The West Virginia First Foundation has opened applications for state opioid funds. (Leann Ray | West Virginia Watch)
Applications for West Virginia First Foundation’s state opioid grants are now available. The deadline for organizations seeking funding is October 5.
Members of the First Foundation approved the launch of the application during their monthly board meeting on Thursday. Visit https://wvfirst.org/grants/ to access the application guidelinesView detailed information on how to apply for a grant and learn more about how the grant is assessed before it is awarded.
Final applications should not exceed 40 pages in 12-point Times New Roman font. They should be submitted in PDF format via email to iog@wvfirst.org at 11:59 p.m. on October 5.
Here’s what you need to know about how grants are distributed and how to apply for them:
What types of programs are funded in this grant round?
The grants awarded for the 2024 cycle focus on four specific areas: diversion programs to keep people out of the criminal justice system, youth prevention and workforce development, programming to support children (including infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome) and families dealing with substance use disorders, and the expansion of transitional and recovery housing.
These areas of concentration were discussed and determined at a meeting of the First Foundation’s Initial Opportunities Committee. This meeting was not open to members of the media or the public.
Jon Dower, an addiction expert and counselor who serves as a board member of the First Foundation, said these target areas will change in future grant cycles. Once the organization conducts a statewide needs assessment survey — for which members work to draft a request for proposal — the target areas will reflect the results of that survey.
“This is the low-hanging fruit,” Dower said.[These are] the effective and efficient programs we already see in the state that need a little bit of additional funding to improve their services and have the greatest impact in the shortest time possible.”
Amount of available funding that can be awarded
For this cycle, the foundation is making a total of $19.2 million available for grants out of the approximately $225 million that was in the organization’s bank account as of July, it said. financial statements.
Jonathan Board, executive director of First Foundation, said in an email after Thursday’s meeting that the $19.2 million — about 8.5% of the Foundation’s current holdings — was earmarked for this cycle in an effort to be “judicious” given that this is the organization’s first round of grantmaking.
In the coming years, more funding may become available as needs assessments provide more insight into funding priorities and care gaps within existing services.
“We must proceed wisely here, but not so narrowly in our focus that we miss the desperate need across the state,” Board said in the email. “This grant is an answer to the greatest calling of all West Virginians. Today’s action by the Board is a shout through a metaphorical megaphone: Help is on the way.”
How the funding is allocated and distributed
Each of the state’s six regions can receive up to $3.2 million in grants, from up to 16 different awards.
Up to $800,000 can be awarded in each region for each of the specific target areas, and up to four different grants can be given for each of the four target areas. Applicants in each region may submit proposals for multiple target areas, according to the application guidelines.
Organizations operating in multiple countries or regions can apply for funding by indicating the location of their headquarters or the location where the services they propose are offered.
“[I]that is my understanding [that] “The desire to look at headquarters is to ensure that each region has an equal voice for the organizations headquartered there,” the board said in an email.
Once grants are awarded, they are not all awarded at once. The First Foundation hopes to announce the awards for this cycle by December 31, according to Board.
Once an organization is awarded funds, they first receive 40% of their total allocation, then receive three installments of 20% “on a predictable cadence,” Board said. For example, if a program received its first installment on Dec. 31, the next three installments would likely come at the beginning of each quarter.
Organizations receiving funds must submit financial statements documenting the use of those funds in approved areas to the First Foundation. Failure to submit a grant report may result in the First Foundation withholding future distributions, according to the application document.
Funds awarded in this cycle must be “spent within twelve (12) months of receipt,” according to the application guidelines. However, organizations may request an extension of up to six months, which also carries further reporting requirements.
Who can submit an application, what does the application contain and how are applications assessed?
Any tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization may apply for funds, as may organizations that are tax-exempt under IRC 115. According to the First Foundation’s website, other organizations that “fulfill a charitable or public purpose” may apply, outside of for-profit entities.
Those wishing to apply for funding are encouraged to submit a notice of intent to apply, which will remain confidential. Such a notice, the website states, “does not extend the application deadline.”
Interested candidates can submit any questions regarding the application to the First Foundation until September 13.
Once applications are submitted, the First Foundation may deny funding to any applicant at its sole discretion. The Foundation may also request additional information and schedule interviews with applicants as needed, and conduct unannounced visits to programs seeking funding.
Unannounced visits to the locations may also take place after the money has been awarded.
According to the application guidelines, funding applicants must provide answers to 11 questions that form the “project story” for the applicant. These questions range from explaining the need the pitched program addresses and details about the program’s goals to the financial situation of the applying organization and sustainability plans for the proposed project.
With your application you must also include a budget per item for the proposal and an explanation of how the awarded funds will be used specifically.
Once submitted, applications will be assessed using a judging rubric that takes into account five different criteria: evidence-based strategies, relationship to the Foundation’s strategic vision, implementation and sustainability, transparency and fairness, and impact and measurability. More information on these criteria can be found in the application guidelines and on the First Foundation website.
Submitted applications are reviewed by the Foundation’s Initial Opportunity Committee, which is closed to the public, and the Panel of Experts. Members review the applications, which are then ranked based on overall scores. Any interviews, site visits, or other relevant information are also considered during this process, but are not reviewed.
After assessment by the committee and the expert panel, the applications are submitted to the full board for consideration, after which financial resources are proposed.
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