The Funding Project

01/06/2026

So grateful for RaeStrong Rae Strong Foundation. Not only are they doing incredible work supporting NICU families, but they were also one of my first partners.

I am honored to have their story in my NICU Funding Guide in
“Voices from the NICU” (page 40).

Thank you for all the love, support, and impact you continue to make. So proud to shout you out!💜👣

09/07/2025

I am so excited to announce that The Funding Project is back and ready to get going again! Although you have not heard from me much lately there have been a lot of things going on behind the scenes!

I will be posting often with updates on all the new and exciting happenings, so stay tuned!

01/28/2025

I am so excited to share the news that we are ordering books and other essential items and samples for the very first round of the Diaper Bag Fundraising Care Packs thanks to some generous donors and sponsors!

We have chosen two colors, this dark gray and a light gray. Both colors are at The Hairy Ant Inc. Screen Printing where Anthony is going to do his magic using this new cool type of transfer and then he will embroider the other. Then we are going to decide which we like best and order a whole bunch more!

If you know a hospital NICU that would want some Care Packs reach out to me and let's see what we can do to make it happen.

I also want to give a huge shout out to Phil at Flip Design Studio for his amazing work, check out the cover (with my grandson Russell) designed by Phil.

Not only does he do all the design work for The Funding Project but he also does all the work for Project Mobility the other nonprofit near and dear to me as I am the Co-Founder of this nonprofit for about 22 years.

Now that is a whole lot of truly awesome design work by Phil and he never disappoints!

Don't forget you can always download The NICU Funding Guide at no cost from my website thanks to my supporters!

www.thefundingproject.org

Thanks to our amazing Presenting Sponsor for helping make this possible - Karas Restaurant Group!

09/29/2024

I am an official supporting member of NICU Parent Network
, check them out they are an amazing organization!

A warm welcome to The Funding Project, a new member of the NICU Parent Network!

We are excited to introduce The Funding Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering families with the tools, education, and inspiration they need to raise funds for essential products, equipment, therapies, and services that insurance doesn’t cover.

Through their proven methods, The Funding Project offers vital relief to families, caregivers, and healthcare providers, helping children who have been in the NICU, as well as those with disabilities, autism, or cancer. Their guidance ensures that economic barriers don’t stand in the way of these children's independence and participation.

Join us in welcoming this wonderful organization to our community! 🎉

08/28/2024

Who is ready for a fundraiser...that you can do right now from your phone or computer?!

Introducing Let's Find the Queen!

The Funding Project is teaming up with my family's nonprofit organization Project Mobility to host a progressive Queen of Hearts Raffle.

The first drawing will be on Tuesday, September 17th, 2024, at
Rookies All American Pub & Grill in Hoffman Estates, Il.

You know firsthand that we’re big believers in having fun while doing good work, this fundraiser gives you a chance to find the Queen and win while helping support two great organizations!

What is a Queen of Hearts Raffle?

A progressive 50/50 raffle fundraiser.

How Does a Queen of Hearts Work?

The game consists of a standard deck of cards with 2 (two) jokers for a total of 54 cards. All cards are placed face down on a mounting board purchased from a certified gaming vendor; the cards are numbered one (1) through fifty-four (54) and are sealed to the board.

Each week, one raffle ticket is drawn randomly and the ticket number (the winner selected, or computer selected) will correspond to one of the 54 cards to be flipped and reveal if it is the Queen of Hearts.

If it is the Queen of Hearts, the ticket holder wins 50% of the jackpot and 50% gets split between Project Mobility and The Funding Project.

If the chosen card is not the Queen of Hearts, the game continues with all tickets disposed of and all new tickets being purchased for a new drawing on the next Tuesday.

All new tickets need to be purchased for the next drawing and so on until the Queen of Hearts is chosen.

If a joker is turned over the game starts all over. A new board with all 54 cards will begin a new Queen of Hearts game.

The drawing will occur weekly at our Queen of Hearts party at Rookies Sports Bar and Rookies All American Pub & Grill in Hoffman Estates drawing will be held on Facebook LIVE!

You DO NOT have to be present to WIN!

Each week that the Queen of Hearts card isn’t picked, the JACKPOT carries over, getting bigger and bigger.

Thank you Bob from The Karas Group for hosting our live drawings and sponsoring Project Mobility's events and our Let's Find the Queen Raffle and my other amazing sponsors!

SleepSafe Beds
Neotech Products
4moms
OxyLife Hyperbarics
The Bike Rack

Check back for new tickets each week as you continue to support us!

$20 Deal
4 Tickets + 1 FREE

$50 Deal
10 Tickets + 3 FREE

$100 Deal
20 Tickets + 10 FREE

Learn More - https://www.projectmobility.org/qoh

Buy Tickets - https://www.goraisedough.com/buy/2500

08/03/2024

Russell spent a short time in the NICU, and while the experience was frightening, his family was fortunate that insurance covered his medical expenses. This experience deeply moved his grandmother, Tammy Simmons, and inspired her to help other families facing similar challenges.

Tammy founded The Funding Project to support and guide families with infants in the NICU, children with disabilities, autism, or cancer. She’s recently created a comprehensive FREE guide filled with thorough research and practical advice to help secure financial assistance for medical expenses not covered by insurance.

What’s inside?
• Tips on Fundraising
• Resources for Financial Assistance
• Stories and Advice from Families Who’ve Been Through It

If you or someone you know is navigating the NICU journey, this guide offers support and solutions to ease the financial burden. Take the first step towards financial relief and download your free guide today: https://www.thefundingproject.org/ 💜📚

07/31/2024

Struggling with NICU bills? Discover the FREE NICU Funding Guide, crafted by our founder, Tammy Simmons. This comprehensive resource, born from years of research, is designed to help families secure funds and fundraising strategies for medical expenses not covered by insurance.

If you or someone you know is navigating the challenges of a NICU stay, this guide is packed with practical tips and support to help ease the financial burden.

Download your FREE copy now and take the first step towards financial relief! 💜 https://www.thefundingproject.org/

07/24/2024

Your donation helps educate and inform NICU families how to fundraise and access financial aid for medical expenses not covered by insurance. 

By contributing, you empower families with the knowledge and resources they need for their baby's recovery. Every dollar makes a difference. 

Visit our website to make a donation!

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07/22/2024

Having a child in the NICU is incredibly tough on families, and financial stress only adds to their burden.

By downloading and reading The NICU Funding Guide, you can learn about the financial resources available to NICU families, share what you’ve learned with others, or give a copy to a family that needs it. 

Together, we can provide vital support and ensure no family has to face a NICU journey alone. 💙

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07/18/2024

The day you finally bring your baby home from the NICU is filled with joy, relief, and new challenges. Here’s a glimpse of what life might look like and some tips to help you navigate this transition:

Swipe →

Remember to take care of yourself and lean on others for support. You are not alone!

Did your insurance fall short of covering your baby’s NICU stay or other medical expenses?

Visit our website and download “The NICU Funding Guide” to learn how to access funds that might be available to you.

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07/16/2024

Sign up for our newsletter and become part of a community that deeply cares about NICU babies, children with disabilities, and their families.

Get updates on the work we are doing together to help families alleviate the financial burden caused by their infant’s and children’s medical expenses when insurance falls short.

Every child deserves the best medical treatment available, and we believe money should never be an obstacle.

Are you in? Sign up on our website today!

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07/13/2024

When your infant is in the NICU, it can be emotionally and financially challenging. We wanted to share a helpful money-saving tip that not many people think of during this difficult time.

Swipe through to learn more: →

What do you think of this tip? Comment below! 👇

Follow us for more helpful tips like this one!

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