Bold Investments
We recognize opportunities outside our general operating support grantmaking that require a bold response and/or a more long-term and strategic investment to address our service region’s health needs.
Since 2018, we have funded strategic health initiatives by invitation, creating opportunities for collaboration and innovative approaches that drive health equity in our communities. Our Bold Investments catalyze long-term systems change by supporting initiatives at every stage of development. Whether helping scale efforts already in motion, exploring solutions to address health gaps, or acting swiftly in times of crisis, we invest in transformative strategies that strengthen community health and well-being.
In 2021, we implemented our Bold Investment strategy to respond to the pandemic’s impact on community, and it has continued to evolve, given the changing health needs of our region. While supporting urgent health needs, this strategy has also allowed us to be an early investor in innovative ideas that positively impact community members’ long-term health and well-being and aim to create change in the systems they interact with and experience daily.
Investment Tiers
Efforts that are in motion; have a racial equity focus; and/or the Foundation has a leadership role.
Plans to move these initiatives forward are in place; are ready for investment and additional capacity.
Efforts that are centered on addressing health gaps in our service region and need additional planning and collaboration.
Initiatives that inform our understanding of our service region; Work that is in formation.
Time-sensitive crises; special activities that promote health and advance local philanthropic efforts.
2024 Grant Recipients
100 Latina Birthdays
INVESTMENT TIER: SCALE
The 100 Latina Birthdays Podcast is an investigative series that explores the health and life outcomes of Latinas in Cook County, reflecting broader health equity issues in the United States. Each episode chronicles the lives of local girls and women as they age from 0-100+, featuring in-depth reporting, birthday celebrations, and major life milestones that illustrate how Latinas’ health is intrinsically tied to the health and well-being of the country. Produced by local BILPOC journalists and researchers, the second season focuses on the impact of health inequities on this growing population, amplifying stories and solutions that build narrative power in the HCF region.
CHW Initiative
INVESTMENT TIER: SCALE
The CHW Initiative, funded in partnership with Community Memorial Foundation, addresses the local need to raise awareness of health and human service resources and connect underserved individuals in west suburban Cook County to these services. The initiative, managed by Health and Medicine Policy Research Group, plays a vital role in scaling CHW efforts in our region through systems-level policies related to reimbursement, educational pathways, and long-term revenue sustainability for organizations. In 2024, the expanded West Suburban Learning Lab was launched, which focuses on training and skill development, with new funding and partnerships with the Coleman Foundation and the Cook County Department of Public Health.
Illinois Community Health Worker Association (ILCHWA)
INVESTMENT TIER: SCALE
The ILCHWA advocates for community health workers/promotores de salud and the diverse communities they serve, representing more than 400 CHW members. As Co-Chair of the Illinois Community Health Worker Advisory Board, ILCHWA is focused on gathering community input and recommendations to inform the future statewide certification and renewal process for CHWs. Seed funding has strengthened ILCHW’s capacity to center and amplify the voice of local CHWs in policy recommendations and implementation.
Illinois Immigrant Funders Collaborative (IFC)
INVESTMENT TIER: SCALE
The IFC’s purpose is to fuel the efforts of community and civic organizations that benefit low-income immigrants, refugees, and asylum-seekers in Illinois. The IFC raises funds from more than 17 local foundations to fund grassroots organizations that address Illinois’ emerging immigrant and refugee needs.
Immigrant Health Academy
INVESTMENT TIER: IMPLEMENTATION
The Immigrant Health Academy, led by ICIRR in collaboration with other HCF grantee partners, trains community-based organizations in health access navigation and advocacy for HCF residents. This initiative aims to enhance health equity across the service region by bridging healthcare access to health advocacy for uninsured and underinsured individuals. The Academy recently launched the Alumni Network, a new initiative offering culturally and linguistically competent training in leadership and self-advocacy for suburban immigrant community members in Cook, Will, DuPage, and Lake counties who have completed the Academy’s initial program.
AMPT: Advancing Nonprofits Chicago
INVESTMENT TIER: IMPLEMENTATION
AMPT partners with smaller, predominantly Black- and Latine-led nonprofits to build organizational resilience and sustainability through an anti-racist approach. By convening a Funders Council, AMPT leverages philanthropy’s power, influence, and resources to share insights, shift practice, and advocate for community context. They offer training, technical assistance, customized capacity plans, coaching, and grants while facilitating cohort-based leadership programs to strengthen peer relationships and foster collaboration within the sector.
New Arrivals Public Safety Net Coordination
INVESTMENT TIER: IMPLEMENTATION
From 2022 through 2024, local and state governments collaborated to support a large influx of new arrivals seeking asylum, requiring extensive coordination and funding for services like housing, transportation, and food. A consulting firm provided strategic and operational support, aiming to transition to sustainable, data-driven approaches to manage the ongoing crisis. This effort focused on reimagining emergency housing infrastructure and involved comprehensive project management.
Illinois Community Power Fund (ILCPF)
INVESTMENT TIER: IMPLEMENTATION
The ILCPF is an emerging network of funders and individual donors that fosters statewide power for racial, gender, environmental, and economic justice. By investing in grassroots leadership in suburban Cook County, rural areas and downstate communities, the ILCPF strengthens organizations that protect and advance health policies that serve all people, especially in communities affected by structural racism and historical disinvestment. Its goal is to create a coordinated strategy that mobilizes hyper-local efforts, resources and leadership to effectively address shared issues.
Mexicans in Chicago Region Report
INVESTMENT TIER: EXPLORATORY
Nonprofit organizations like Latinos Progresando, Erie Neighborhood House, and Mujeres Latinas en Acción, among others, developed a report and learning series to address the gap in leadership representation for the local Mexican population in Chicago. The report covers health and wellness, economic labor, leadership, education, and identity, aiming to highlight components of cultural competency in program design and service delivery. Conducted by UIC Great Cities and co-funded by local foundations, the study includes qualitative data from focus groups and interviews, with findings to inform local public policy and strategic priorities for the Mexican population.
The Latino Neighborhoods Report 2025
INVESTMENT TIER: EXPLORATORY
The Great Cities Insitute will produce The Latino Neighborhoods Report 2025: Issues and Prospects for Chicago, updating the original report seven years after its release. The new report will expand its focus from 12 to 15 neighborhoods and include additional data on population, economics, housing, education, labor, and health, with a focus on environmental justice. It will also include new analyses on gentrification, transportation justice, labor market impacts, the rise of the Latino middle class, political representation, and digital access and equity. This comprehensive update will help stakeholders address key challenges and opportunities in Chicago’s Latine communities.
CAIPP/CLIP/AAPIP
INVESTMENT TIER: RESPONSIVE
HCF supported local philanthropic collaboratives that coordinated efforts to address key issues affecting Black/African American, Latine, and Asian American Pacific Islander communities, including mental health, housing, education, and more. These collaboratives, including affinity groups Chicago African Americans in Philanthropy, Chicago Latines in Philanthropy, and Asian American Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy, bring together BILPOC staff and leadership for professional development, education, and solidarity efforts.
Chicagoland Food Sovereignty Coalition (CFSC)
INVESTMENT TIER: RESPONSIVE
The CFSC is a network of mutual aid groups working to strengthen the local food system in metro Chicago. In January 2024, a transition to a new food vendor created a two-week gap in food access for asylum seekers in shelters. With funding from HCF, Chi-Care, a volunteer-based organization, stepped in to provide culturally affirming, nutrient-dense, affordable meals and delivery services, and restocking essential supplies, including over-the-counter medications.
Chicago Measles Outbreak
INVESTMENT TIER: RESPONSIVE
Over 35,000 migrants arrived in Chicago since 2022, creating challenges in addressing their health, housing, and basic needs. In March 2024, the first measles case in five years was reported, with most of the confirmed cases linked to a large shelter in the city. A grant to New Life Centers supported emergency shelter services, focusing on best practices for immunization outreach to populations lacking access to healthcare or insurance.
Community Health Worker (CHW) Computer Lab
INVESTMENT TIER: RESPONSIVE
HCF funding supported the development of a CHW/Promotora Library, a computer lab for accessing digital resources and additional support for students training to become health promoters and established CHWs. Housed at the Latino Alzheimer’s and Memory Disorders Alliance in Cicero, the computer lab enhances technology access and digital literacy, particularly for Spanish-speaking participants. This initiative can expand the capacity of community health workers to improve health access, advocacy, and navigation of support systems in the HCF region.
Little Village Community Safety
INVESTMENT TIER: RESPONSIVE
Grantee partners located in Little Village/South Lawndale zip codes have deep experience in community violence prevention and are recognized as national leaders in addressing the root causes of violence, such as unemployment and housing insecurity, through culturally responsive interventions. However, street interventionists face significant risks, often witnessing or experiencing gun violence while working to de-escalate conflicts. In response to a recent tragedy that deeply impacted staff and community members, HCF funded support for the urgent mental health and socioeconomic needs of their teams and residents while continuing efforts to prevent retaliatory violence.
Neighborhood Bridge
INVESTMENT TIER: RESPONSIVE
St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy Church (SCSL) cared for asylum seekers at the Ascension and St. Edmund Parishes. Part of their support included twice-weekly meals for hundreds of individuals, clothing, over-the-counter medications, masks, and cleaning supplies to maintain a safe and hygienic environment. The Neighborhood Bridge, a registered 501(c)(3) social ministry outreach led by lay leaders from SCSL, helped connect residents across Austin Boulevard and the broader communities served by SCSL campuses.
PeopleCare, Inc
INVESTMENT TIER: RESPONSIVE
PeopleCare recognizes the importance of seniors in the community and the challenges they face in accessing affordable transportation, which is essential for aging in place. With local transportation services no longer available in certain areas in the HCF service region, more seniors are being referred to PeopleCare for support. Reliable, safe, and free transportation is critical to ensuring older adults can attend medical and therapy appointments, helping to remove barriers to quality healthcare and overall well-being.
Reimagining Mental Health Supports for Migrant Arrivals
INVESTMENT TIER: RESPONSIVE
The “Reimagining Mental Health Supports for Migrant Arrivals” is a three-part emotional wellness curriculum designed to equip non-clinical frontline providers with skills to support migrants experiencing trauma and stress. Delivered in-person and in Spanish, the training focuses on validating emotional responses, offering follow-up support, and enhancing providers’ ability to navigate mental health challenges. Post-training, participants receive ongoing guidance from mental health professionals to support implementation. Evaluations from multiple training cohorts indicate high participant confidence in applying newly acquired skills and resources in their work with migrant communities.
Southwest Collective - Neighbors Plot
INVESTMENT TIER: RESPONSIVE
The Southwest Collective (SWC) expanded programming that promotes mental health and racial solidarity for a diverse southwest side community that has become home to thousands of newly arrived families as they left temporary shelters. With many children from these families enrolling in local schools, the SWC’s initiative aims to strengthen connections between schools, families, mutual aid groups, and long-term residents. The comprehensive health initiative focuses on:
- Mental health first aid for newly arrived families
- Community-based therapy and counseling for children
- Mutual aid resources providing essentials like diapers and formula
- Healing circles to foster racial, ethnic, and intergenerational solidarity
The Pippen Project - All of Our Children’s Advocacy Center (AOCAC)
INVESTMENT TIER: RESPONSIVE
The Pippen Project aims to build a more connected and responsive support system for young people experiencing victimization or mental health crises. The initiative focuses on bringing together key stakeholders from All of Our Children’s Advocacy Center, leaders from Lyons Township High School, and representatives from the Western Springs Police Department to jointly review cases, identify service gaps, and develop collaborative solutions that prioritize trauma-informed and culturally responsive care. Funding will support participant stipends, administrative planning, and essential resources to facilitate these discussions.
Westside Heroin/Opioid Task Force
INVESTMENT TIER: RESPONSIVE
The Westside Heroin/Opioid Task Force brings together community-based organizations, governmental agencies, healthcare providers, and individuals with lived experience to address the opioid crisis and deaths in Chicago’s West Side communities of Austin, East and West Garfield Park, and North Lawndale. A core component of the initiative is a strategic communications plan grounded in public health best practices.
