Michael Reese Research & Education Foundation

What Michael Reese Research & Education Foundation does

The Michael Reese Research & Education Foundation is a Chicago-based 501(c)-style nonprofit foundation founded in 1991 by physicians and staff of Michael Reese Hospital when the hospital was sold, and continuing after the hospital's 2009 closure. The Foundation supports three mission pillars: translational bench-to-bedside research grants (over $3 million awarded since 2014 across cancer, virology, cardiology, transplantation, diabetes, and sickle cell disease), medical education (five endowed professorships at the University of Illinois, scholarship partnerships with Rosalind Franklin University and MOLA, plus a Meritorious Lectureship at the University of Chicago), and community service for underserved populations on Chicago's South Side.

Its core service programs are the HIV Care Program — operating for 30+ years and currently serving over 400 patients with integrated primary care, behavioral health, hepatitis treatment, gender-affirming care, PrEP, smoking cessation, case management, and insurance enrollment at UI Health South Loop Physicians Group — and the Women's Health Program (Illinois Breast & Cervical Cancer Program grantee), which provides free breast and cervical cancer screenings with patient navigation in English, Spanish, Mandarin, and Cantonese at Roseland Community Hospital. Additional community initiatives include the Health Equity Research program and funding for the Illinois Prison Project's Joe Coleman Medical Release Act work.

The Foundation is funded primarily through grants from government agencies (notably the Illinois Department of Public Health) and private foundations (notably VNA Foundation), supplemented by individual donations, historical fundraising events, and program-related pharmacy and service fees. Operations are run by a staff of two (Executive Director Jason Rothstein and Associate Director Lynn P Vocelka) under a 10-member board chaired by William Chamberlin MD, with administrative support from a unique collaboration with the Hektoen Institute.

Name

Michael Reese Research & Education Foundation

Legal name

Michael Reese Research & Education Foundation

Website

https://michaelreesefoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Michael Reese Research & Education Foundation is a Chicago-based nonprofit that funds translational medical research, medical-education scholarships, and community health programs—primarily HIV care (400+ patients) and free cancer screenings for uninsured women—serving underserved South Side populations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Healthcare Foundation Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI), Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA)

Keywords

• Community health programs
• Translational research grants
• Medical education scholarships
• HIV care services
• Nonprofit healthcare foundation

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Grants: Foundation receives grants from government agencies (Illinois Department of Public Health) and private foundations for research, education, and community service programs.
2. Contributions and Donations: Individual and organizational donations support foundation operations and program services. The annual Michael Reese Crystal Ball was a major fundraising event in Chicago.
3. Pharmacy and Program Services: Revenue from pharmacy services and other program-related activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Michael Reese Research & Education Foundation is a nonprofit foundation that provides grants for translational "bench to bedside" medical research, funds endowed professorships and medical school scholarships, and operates direct community health programs including an HIV Care Program and a Women's Health Program offering free cancer screenings to uninsured individuals on Chicago's South Side. The foundation carries on the 127-year legacy of Michael Reese Hospital through research funding, education support, and safety-net community service.

Product overview

The Michael Reese Research & Education Foundation operates as a healthcare foundation offering a portfolio of interconnected community health programs and medical education support services. Its core offerings include the Michael Reese Care Program (HIV Care) providing integrated primary and specialty care for people living with HIV and hepatitis, and the Women's Health Program (Illinois Breast & Cervical Cancer Program) offering free cancer screenings for uninsured women. Additional programs include Health Equity Research, the Illinois Prison Project for compassionate release advocacy, and various service features such as HIV prevention (PrEP), hepatitis treatment, gender-affirming care, behavioral health, smoking cessation, case management, and insurance enrollment assistance. The Foundation also supports medical education through translational research grants, five endowed professorships at the University of Illinois, scholarship programs (MOLA, Rosalind Franklin University), and the Meritorious Lectureship Award at the University of Chicago. The organization functions as a non-profit foundation supporting research, education, and community service in the Chicago area.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HIV Care Program (Michael Reese Care Program) A community health program providing integrated primary and multi-specialty care for people living with HIV and hepatitis on Chicago's South Side, including primary care, behavioral health, HIV prevention (PrEP), hepatitis treatment, gender-affirming care, case management, smoking cessation, and insurance enrollment assistance. Serves over 400 patients regardless of ability to pay and has operated for more than 30 years.
• Women's Health Program (Illinois Breast & Cervical Cancer Program) State-funded program providing free breast and cervical cancer screenings (Pap, HPV, mammograms), diagnostic testing, and patient navigation services for uninsured women ages 21-64 in Illinois, with multilingual community-based educational workshops in English, Spanish, Mandarin, and Cantonese.
• Illinois Prison Project Support Funding partnership with the Illinois Prison Project supporting the Joe Coleman Medical Release Act (HB3665) to address health inequalities for terminally ill incarcerated individuals, including pro bono legal and medical assistance for compassionate release cases. Has helped secure release for 84 individuals.
• Health Equity Research Community service initiative focused on addressing health inequalities and promoting equitable healthcare access for underserved populations in the Chicago area through research and partnerships.
• Translational Research Grants Foundation-funded "bench to bedside" research grants supporting original patient-centered studies spanning cancer treatments, viral studies, heart disease, transplantation, diabetes, sickle cell disease, and other health topics at Chicago-area medical institutions.
• Endowed Professorships Five named professorships endowed at the University of Illinois Chicago in Hematology (Damiano Rondelli), Urology (Gail Prins), Anesthesiology (Stephen Roth), Medical Education (Alan Schwartz), and Pharmacotherapy (Edith Nutescu).
• MOLA Scholarship Program Annual scholarships offered in partnership with the Medical Organization for Latino Advancement (MOLA) to reduce the cost burden for undergraduate and professional school students seeking healthcare degrees, including mentorship and research presentation components.
• Rosalind Franklin University Scholarship Full four-year medical school scholarships for learners from historically underrepresented groups at Rosalind Franklin University, designed to remove barriers in education and promote diversity in the healthcare workforce.
• Meritorious Lectureship Award Annual lecture endowment at the University of Chicago honoring a faculty member who embodies the principles of Michael Reese Hospital.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 400 HIV patients served with integrated care
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Illinois Prison ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to address health inequalities for terminally ill incarcerated individuals. Foundation provides funding to support the Joe Coleman Medical Release Act HB3665. IPP provides pro bono legal and medical assistance to individuals seeking release.
• Hektoen InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for administrative functions of community programs. Hektoen Institute provides office space and expertise in managing CDPH and other grants.
• University of IllinoiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation has endowed five named professors at the University of Illinois. Supports translational medical research programs centered at UI.
• University of ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports translational medical research programs. Endowed lectureship at U of C honoring faculty who embody principles of Michael Reese Hospital.
• Loyola UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the Chicago institutions supported for translational medical research programs.
• Northwestern UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the Chicago institutions supported for translational medical research programs.
• Children's Memorial HospitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the Chicago institutions supported for translational medical research programs.
• Rosalind Franklin UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScholarship partnership providing full four-year medical school scholarships for learners from historically underrepresented groups. Part of diversity in healthcare workforce initiatives.
• Medical Organization for Latino Advancement (MOLA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership offering annual scholarships to reduce healthcare education costs. Includes mentorship and research presentation component. Continues Hispanocare work for bilingual healthcare.
• HispanocareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrevious scholarship partner that provided affordable, quality, bilingual healthcare to Chicago's Latino Community. Work continued by MOLA.
• Legal Council for Health JusticecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-year grant recipient working with Illinois communities to reduce barriers to care and services they need to stay healthy, fed, and housed.
• UI HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHIV Care Program relocated to UI Health after Michael Reese Hospital closure. Program provides integrated primary and multi-specialty care at UI Health South Loop Physicians Group.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• VNA Foundation: Chicago-area private foundation funding community health and nursing-led initiatives, including the Women's Health Program at Michael Reese. Directly comparable as a Chicago-focused health grantmaker with shared funding recipients and overlapping mission.
• Hektoen Institute of Medicine: Chicago-based nonprofit that administers medical research grants and public-health programs, and currently hosts the Foundation's administrative functions. Directly comparable as a peer health-focused grantmaking/administrative partner in Chicago.
• Howard Brown Health: Federally qualified LGBTQ+ health center in Chicago providing integrated HIV care, PrEP, and gender-affirming care for 30+ years. Directly comparable as a Chicago-based community health organization with overlapping service lines (HIV, hepatitis, gender-affirming care) and similar underserved patient populations.
• AIDS Foundation of Chicago: Chicago-based nonprofit that funds HIV/AIDS services, advocacy, and prevention across the metropolitan area. Directly comparable as another HIV-focused grantmaking/funder organization serving overlapping South Side populations and care-network partners.
• Legal Council for Health Justice: Chicago nonprofit that receives multi-year grants from this foundation to reduce barriers to care for Illinois communities. Directly comparable as a community health-equity partner organization funded by similar Chicago philanthropy.

Emerging players

• Patient Advocate Foundation: National nonprofit providing case management, insurance navigation, and financial assistance for patients with chronic or life-threatening illness. Comparable as a peer nonprofit offering case management and insurance enrollment assistance, with overlap in HIV/cancer patient navigation.
• CaringBridge: Nonprofit providing health-related support resources for patients and families. Comparable as another nonprofit health-support organization, though operating nationally with a different service model.

Others

• Illinois Department of Public Health - Office of Women's Health and Family Services: State agency that is the primary funder of the Foundation's Women's Health Program. Comparable as the upstream state-level counterpart providing grant funding for the same IBCCP screening services.

Broad incumbents

• The Chicago Community Trust: One of the largest community foundations in the Chicago region, funding health, education, and equity initiatives. Comparable as a regional incumbent grantmaker with overlapping beneficiaries but a much broader portfolio.
• Rosalind Franklin University Health System: North Chicago medical school that is a core partner for the Foundation's full-tuition medical school scholarship program. Comparable as an academic medical partner with overlapping mission on healthcare workforce diversity and translational research.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MichaelReeseFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/michael-reese-research-education-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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