The ANCHOR Grants (Advancing Neighborhood & Community Health, Opportunity & Resilience) program is led by Northwestern's Office of Neighborhood and Community Relations. A committee of University administrators, faculty, and community representatives serve as advisors on grant-making decisions, ensuring a collaborative approach to addressing community challenges.
Since 2020, Northwestern has committed more than $500,000 annually to support partnerships in our home communities of Evanston and Chicago. These funds enable collaborative projects between Northwestern faculty, staff, students, and community-based organizations, with a shared goal of improving the quality of life for populations facing longstanding social, economic, or structural barriers.
While many of the neighborhoods served through these grants have historically included predominantly communities of color, ANCHOR Grants do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, in compliance with federal law and University policy. We encourage applications that focus on individuals or communities experiencing disadvantage, whether due to economic hardship, health disparities, disability, or other systemic challenges.
Our mission is to foster mutually beneficial partnerships that address the root causes of persistent disparities and work toward sustainable, community-driven solutions. By doing so, Northwestern aims to serve as a model for how a major research university can engage with and uplift the communities in which it resides.
A committee of University administrators and academics, along with community representatives, serves as advisors to the program.
If you have questions about our ANCHOR Grants – (Advancing Neighborhood & Community Health, Opportunity & Resilience), browse our frequently asked questions or contact us directly.
A new project led by Northwestern Medicine investigators aims to mitigate food deserts — areas with limited access to affordable healthy food — as well as improve outcomes for patients with kidney disease in predominantly Black communities in Chicago.
Through the Thousand Butterflies Project, Evanston students are using butterflies — a symbol of rejuvenation in many cultures — to foster connection and community care.
Through a $75,000, ANCHOR Grants – (Advancing Neighborhood & Community Health, Opportunity & Resilience), a soon-to-open community wellness facility on Chicago's Southwest Side has greatly benefited from a partnership with the Osher Center for Integrative Health in Northwestern's Feinberg School of Medicine.