Basic Needs/Direct Service Grants Program

The Basic Needs/Direct Service Grants Program by Sisters Health Foundation supports nonprofit organizations in providing essential aid to under-resourced communities. Grants, ranging from $500 to $5,000, can be utilized for food, clothing, and emergency assistance for utilities and rent. Eligible organizations must be tax-exempt nonprofits, operational for at least one year, and actively addressing basic needs in specific counties of West Virginia and Ohio. This initiative aims to enhance community well-being and support vulnerable populations.

NOTE: Prior to starting your application, a requirement is to contact the Program Officer to discuss your project idea.
Overview
This grant program assists organizations in providing direct material aid to populations and communities that are under-resourced in the foundation’s service area. For example, grants may be awarded to organizations to provide food, clothing, personal care items, and/or emergency assistance for utility and rent payments for individuals in need. Grants range from $500 to a maximum of $5,000.
The Basic Needs/Direct Service GrantsProgram may be a fit for your organization if you need funds to provide direct material aid.

Eligibility

Your organization is eligible if all of the following are true:Your organization is a tax-exempt nonprofit under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or a public institution.
Your organization has been in operation and has provided direct material aid for at least one year.
Your efforts to respond to the basic needs of populations and communities that are under-resourced is already a demonstrated and integral part of the mission and activities of your organization.The project or strategy will positively impact residents in one or more counties of our service area:West Virginia: Calhoun, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Tyler, Wirt, WoodOhio: Athens, Meigs, WashingtonProvision of basic needs is already a demonstrated and integral part of the mission and activities of the organization.The funding request advances healthy eating, active living; thriving neighborhoods; or mental health and addiction in the Mid-Ohio Valley.

Ineligibility

We are unable to provide grants to the following:Endowment fundsIndividualsBand instruments and school music programs.Individual athletic programs (e.g. school athletic programs, sports leagues)Organizations seeking retroactive funding for projects that have been completed or will be completed prior to the grant decision datePrograms where participation in a specific faith-based service or activity is required as a condition for receiving assistance. Our aim is to ensure that all people are able to receive services regardless of their faith or non-faith journey.To help our grant partners better understand our funding interests, we also want to share examples of projects that occasionally are proposed but do not align strongly with SHF funding priorities and are not typically funded. These include:
Projects that benefit only a specific school classroom (preference is for school or district-wide projects)Field trips and one-time eventsProjects that focus on the arts, unless there is a strong health/mental health connectionRequests from volunteer fire departments and emergency medical services that relate primarily to community safety and/or firefightingCapital renovations to places of worshipRequests from organizations with a national focus who do not have strong local partnerships in our 11-county service area