What We Look For In Grantee Partners
We value transparency and understand the time and resources it takes to apply for a grant. Therefore, it is important to us to clearly explain what alignment to our grantmaking framework means. The information below will help you submit the strongest proposal possible, so please review it carefully.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us here.
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Our Grantmaking Priorities
What Aligned Work Looks Like
NOTE: By “work” we are referring to programs, services, outreach efforts and relationship-building strategies.
Access to Quality Health Services
Systemic racism, high medical costs, and lack of culturally affirming care often make comprehensive healthcare inaccessible to our region’s community members.
Strongly aligned partners can articulate how their intersectional efforts to improve healthcare access (beyond primary healthcare) reduce racial and ethnic health inequities, especially in our Legacy and Equity ZIP codes.
Address Social Determinants of Health
Unfair and avoidable health inequities show that where people are born, live, work, and age often impact health outcomes more than lifestyle choices or clinical care.
Strongly aligned partners can demonstrate how their work improves community health in our service region by addressing structural and social determinants of health with a focus on equity.
Advocate for Health Policies & Systems Change
Policy change can address the root causes of health inequities and impact structures that perpetuate racism.
Strongly aligned partners can connect advocacy efforts with individuals, communities, and organizations in our service region to increase civic engagement and build community power for health equity.
Augment Local Health Knowledge
Access to local health data empowers community members to make informed health decisions and advocate for better policies.
Strongly aligned partners can demonstrate how they share health knowledge and data in accessible ways, supporting community-led inquiry, data collection, and outcomes reporting.
Our Service Region
Where Aligned Works Happens
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.
The zip codes highlighted in green represent our Legacy & Equity Zone where community members experience the most significant health inequities compared to other areas.
To be considered highly aligned to the Foundation’s strategies and priorities, organizations should meet these criteria:
- At least 25% of individuals served by organizations must reside in our service region*
- Organizations whose work extends beyond our service area may be considered if they strongly align with our grantmaking priorities and actively engage with communities in our region
- Priority consideration is given to organizations that have a strategic focus on our Legacy & Equity zip codes
*For non-direct service organizations (e.g., policy advocacy or community media groups), “individuals served” includes direct involvement with coalition members, community partners, or local leaders within our service region, with at least 25% residing in our service region.
How Aligned Organizations Approach Their Work
In 2024, we began to refine our grantmaking strategies based on past learnings and the current health landscape in our region. For the 2025 cycle, we are building on those insights and seeking grantee partners who articulate the health inequities they aim to address and outline concrete strategies and goals. This approach emphasizes organizations focused on the how and why of their work, not just the what and is a part of our broader commitment to fostering partnerships that align with our values and priorities in advancing health and racial equity in our region.
Intersectional Approaches to Achieving Health Equity
We recognize that health equity and community health issues are complex, requiring strong, agile collaboration and partnerships that are accountable to the communities served.
Strongly aligned organizations:
- Understand how systemic inequities affect individuals and communities with intersecting identities (e.g., race, gender, age, ability) specifically in their work.
- Commit to adapting programs, services, and outreach based on community expertise and lived experience based on these intersections, with internal processes and policies that enhance accessibility and inclusivity.
- Tailor their work to reflect the expertise and experience of community members in comprehensive, culturally affirming ways.
Community-Led
We recognize that community leadership and expertise are essential in addressing health and racial inequities, as they are closest to the issues and the solutions.
Strongly aligned organizations:
- Use multiple strategies to center community wisdom and expertise in advising, planning, executing and evaluating programs,
- Aim to build power and influence decision-making, strategies, and policies with community at the center.
Effective Organizational Stewardship
We recognize the value of local leaders in our service region holding organizational leadership roles, as their proximity to the issues and solutions makes them key to addressing health and racial inequities.
Strongly aligned organizations:
- Invest in policies and practices that support organizational and fiscal health.
- Implement best practices, including collecting demographic data on board, staff, and participants, and demonstrate how their strategies reflect the hyperlocal population they serve.
Systems Change
In public health, interventions occur at three levels: individual (downstream), community (mid-stream), and policy (upstream). While not all organizations operate at every level, we expect highly aligned organizations to clearly define their role in addressing structural issues and understand how existing systems perpetuate inequities.
Strongly aligned organizations:
- Clearly explain their role in shifting non-legislative policies or practices that affect community health.
- Forge strong partnerships with organizations, leaders, and communities in our service region, centering their expertise in decision-making.
Other Points to Consider
- 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply for general operating support grants. Organizations that are not tax-exempt may apply with a fiscal sponsor.
- Organizations can apply for up to 10% of their operating budget (based on current fiscal year expenses). Competitive proposals will align funding requests with a regional health focus and programmatic rationale, rather than simply requesting a flat 10%.
- For organizations with operating budgets over $30 million (including, but not limited to, hospitals and universities), we will only award Project Support grants for initiatives that demonstrate strategic partnerships and a strong commitment to local communities in our service region.
