Donations

Introduction

Northwestern Medicine provides financial support to designated nonprofit organizations, government agencies and public entities that are working to address community health needs. Priority is given to organizations that are working to address priority health needs of Northwestern Medicine hospitals. Many needs are determined during each hospital’s Community Health Needs Assessment, which is conducted every three years. View a list of priority health needs for each hospital.

Donations Requests

  • Donation requests are considered on a rolling basis throughout the year and are considered in amounts up to $20,000.
  • Organizations are only eligible to receive one donation during each Northwestern Medicine fiscal year (September 1 to August 31).
  • Funding is not guaranteed from year to year.
  • Donations are one-time awards to support projects that will be completed within a year. Applicants should bundle needs and request sufficient funds for the year in the application.
  • Multiple applications from one organization in a year will not be considered unless previous applications were denied. The new application should be sufficiently different to better align with required criteria.
  • Event sponsorships, such as galas, annual dinners and athletic activities, are not funded.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Community-based organization with a 501(c)(3) federal designation or an organization with fiscal agent oversight by an established community-based organization with such designation; or a school/government agency.
  • Located in, and primarily serving, residents of a Northwestern Medicine Community Service Area. This includes the following counties (in whole or in part): Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, McHenry and Will.
  • Recipients of awards of more than $250 must complete a stewardship report upon expenditure of awarded funds or on/by the following August 31, whichever is sooner.

To Apply for a Donation

In your request, please describe your organization’s overall mission and vision as it relates to community health and how funding support from Northwestern Medicine will help you achieve success.

  • The process can take up to 45 days. If you have a strict timeline, please be sure to submit your application as soon as possible.
  • If funding is approved, a check for the approved donation will be issued to the address provided on your application.
  • The address on your W-9 form must match your application.
  • In section 3a on your W-9 form, organizations with a 501(c)(3) federal tax designation should check the “Other” box and enter “501(c)(3)” on the line next to it.

Apply for a Donation

Award Recipients

Recipients of awards more than $250 must complete a stewardship report upon expenditure of awarded funds or on/by the following August 31, whichever is sooner.


Complete Stewardship Report

Contact

For questions about Community Donations, email contactcommunity@nm.org

Note: Northwestern Medicine provides donations at its sole discretion and is under no obligation to award or provide financial assistance to any or all of the applications received (regardless of whether the agency has been supported in the past). All decisions and determinations regarding this program are solely reserved to that of Northwestern Medicine.