There are many ways you can help The Family Institute continue its pioneering work. Whichever area you choose to support, your gift will be deeply appreciated.

Annual Fund/General Operating Support
Gifts for general operating support are the easiest and most direct way to further the work of The Family Institute. When you make an unrestricted gift to the Annual Fund you are supporting the widest range of programs and needs. These contributions ensure that The Institute has the financial resources to continue vital services and operations throughout the year.

Community Outreach Program
The Family Institute at Northwestern University is strongly committed to the principle that quality, mental health care should be available to all who it, regardless of their financial resources. Since 1989 our Community Outreach Program has offered family-oriented psychotherapy to underserved, economically-disadvantaged neighborhoods in the Chicago area. Funded by gifts from foundations, businesses and individual donors, this program helps families cope with chronic emotional and behavioral problems, economic and social hardships, domestic violence and other family crises. Because the program is philanthropically supported, clients receive services at no cost or at very low cost.

Bette D. Harris Family and Child Clinic
Clients at all income levels receive exceptional and cost-effective mental health treatment at the Clinic. Fees are set on a sliding scale, so clients pay what they can afford, making the Clinic particularly advantageous for those who are unemployed or do not have adequate health insurance. The cost of operating the Clinic is supported, in part, by an endowment created by the late Bette and Neison Harris and by gifts and grants.

Alumni Scholarship Fund
The Family Institute offers partial scholarships to students who are committed to working with at-risk, underserved populations. These scholarships are available to students in both Northwestern University graduate degree programs operated by The Institute: Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology and Master of Science in Marital and Family Therapy. The goals of the scholarship program are to: 1. Increase the availability of services by highly skilled therapists in communities with large populations of at-risk, underserved families and children; 2. Support the professional growth of students committed to working with these populations; 3. Enrich The Institute's training program by increasing the diversity of clinical experiences.

Postgraduate Fellowships
The Postgraduate Fellowship Program at The Family Institute provides advanced, intensive training for mental health professionals who have completed Master's or Doctoral degrees. The goal of the program is to develop the next generation of leaders and innovators in family therapy and family psychology. The Fellowship Program is supported, in part, by gifts from individuals, families and foundations.

Endowment Fund
Gifts to the Endowment Fund provide stability and long-term financial support for The Family Institute. Typically, endowment gifts are held in perpetuity and invested. Annual earnings from the investments are then utilized for operational expenses, often in support of a specific program, project or position (such as an academic or research chair). Through a strategic planning process, The Institute's leadership has identified three areas—research, education and community services—for which sustaining endowments must be put in place to ensure viability and growth.  For information about making a gift to the Endowment Fund, please contact the Director of Development, at 312-609-5300, ext. 484.

Capital Fund
Contributions to the Capital Fund are used to expand and improve Family Institute facilities as necessitated by the growth of programs. Capital funds also help The Institute replace outdated equipment, furnishings and computer software. For information about making a gift to the Capital Fund, please contact the Director of Development, at 312-609-5300, ext. 484.