Giving priorities
Expanding access.
Widening possibility.
Education, Opportunity, Community, Mental Health and Military Service are the fund’s five giving priorities. Leadership and mentorship are included within education and opportunity.
Guiding priorities
These priorities grow from the people and opportunities that have made a difference in the founders’ lives, and from their appreciation for organizations that make meaningful experiences more accessible.
Geographic focus
Lauren and Gene’s giving reflects the places, people, and communities that have been part of their lives and careers. The fund supports organizations with strong local relationships and a close understanding of the communities they serve. Its current geographic focus includes communities where Advocate Health operates, while the fund remains independent of the health system’s institutional philanthropy.
Education
The fund supports organizations working alongside students and families as they learn, consider their options, and continue their education. Areas of interest include student support, scholarships, and guidance that helps people pursue their own goals.
Music and the arts are part of that exploration, including opportunities for students to study, practice, and develop their talents over time.
Opportunity
Opportunity often begins with access: an introduction to a new profession, a mentor who shares their experience, a first job, exposure to the arts, or the resources and relationships that make a new direction possible.
The Woods Canopy Fund supports organizations connecting people with experiences, networks, and pathways that broaden their choices and support their individual aspirations.
Community
The fund values organizations working with families and residents to strengthen neighborhood life. The people who live and work in a community bring knowledge, relationships, and priorities that should help guide that work.
Mental Health
Supporting organizations that help people and families access mental health care, navigate a crisis and find ongoing support.
Military Service
Military service is woven into both founders’ family histories and is one of the fund’s five areas of focus. The fund intends to support organizations serving service members, veterans, and their families.