Grantmakers in Health named our Director of Programs, Nora Garcia, as a Terrance Keenan Institute for Emerging Leaders in Health Philanthropy Fellow! Nora will join 17 other health philanthropy emerging leaders from throughout the country. She will have the opportunity to connect with established figures in the field and reflect

Many nonprofit organizations, including our grantee partners, have been exploring loans from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). There are several questions about the loan forgiveness process and how it will work. In partnership with Fiscal Management Associates and IFF, we would like to share some nonprofit-focused PPP resources that can help

We have seen the unfortunate and disproportionate effect of COVID-19 in our region and are bracing ourselves for its continued impact on our healthcare system, social service sector and individuals and families in our communities. Guided by our values and mission focused on health equity, access and quality, the HCF

As has been our grantmaking approach these past two years and especially during this pandemic, we remain committed to providing the majority of our funding towards general operating support. We firmly believe in strengthening our partners from within so their energy and focus can be on serving and protecting our communities during this pandemic and

Guided by our values and mission focused on health equity, access and quality, we are proud to announce the HCF COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund to provide emergency funding to nonprofit organizations that are directly addressing critical health needs in this crisis.  This pandemic has revealed the gaps and inequities in

Dear Partners and Friends, As the Chicago region grapples with unprecedented challenges presented by COVID-19, we are grateful for your ongoing work to provide essential public services, tackle inequities, and create communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. We can’t imagine a more difficult time for Chicago area nonprofits.

Community Memorial Foundation, Healthy Communities Foundation, Michael Reese Health Trust and Westlake Health Foundation are focused on measurably improving the health and well-being of individuals and families living in Chicago and the western suburbs. As such, we share a mutual concern of what an advanced COVID-19 outbreak can look like

Our President, Maria Pesqueira, was appointed General Trustee of The Lincoln Academy of Illinois by Governor JB Pritzker. Established in 1964, the Lincoln Academy annually honors distinguished Illinoisans for public service and professional achievements with the Order of Lincoln, our State’s highest honor. As General Trustee, Maria will play a

The leading type of cancer in Illinois is breast cancer in women across all racial and ethnic groups and is the second leading cause of death for women. National research shows racial disparities in diagnosis and survival rates, especially among low-income communities that lack access to health services. Locally, this

Domestic violence can affect anyone regardless of race, gender, age, sexual orientation or socioeconomic background. Victims and survivors may suffer from high rates of anxiety, depression and chronic diseases. Children exposed to domestic violence are more likely to have health issues or be at risk of injury or death. But

The newest member of the HCF team, Gillian Knight, introduces herself and talks about her work to help establish an evaluation framework for the Foundation that is rooted in equity.  My name is Gillian Knight and I am the new Program Associate at Healthy Communities Foundation. My role is to

Our Director of Finance, Elva Gonzalez, provides some guidance for nonprofit organizations to maintain financial health as we navigate the challenging times of COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought on unprecedented disruption to our lives and in our work. For our grantee partners, they are diligently adjusting their operations to

In early November, Healthy Communities Foundation sponsored two members of Proviso Partners for Health (PP4H) as Fellows at Upswell Chicago, a three-day convening that gathered changemakers from all over the United States to share ideas and solution-based approaches to issues our communities face each day. Our two Fellows, Deniene Willis,

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and there is very encouraging news about breast health equity for our region. Since 1990, there has been incredible progress in narrowing racial disparities in prostate, colorectal and lung cancer deaths between Black and White patients in the US. However, racial disparities in breast

When I teach the “Maternal and Child Health Delivery Systems” class at the University of Illinois at Chicago each spring, I always get anxious during the week I facilitate a case study exercise on Shalon Irving’s life and tragic death. Shalon was a Centers of Disease Control (CDC) epidemiologist and

Everyone deserves a safe and healthy home to live in. Housing is one of the several factors that heavily influence the health and well-being of individuals, children and their families. However, on May 10, 2019, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) proposed a rule that would threaten

Our Director of Programs, Nora Garcia, explains why the Foundation moved to a two-stage application process this grant cycle. It is hard to believe that less than a year ago, our staff and Board of Directors came to the end of a learning-focused planning process and approved a new strategic

  Our Director of Finance, Elva Gonzalez, walks you through the impact that the recently enacted Jobs Act will have on your 2018 tax filings as a non-profit organization. It’s tax season and while you may be getting ready to file your personal taxes (or may have already done so—kudos!),

Nora Garcia, one of our Program Officers, writes about the importance of ensuring an accurate count of individuals living in our service region in the upcoming 2020 Census. Read about what this means for our communities and about a grant opportunity to help increase awareness, participation, and, ultimately, representation. As

With the new year, you may have set new goals and set forth a vision for the upcoming months. At HCF, we have done just that and are excited about the possibilities of 2019. Our President Maria Pesqueira reflects on how far the Foundation has come since last year and