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During the 2018-2019 grant cycle, we have implemented a new Board-approved strategic plan which aims to drive our collaborations, strategic partnerships and grantmaking principles. For more information, please refer to the HCF Strategic Plan.
Using research commissioned by the Sinai Urban Health Institute, as well as a variety of local and national research and resources, we understand that where you live can deeply impact how well and how long you live. For this grant cycle, we will award grants to organizations that focus on individual health needs as well as systemic barriers to health. We consider ourselves accountable to and partners with health stakeholders in our region who understand local community needs. As our communities evolve and as health issues overlap with other social issues, we aim to be responsive and collaborative towards community-informed solutions.
We will phase in our grantmaking strategy, beginning with general operating support in 2018 and expanding to strategic initiatives and capacity building support by 2020. For the 2018 grant cycle, we will only consider requests for general operating support. For more information about our investment approaches, please refer to the HCF Strategic Plan.
Focus on racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic equity
Community-defined solutions as a process and an outcome
Long-term partnerships and commitments
Fluidity in response to emerging strategies and crises
Community-embedded and engaged HCF staff
Leverage the power of collaborations and efforts at the intersection of issues/strategies
General operating support to catalyze and sustain systems change
Grounded in community experience, evidence-based strategies, and evaluation
All organizations must be able to demonstrate that the proposed programs/services align with at least one of the categories below, which comprise our grantmaking framework.
Click on each category to learn more.
ADVOCATE
for health-related policies and systems change
We know that the most effective ways to influence health are by addressing the root causes of inequalities. HCF works to impact existing structures and policies to create more opportunities for communities to have a voice at the table where decisions are made. Some of our investment strategies include (but are not limited to):
AUGMENT
knowledge through capacity building
For this grantmaking cycle, HCF seeks to invest in efforts that contribute to community-driven and/or community-specific research, data collection, and analysis. Such efforts should investigate, disseminate, and otherwise contribute to field of local health. We will consider efforts that:
ADDRESS
social determinants of health
HCF understands that overall health is deeply influenced by where we live, learn, work, and play. Aspects of everyday life such as housing, jobs, education, transportation, and outdoor space can influence health outcomes. Investment efforts in the social determinants of health include:
ACCESS
to quality health care
HCF recognizes that high quality, comprehensive health care services are often out of reach for residents in our region. Common barriers to timely care can include high costs, inadequate or no insurance coverage, lack of available services, long wait times, and lack of culturally competent care. Access efforts can include:
LEGACY
Given that HCF’s endowment is funded from the proceeds of the MacNeal Hospital sale to a private company in 1999, HCF will make grants in the MacNeal Hospital service area.
HEALTH EQUITY
To achieve health equity, HCF will allocate the majority of funds to zip codes that rank lowest in our social determinants of health study
For more information about our priority zone zip codes, please refer to the HCF Strategic Plan.
HCF Funding Area
Eligibility
To be considered for funding, organizations must:
Funding Restrictions
HCF will not fund: