HCF: General Operating Support
Funding Amount
Not stated
Deadline
Deadline not published
Grant Type
Foundation
Deadline history & next window
- Cycle
- Annual
- Tracked since
- April 2026
From the program guidelines: “Annual \- These one-year grants are awarded annually through an open, competitive grant cycle.”
Can we apply?
Check your organization against each line. Taken from the listing; confirm with the funder's guidelines.
Other requirements
- _You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's [website](https://hcfdn.org/general-operating-support/)._
- Find detailed information of what we look for in grantee partners [here](https://hcfdn.org/what-we-look-for-in-grantee-partners/)
Not eligible / not funded
- Not eligible: Grantee partners are not eligible for the annual open grant cycle during this partnership.
Overview
General Operating Support Grants
We allocate most of our funding to unrestricted general operating support, allowing us to invest boldly in organizations and community-led efforts that promote an equitable recovery from the pandemic in our service region.
- Annual \- These one-year grants are awarded annually through an open, competitive grant cycle. This funding enables us to respond to emerging health equity strategies and crises, promote ongoing collaboration with current and prospective partners, and gain a deeper understanding of the local health ecosystem to better support health equity efforts in our region.
- Multi-Year - Multi-year grantee partners receive renewable general operating support for a set period to support their leadership efforts toward advancing health equity in our region. Grantee partners are not eligible for the annual open grant cycle during this partnership. In 2021, we launched our first cohort with a 3-year grant commitment. In 2024, based on insights from the first cohort, we launched our second cohort and expanded the grant commitment to 5 years. This change reflects our understanding that more extended funding periods can cultivate more resilient and adaptive organizations.
Our Service Region
Our funding region encompasses a five-mile radius around MacNeal Hospital, covering 27 zip codes that are home to more than 900,000 people in Chicago’s South and West sides and the western suburbs of Cook County. This area features diverse and evolving communities with varying health outcomes and challenges. See a zip code map here.
Eligibility
_You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website._
- Find detailed information of what we look for in grantee partners here.
What Healthy Communities Foundation actually gave
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, 2024
- Grants in 2024
- 118
- Total given
- $9.43M
- Median grant
- $60K
- Range
- $40–$368K
- By dollars: Illinois 100%. Top recipient cities: Chicago, IL; Cicero, IL; Oak Park, IL.
- 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
- 18% of recipients were new grantees, not repeat recipients.
Example grants
Forefront · Chicago, IL
General operating support-strategic initiative
$368K
Erie Neighborhood House · Chicago, IL
General operating support
$220K
Alivio Medical Center · Chicago, IL
General operating support
$220K
Arab American Family Services · Worth, IL
General operating support
$220K
Brighton Park Neighborhood Council · Chicago, IL
General operating support
$220K
Focus Areas & Funding Uses
Fields of Work
- Nonprofits
- Unrestricted nonprofits
- Health disparities
- Operating support
Categories
Browse similar grants by category
Related Grants
Open grants from this funder and similar programs
HCF: Responsive Funding - Urgent Response Grants
Healthy Communities Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
COVID-19 Nonprofit Response Fund
Community Foundation of the Quincy Area
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling (quarterly review)
HCF: Responsive Funding - Community Event Sponsorships
Healthy Communities Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
ArtsFunds Grants - General Operating Support
Oak Park Area Arts Council
Amount
$1,000 minimum for first-time applicants; amount determined through community review process
Deadline
Expected ~February
Based on past cycles
AVF-JOBST Clinical Research Grant
American Venous Forum
Amount
$85,000
Deadline
Expected ~April
Based on past cycles
AVF-BSCI Translational Research Grant
American Venous Forum
Amount
$85,000
Deadline
Expected ~April
Based on past cycles
Ready to apply for HCF: General Operating Support?
Grantable helps you assess fit, draft narratives, and track deadlines — so you can submit stronger applications, faster.
You found HCF: General Operating Support. Now let's win it.