Families at the HEART: Healing, Empowerment, and Access to Relational and Transformative Practices

Families at the HEART is a Perigee Fund initiative focused on strengthening and expanding community-developed intervention models that increase access to culturally rooted mental health support for families during pregnancy and the first three years of a child’s life.

This opportunity is not intended to fund direct service delivery. Instead, it supports organizations that have designed, adapted, and refined their own models based on community wisdom, implementation practice, and lived experience. Eligible organizations must be the originators or lead stewards of the model they are seeking to grow. If your organization is seeking funding for direct service model implementation, you are not eligible for this grant.

At its core, Families at the HEART is guided by the belief that healing begins with connection—through trusting relationships and culturally rooted care. Communities have long held the wisdom to care for their families, and this knowledge is both powerful and essential in advancing mental health equity. This initiative seeks to shift the landscape by investing in the practices and relationships that communities rely on to support healing, connection, and well-being.

We invite applications from organizations rooted in community, advancing therapeutic models, and holding a bold vision for systems change. We seek leaders committed to healing-centered, culturally rooted approaches—ready to grow their models and expand their reach. Together, we can ensure that more families have access to the care they deserve: care that honors who they are and supports their journey toward healing and thriving.

Eligibility

_ You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's [website]().

Application Details

Section 4: Key Definitions 14
Request for Proposals: Families at the HEART 2 Table of Contents

Funding Opportunity Executive Summary
Perigee Fund is a Seattle-based philanthropic We invite applications from organizations with
organization working nationally to support families deep community ties, that are using therapeutic
during pregnancy and the first three years of models and bringing a bold vision for systems
a child’s life. Guided by a deep commitment to change.
systems change to strengthen early relationships are ready to grow their models and expand their
and promote infant and caregiver mental health. reach.
and supports their path to healing and thriving.
by trauma, poverty, and racism—have access
to the support they need to heal and thrive.
training, and expected outcomes, making the models
teachable, replicable, and accessible. Rather than Systems & Policies
racism, and poverty—approaches shaped by
community wisdom and implementation practice.
aims to transform systems by strengthening
Definitions section on page 14.
the models and networks that communities
already rely on for healing and well-being.
Request for Proposals: Families at the HEART 3 Table of Contents

Models that Serve Diverse Prenatal-to-Age-3 Families
relationships between babies and their caregivers caregiving experience. Families may carry trauma
are the foundation for lifelong health and well-being. related to systemic factors such as immigration,
Early Relationships are one of the most powerful incarceration, or involvement with the child
predictors of a child’s future mental, emotional, welfare system, as well as from experiences during
and physical outcomes. Still, nearly one in five pregnancy and birth or the ongoing demands
children under age five in the U.S. experiences a of caring for children with complex medical,
social, emotional, or behavioral concern, many developmental, or behavioral needs.
of which can be traced to disruptions in early models that honor these experiences and support
childhood relationships between children and a diversity of caregiving roles—including fathers,
caregivers.1 To help these early bonds flourish, co-parents, and multigenerational caregivers.
as early as possible, only 15% of infants and
builds on the strengths that help children thrive.
established models have strong evidence bases, built
continue cycles of disconnection and adversity.
recognize and respond to both, together and
where families live, work, and seek support.
separately. Trauma histories are not shared
equally. Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Community-rooted therapeutic models—often
(BIPOC) are more likely to experience maternal grounded in cultural wisdom and shaped by lived
and infant mental health challenges, while also experiences—are uniquely positioned to address
facing structural racism, stigma, and limited access trauma histories, promote mental wellbeing, and
to healing care. Black and Indigenous women navigate systemic inequities in ways that meet
are two to three times more likely to experience the needs of families with shared cultural and
maternal mental health complications and are life experiences. Despite their relevance and
far less likely to receive culturally attuned care.3 potential, these models remain underfunded,
Request for Proposals: Families at the HEART 4 Table of Contents

underrecognized, and excluded from systems not existing investments in established models, Perigee
designed with their leadership or communities is pleased to launch Families at the HEART—a grant
in mind. Research and common sense suggest initiative designed to resource community-rooted
provides funding, time, and capacity-building
The need for culturally rooted relationship-centered support for these models to grow and thrive.
of trauma and inequity persist. To complement
Request for Proposals: Families at the HEART 5 Table of Contents

Families at the HEART: A Unique Funding Opportunity
Families at the HEART (Healing, Empowerment, practice, and the strategic partnership of social
and Access to Relational and Transformative venture philanthropy, which provide hands-on
Practice) is a three-year initiative designed to guidance to help intervention models grow,
resource, strengthen, and elevate community-led strengthen infrastructure, diversify their revenue
intervention models, centering the wisdom, strategies, and increase impact for families.
training, and expected outcomes, making the
foundation for lasting, community-rooted impact.
models teachable, replicable, and accessible.
board of field experts will help select grantees and
tailored to their model and community context.
offer ongoing guidance throughout the initiative.
communities, adapting models to new settings,
change rooted in justice, healing, and equity.
or embedding them within broader systems.
requires intentional space, reflection, and resources
beyond the demands of day-to-day service delivery.
families of color, the discipline of implementation
Request for Proposals: Families at the HEART 6 Table of Contents

both the time and resources needed to focus
intentionally on model development.
The initiative is grounded in three common goals
that will be shared across the cohort of grantees:

1. Strengthening model development and impact.
2. Building financially stable growth and

adaptability for the model.

1. Nurturing leadership as a driver

of transformative change that can
shift broader systems of care.
leaders, with structured opportunities for
peer collaboration, reflection, and growth.
plans, engage advisors of their choosing, and
access shared resources for ongoing support.
systems change in early relational and
mental health.
Request for Proposals: Families at the HEART 7 Table of Contents

Who Can Apply (Eligibility)
To be eligible for this initiative, applicants must Data & Funding
meet all of the following criteria:

• • The model has at least two cycles of data, with a
• Leadership Engagement preference for three, and has used this data to
• inform the intervention or implementation
• • Leaders have interest in, readiness for, and strategy.
• capacity to engage in the step change process
• across all the initiative’s three focus areas: model • The model has been supported by at least
• development and impact; financial strategy and two funding sources for at least two years.
• adaptability; and leadership development.
• Organizational
• • Leaders show a clear vision and commitment
• to grow and expand their model, whether by • The organization must be a 501(c)(3)
• reaching more families in existing communities, nonprofit, a tribal entity, a public agency,
• adding new sites, or integrating the model into or be fiscally sponsored by a nonprofit.
• other early childhood systems and networks.
• • Universities or academic institutions are not
• • The organizational structure shares leadership eligible to apply as lead applicants, though
• and power via meaningful participation of families they may participate as subcontractors.
• in program design, strategy, and decision-making.
• Models that have previously received Perigee funding
• for model implementation or expansion are not
• Model Characteristics
• eligible. Though this initiative is intended to engage
• • The model is therapeutic and/or somatic in nature, new partners, organizations that have previously
• which may include clinical support or healing received funding for model implementation may
• practices rooted in cultural values and traditions. submit an Expression of Interest for a model that
• has not previously been funded by Perigee.
• • The model centers diverse experiences of families
• in the prenatal-to-age-3 period, including those We encourage applications from across all U.S.
• living in rural areas, immigrant families, families geographies, including rural, urban, and tribal
• with disabilities or children with complex communities, to ensure diverse regional
• medical needs, veterans, and families across representation.
• varied cultures, languages, and insurance types.
• • There is demonstrated demand for the
• model from BIPOC families and cultural
• groups who have historically been
• underserved by systems of care.
• • The model has been in operation for at least
• two years.
• Request for Proposals: Families at the HEART 8 Table of Contents

Funding Purpose & Restrictions
This funding opportunity offers an up front, one-time Restrictions:

• award of $425,000 per grantee to resource model
• growth and expansion over a three-year grant period. • Families at the HEART is not designed
• to fund direct services or programs.
• Funding is designed to accelerate a strategic change
• process within a defined timeframe and includes
• • This opportunity supports models focused on
• support for implementation and capacity building.
• intervention and treatment that include mental
• health care. Proposals focused solely on promotion
• Intended Use of Funds
• or primary prevention will not be considered.
• Funding may be used to support:
• • Perigee Fund will not fund universities
• • Dedicated staff time for individuals actively or academic institutions directly, though
• involved in planning, capacity building, grantees may subcontract them as needed.
• and model growth and development.
• • Capital expenditures are not allowed.
• • Time and resources to explore sustainability
• and diversified revenue sources, including
• engagement with prospective public
• and private sector funders.
• • Internal capacity-building efforts to
• strengthen organizational systems that
• enable model growth and expansion.
• • Lobbying activities—when directly related
• to securing funding for the model.
• • Direct costs to implement capacity-building plans
• (e.g., data collection consultation, improvements
• to monitoring and evaluation systems, billing
• specialists, updating training manuals).
• Request for Proposals: Families at the HEART 9 Table of Contents

Three-Year Initiative Expected Involvement
Grantees will engage in a structured, cohort-based learning experience designed to foster shared learning,
reflection, and growth. Supported by Perigee Fund, capacity-building partners, and expert advisors, grantees
will benefit from ongoing mentorship and collaborative support. Grantees are expected to involve multiple
team members to ensure shared ownership of learning and implementation. Leadership must commit to the
step-change process by supporting the active participation of those doing the work. The cadence of engagement—
through regular meetings and touchpoints—will be shaped together, honoring the needs and input of all involved.
Year One: Planning and Design
The first year will focus on intentional planning to identify capacity-building goals and co-design
strategies for implementation. Grantees will work closely with advisors and consultants selected by
Perigee Fund and additional partners to develop individualized plans that align with their mission
and model.
ongoing reflection and the collective wisdom of the cohort. Expected Activities in Year One:

• • One-on-one meetings with capacity-building advisors to develop tailored strategies
• and activities
• • Quarterly cohort learning sessions
• • In-person convening in Fall 2026
• • Semi-annual check-in meetings with Perigee
• At the end of year one, grantees will have developed a comprehensive capacity-building plan to
• strengthen and grow their intervention model.
• Years Two and Three: Implementation and Sustainability
• In years two and three, grantees will focus on implementing their capacity-building plans and
• embedding sustainable practices that support model growth, adaptability, and long-term impact.
• Organizations will have the flexibility to engage consultants and coaches aligned with their evolving

needs. In addition to using their grant funds for individualized support, grantees will have access
to pooled resources for shared services identified as valuable across the cohort, such as healing-
centered practices for staff or individual coaching. Expected Activities in Years Two and Three:

• • Continued one-on-one support from capacity-building partners
• • Independent work on implementation
• • Quarterly cohort learning sessions
• • In-person convenings in Fall 2027 and Fall 2028
• • Semi-annual check-in meetings with Perigee
• Evaluation and Learning
• Throughout the initiative, grantees will collaborate with an evaluation partner designated and

funded by Perigee. This partner will be funded separately and will not draw from grantee-awarded
funds. This partnership will support shared learning, track progress toward initiative-wide goals,
and generate insights that contribute to broader systems change in prenatal-to-3-mental health.
Request for Proposals: Families at the HEART 10 Table of Contents

Initiative Goals and Possible Strategies
Grantees are expected to plan and implement 2. Financial Stability and Adaptability: Build the
strategies and activities that address all financial and operational foundation needed
three goal areas of the initiative. for long-term sustainability, adaptability, and
growth. Examples of strategies that could be

1. Model Development and Impact: Strengthen,

implemented through this grant in this domain:

• refine, and evaluate therapeutic, healing-
• centered models to better serve families and • Developing a comprehensive financial strategy
• communities, deepening both effectiveness and that outlines the total cost of services, revenue

relevance. Examples of strategies that could be generation, and sustainable funding models
implemented through this grant in this domain: for expansion.
organizational agility to navigate potential
facilitate model expansion.
challenges.
streams and alternative revenue sources
communicate impact.
effectively.
• Supporting evaluation activities that help
validate evidence across a continuum, 3. Leadership Nurturing: Enhance leaders’ capacity
including evidence rooted in lived experience to cultivate strategic relationships, communicate
and community-designed approaches. the impact of their models, and influence

• Co-designing implementation tools that build systems, while nurturing personal growth and

collective understanding of the model or resilience as essential components of sustainable
practice. leadership. Examples of strategies that could be
implemented through this grant in this domain:

• • Engaging communities to ensure models
• reflect cultural strengths and local wisdom.
• • Expanding networks of potential
• funders, partners, and advocates.
• • Strengthening relationships
• with peer leaders, models, and
• field-building coalitions.
• • Participating in optional opportunities
• related to racial healing, justice, and
• transformative leadership.
• Request for Proposals: Families at the HEART 11 Table of Contents

Perigee will address questions in the information
session on Thursday, July 17th at 10:00 a.m. PT Up to 12 finalist organizations will be invited to
in English and on Tuesday, July 22nd at 10:00 submit a full proposal based on alignment with
a.m. PT in Spanish. Each
virtual group interview with Perigee staff and
Phase 1: Expression of Interest (EOI) the anticipated capacity-building providers.
an external review panel of field experts. Final funding
Expression of Interest submissions will be decisions will be made by Perigee Fund, informed
accepted via our Perigee Partner Portal until by the advisory group’s input and with attention to
5:00 p.m. PT on Friday, August 15, 2025. geographic diversity across the selected cohort.
EOIs will be reviewed by the Perigee team and an Up to six organizations will be selected for funding.
advisory group of community and field experts. Finalist organizations not selected will receive a $1,000
honorarium in recognition of their time and effort.
Request for Proposals: Families at the HEART 12 Table of Contents

Request for Proposals: Families at the HEART 13 Table of Contents
July 8, 2025 | Expression of Interest Period Opens
Questions can be found on the Perigee Fund website.
July 17, 2025 (10:00 a.m. PT) | English Information Session
A recording of the English session will be published on the Perigee Fund website.
July 22, 2025 (10:00 a.m. PT) | Spanish Information Session
A recording of the Spanish session will be published on the Perigee Fund website.
August 15, 2025 (5:00 p.m. PT) | Expressions of Interest Due
Submit EOIs via the Perigee Partner Portal.
Mid-September, 2025 | Up to 12 Finalists Invited to Interview and Participate
in the Proposal Process
September 29 - October 24, 2025 | Virtual Interviews Conducted
Finalists participate in virtual interviews while proposals are in development.
October 31, 2025 (5:00 p.m. PT) | Completed Proposals Due
Submit proposals via the Perigee Partner Portal.
Mid-December, 2025 | Applicants Notified of Award
Up to six applicants will be selected and notified of funding decisions.
January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2028 | Grant Period
Families at the HEART funding and program activities underway.
If you have questions about this RFP, please submit them in writing, in the language of your choice, to
rfp@perigeefund.org.
Asked Questions (FAQ) page on our website so that all applicants have access to the same questions and
answers. Perigee will also address questions in the information session and will publish a recording of

Section 4: Key Definitions
This glossary represents Perigee’s working definitions of terms used throughout this RFP in absence
of universally accepted definitions.
Adaptability is the ability to remain flexible across Prenatal-to-Age-3 Mental Health: Perigee uses the
systems, finances, and in response to external circum- term “prenatal-to-age-3 mental health” to encompass
stances in order to be responsive to family needs, while the relational nature of mental health for babies and
upholding the core principals and model effectiveness. their caregivers throughout pregnancy, infancy, and
Culturally Rooted: Strongly connected to a particular
includes:

• culture and reflective of its values and traditions.
• • Caregiver mental health during pregnancy and
• Data Criteria: Information collected by running your early parenting, particularly maternal mental

program or model three different cycles with three dif- health (MMH). MMH typically refers to a range of
ferent groups of people. Each cycle gives you a chance mental health and substance use challenges that,
to learn what’s working, make improvements, and show because of biological and/or social factors, occur
how your approach supports families over time. during and/or after pregnancy. Non-birthing
and impact to serve more individuals or communities
during the pregnancy and postpartum period.
while maintaining or enhancing model effectiveness.
Expansion is a building block for increasing family • Infant and early childhood mental health, defined
place in the context of caregiver dyad, community,
Impact is the overall effectiveness with families.
and culture.
Implementation Practice: Applying and adapting evi- Perigee thinks about support for prenatal-to-age-3
dence-based implementation approaches to real world mental health broadly, across promotion, prevention,
settings to achieve desired outcomes. intervention, and treatment. Compelling applicants
Model or Intervention: The intervention model has
the HEART is not designed to fund promotion models.
defined and documented approaches that include tools,
resources, training, and expected outcomes—making Social Venture Philanthropy: A form of impact
them teachable, replicable, and accessible. investing where philanthropic organizations allocate
resources to social causes using methods like tradi-
tional venture capital.
cumulative advances toward achieving longer term
goals that will happen after the three-year grant period.
Request for Proposals: Families at the HEART 14 Table of Contents

Somatic: Somatic treatment models in infant and early Therapeutic is the intervention or practice aimed at
childhood mental health, focused on the parent-child treating existing conditions that support the infant’s
dyad aim to address trauma and attachment issues emotional, social, and developmental well-being,
through body-based approaches. These models recog- often focusing on the parent-child relationship. While
nize the interconnectedness of physical and emotional models that connect families with therapists or therapy
experiences, particularly in the early years when chil- are encouraged, Perigee holds the view that in many
dren are largely nonverbal. Instead of solely relying on cases models can be therapeutic without involving a
verbal communication, they use movement, touch, and clinical therapist.
regulate emotions, improve communication, and foster
secure attachments.
place. Some are explicit or semi-explicit, and others
are implicit.
maternal, infant, and early childhood mental health
support is more available and accessible to families.
change, as they work to ensure mental health support
is more equitably available for families.
FSG’s “inverted triangle” framework
Request for Proposals: Families at the HEART 15 Table of Contents

References

1. National Center for Children in Poverty. (2022). Young child risk calculator. Retrieved from https://www.nccp.org
2. Whitney, D. G., & Peterson, M. D. (2019). US national and state-level prevalence of mental health disorders and

disparities of mental health care use in children. JAMA Pediatrics, 173(4), 389–391.
https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2018.5399

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Maternal mental health: Depression during and after preg-

nancy. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/depression/index.htm

1. Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance. (2023). Racial and ethnic disparities in maternal mental health.

Retrieved from https://www.mmhla.org

1. Griner, D., & Smith, T. B. (2006). Culturally adapted mental health interventions: A meta-analytic review. Psycho-

therapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 43(4), 531–548. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-3204.43.4.531
Request for Proposals: Families at the HEART 16 Table of Contents

Request for Proposals
Families at the HEART: Healing, Empowerment, and
Access to Relational and Transformative Practices
July 2025

Table of Contents
Section 1: Overview 3
Funding Opportunity Executive Summary
Section 2: Funding Opportunity 4
The Need and Opportunity to Grow Community-Rooted Healing
Models that Serve Diverse Prenatal-to-Age-3 Families
Families at the HEART: A Unique Funding Opportunity
Section 3: Key Information 7
Offerings and Expectations
Who Can Apply (Eligibility)
Funding Purpose & Restrictions
Three-Year Initiative Expected Involvement
Initiative Goals and Possible Strategies
Review and Selection Process
Timeline Overview and Contact Information
Section 4: Key Definitions 14
Request for Proposals: Families at the HEART 2 Table of Contents

Section 1: Overview
Funding Opportunity Executive Summary
Perigee Fund is a Seattle-based philanthropic We invite applications from organizations with
organization working nationally to support families deep community ties, that are using therapeutic
during pregnancy and the first three years of models and bringing a bold vision for systems
a child’s life. Guided by a deep commitment to change. We are seeking leaders committed to
equity, we invest in community-rooted efforts and healing-centered, culturally rooted approaches who
systems change to strengthen early relationships are ready to grow their models and expand their
and promote infant and caregiver mental health. reach. Together, we can expand access to the care
Our vision is to end intergenerational trauma by families deserve: care that reflects who they are
and supports their path to healing and thriving.