History
Grant Hospital of Chicago was incorporated in 1883 as the German Hospital of Chicago to serve the primarily German immigrant population of the area around its Lincoln Park location, the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Webster on the north side of Chicago. Around the time of World War I the name was changed to Grant Hospital of Chicago reflecting the diversifying population of its staff, patients and neighborhood.
Grant Healthcare Foundation began operations in 1996, two years after the sale of the hospital to Columbia Healthcare Corporation. Funding for the foundation’s operations were derived from the proceeds of that sale. The foundation has retained the corporate name of Grant Hospital of Chicago (doing business as Grant Healthcare Foundation) as a reminder of its long history of providing healthcare services to the people of Chicago. From 1996 through 2004 Grant Healthcare Foundation has awarded grants totaling $13,683,177.
Grant Hospital of Chicago was recognized for the quality of care provided within its walls by a very dedicated and diverse staff. Grant was one of the first hospitals in Chicago to offer admitting privileges to African American doctors from far-flung areas of the city, resulting in the admission and treatment of patients from all over Chicago and its suburbs. As a funder, Grant Healthcare Foundation is committed to access to health care for the all the citizens of the Chicago area, especially vulnerable populations. We serve the entire metropolitan Chicago area, though most of our grants are awarded within the City of Chicago.
The first legal abortion in Chicago was performed at Grant Hospital of Chicago immediately following the Roe v. Wade decision of the Supreme Court in 1973. We continue the tradition of supporting choice and reproductive care for women through our grant making. Our long support of school-based health centers is limited to those organizations that are committed to offering confidential reproductive and contraceptive services in addition to basic health care to students.