-adjusted death rate from assault/homicide 101% higher than Chicago rate
• Workforce Development: Unemployment rate 36-155% higher than Chicago rate

Core Values Required:

• Individual and community-wide dignity
• Investing in and promoting community institutions
• Family (traditional and non-traditional units)
• Faith and spirituality
• Community asset-building and leveraging community resources

Eligibility:

• Nonprofit organizations
• Must demonstrate commitment to using community assets to promote positive community development
• Must address one or more of the four priority areas
• Must incorporate one or more core values
• Must identify and incorporate community assets into programming
• Activities must be located within Bethany Fund Communities boundaries

Contact:

• 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 office: 630-929-6900
• Address: RML Chicago, 3435 W. Van Buren, Chicago, IL 60624

Recent Awards (2018): Over $9 million awarded total to local organizations. 2018 grantees included organizations supporting dropout prevention, violence prevention, diabetes education, and workforce development across all four communities.

Application Process

STATUS: NEW APPLICATIONS SUSPENDED

As of 2019, the LOI (Letter of Intent) process for new applicants is suspended. Only current grantees (organizations that received awards in 2018 for implementation in 2019) are eligible to apply for continued funding.

For Current Grantees Only:

• Applications available beginning July 31 (annually)
• Email notification sent to eligible organizations with application instructions
• Online grant portal available for current grantees

For New Applicants:

• Unfortunately, no new applicants are eligible to apply at this time
• Contact the Advocate Charitable Foundation for updates on when the application process may reopen

Contact for Information

For inquiries about application procedures or future eligibility:

• Ina N. Owens, LCSW: ina.owens@aah.org, 630-929-6928
• Tameeka Christian: tameeka.christian@aah.org, 630-929-6918
• Advocate Charitable Foundation: 630-929-6900