Address: 20 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 3118, Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: 312.214.1521
Web: www.vnafoundation.net
Email: info@vnafoundation.net
VNA Foundation’s roots go back to 1890, when Jane Addams and other courageous and pioneering women founded The Visiting Nurse Association of Chicago (VNA-C). VNA-C employed its own nurses and other health professionals to provide care to the underprivileged. In 1995, VNA transitioned to a private, independent foundation that provides financial support to nonprofit organizations offering home- and community-based health services to the underserved. Although VNA Foundation no longer provides direct services, it ensures through its grantmaking that all those among us receive the health care and health services they need, regardless of insurance status or inability to pay.
All VNA grantee partners serve people and communities that lack accessible, affordable, and acceptable health care and are un- or underinsured. Most grantees serve people of all ages, sometimes through multigenerational approaches. Services are provided through a variety of Chicagoland settings from free and charitable clinics to mobile health vans. The majority of those served identify as people of color and lack equitable access to essential health and social services.
Program Information:
VNA grants generally fit within one or more of the following categories: Primary/Chronic Care; Mental Health; Health Education or Promotion; Technical Assistance; Violence Prevention; Maternal Child Health; and Dental and Vision. VNA considers funding program, general operating, and capital grant requests, including salaries that support core staff.
Financial Information:
Total Assets: $60,067,646 (FY23)
Amount Dedicated to Health-Related Grants: $3,100,000 (FY23)
Special Initiatives and/or Representative Health and Human Services Grants
Chicago South Side Birth Center—To fund a part-time Development Steward and planning activities over a 15-month period, supporting the agency’s overall goal to establish a freestanding birth center on the south side of Chicago. ($97,000)
Illinois Association of Free & Charitable Clinics (IAFCC)—A general operating grant to help IAFCC advance its mission to maximize the collective impact of 50 free and charitable member clinics that provide healthcare to 80,000 un- or underinsured Illinoisans. ($50,000)
The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence—A grant that includes $55,000 in general operating support and $45,000 toward a VOCA Relief Fund to assist domestic violence agencies at risk of losing staff and programming due to 2023 Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding cuts. ($100,000)
Chicago Coalition for the Homeless—A general operating grant to address the health-related needs of homeless populations and to support management of StreetLight Chicago, a smartphone app launched with VNA funding, that connects homeless youth with health care, food, and shelter. ($50,000)
Pillars Community Health—A collaborative funding opportunity for a mental health pilot project: the launch of The Loft at Eight Corners, the first of its kind teen “living room” or drop-in crisis center located near multiple high schools in a Cook County western suburb. ($55,000)
VNA Foundation and GIH
Over the years, VNA’s involvement in GIH has allowed staff to meet and network with peers they otherwise would not have met. GIH conferences and other events have also served as great onboarding experiences for new staff. The VNA team has shared its work through presentations and partnerships and learned from others about ways to improve its grantmaking. Currently, the team is excited to be benefiting from GIH’s collaboration with the American Public Health Association.
The Role of Philanthropy in Meeting Pressing Needs
“There is never a shortage of needs in the communities we serve, but the health-related issues during the past few years have challenged our team to think creatively, expansively, and collaboratively. We believe private philanthropy should take risks and implement strategies to meet immediate health needs more efficiently and effectively. Being part of a community like GIH—which allows for the sharing of ideas, successes, and lessons learned—has been invaluable.”
–Robert DiLeonardi, Executive Director, VNA Foundation