Community Development / Health Grants

The Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation aims to foster human development in West Virginia and Southwestern Pennsylvania by strategically distributing charitable resources. Guided by principles of collaboration and innovation, the Foundation supports community development and health initiatives. Their focus includes enhancing health care accessibility, promoting leadership, and addressing social determinants of health. They prioritize projects that engage diverse community members and encourage cross-sector collaboration to maximize impact and sustainability in these regions.

Guiding Principles
The following principles guide the Foundation’s grants programs in those regions:
We honor Michael and Sarah Benedum’s belief in “helping people help themselves,” and we seek opportunities to cultivate the creativity of people and communities.We nurture leadership within the communities we serve, and we participate in leadership when it adds value.We encourage planning, projects and programs that cross geographical and political boundaries so that access to services and economic growth is maximized.We expect collaboration among the public, private and nonprofit sectors in order to leverage the resources that each can bring to common concerns.We strive to advance innovative practices that demonstrate measurable and sustainable benefit.We seek projects that contribute to advancement in public policy.
In keeping with the wishes of Michael and Sarah Benedum, the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation is a regional philanthropy focusing on West Virginia and Southwestern Pennsylvania. The Foundation generally invests two-thirds of its grant dollars in West Virginia and one-third in Southwestern Pennsylvania.
The Foundation serves the entire state of West Virginia. In Southwestern Pennsylvania, the service area includes Allegheny, Washington, Greene, and Fayette Counties. This four-county area is a natural connector between Pittsburgh and West Virginia and contains rural communities that may benefit from the Benedum Foundation’s experiences in West Virginia.
However, the Foundation recognizes that economic regions do not follow political boundaries, and therefore, the Foundation both encourages projects that cross state lines, and supports economic initiatives that benefit the multi-state economy centered on Pittsburgh.
Program Areas: Community Development and Health
The Foundation supports Community Development and Health Services grants programs in West Virginia,.
West Virginia will benefit when all families have access to high-quality health care. The best possible resources are required for families to raise their children to be productive members of their communities.
Emphasis in this program area is placed on innovations in health care delivery systems, a strengthening of the public health infrastructure, and community-based health promotion; especially regarding chronic disease prevention and management. Collaborative efforts involving communities, businesses, and public agencies are encouraged through technical assistance, program development, research, and public policy. Current specific areas of interest include:
Support for a healthier quality of life for West Virginians through access to affordable health care, preventive health services, state-level policy development, and quality care systems across the lifespan.
Ensuring a system of accessible and affordable health care for children, and the promotion of healthy development and child-focused public policy.
Address social drivers of health to promote health and well-being.
Improving capabilities of leaders, organizations, and interested citizens to address challenges and opportunities will help communities be more prosperous through their own efforts.
The Benedum Foundation promotes the economic well-being and quality of life of West Virginia communities.
Current specific areas of interest include:

• Activities that engage diverse groups of citizens in the life of the community.
• Efforts that help communities organize, plan, and implement ambitious but achievable improvement strategies.
• Leadership development.
• Programs that improve the effectiveness and accountability of nonprofit and public organizations.
• Efforts to expand technology access, affordability, and utilization.

Eligibility

Grants are made only to 501(c)(3) organizations and to qualified government units and agencies.

Ineligibility

The Foundation generally does not make grants in support of:Organizations located outside West Virginia or Southwestern PennsylvaniaIndividualsOrganizations not exempt from taxation under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3)Student aid, fellowships, or travelConstruction or equipmentEndowmentOngoing operating expensesNational organizationsBiomedical researchReligious organizations for religious purposesIndividual elementary and secondary schoolsAnnual appeals or membership drivesLobbying activitiesConferences, films, books, and audio-visual productions, unless an integral part of a Foundation-supported program.