The Wishard Foundation said today it has received a $6 million grant to upgrade the Indianapolis hospital, but only if today’s referendum passes.

The grant would come from the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation for the construction of a new Wishard Hospital. The foundation said the grant would be the single largest philanthropic contribution in Wishard’s 150-year history.

The timing of the grant comes as voters head to the polls today to decide whether Wishard Memorial Hospital can issue up to $703 million in public bonds to help finance a new $754 million hospital complex.

“This is an incredible contribution that shows the Fairbanks Foundation’s appreciation for the importance of construction of a new Wishard Hospital and its confidence in the hospital’s future,” said Wishard Health Services CEO Dr. Lisa Harris. “We are immeasurably grateful for this record grant and recognize its value to Wishard and the greater Indianapolis community.”

The Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation has been a long-time supporter of Wishard projects such as its namesake Burn Center.

The grant will support Wishard’s project to construct a new, modern and efficient hospital on the campus of IUPUI to replace Wishard’s current aging facilities, parts of which predate World War II.

“Wishard provides the highest volume of care to the local safety net population and is the backbone of the state’s system for educating future doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals,” said Leonard J. Betley, president of the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation. “The need to construct a new Wishard hospital facility is long overdue. Support for the safety net system and healthcare workforce development are two of the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation’s funding themes. I am pleased to announce that, earlier today, the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation’s Board of Directors voted unanimously to award a grant for $6 million in support of a new Wishard Hospital, contingent upon a positive outcome in the Nov. 3 referendum.”