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

PERIGEE FUND

Funding Amount

Varies

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Grant Type

foundation

Overview

Overview

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

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Application Details

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.
ensuring families—especially those impacted
by trauma, poverty, and racism—have access
to the support they need to heal and thrive.
Families at the HEART (Healing, Empowerment, and
Access to Relational and Transformative Practices) Baby &
Caregiver
is a Perigee Fund initiative that supports the growth
of community-rooted mental health models that,
Family
once expanded, will increase access for families
during pregnancy and the early years of a child’s
Communities
life. By “models,” we mean clearly defined and
documented approaches that include tools, resources,
Programs
training, and expected outcomes, making the models
teachable, replicable, and accessible. Rather than Systems & Policies
funding direct services or individual programs, the
initiative invests in approaches uniquely positioned
to address the compounding impacts of trauma,
racism, and poverty—approaches shaped by
community wisdom and implementation practice.
Grounded in the belief that healing begins with
connection, this initiative uplifts practices
Perigee’s working definitions of the
centered in cultural identity, trusted relationships,
terms hyperlinked throughout this
and collective care. Families at the HEART
document can be found in the Key
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

Section 2: Funding Opportunity
The Need and Opportunity to Grow Community-Rooted Healing
Models that Serve Diverse Prenatal-to-Age-3 Families
At Perigee Fund, we believe that strong, nurturing We recognize that trauma can deeply shape the
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. We support
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.
families deserve support that honors their
Despite the increasing need and power of intervening
cultures, reflects their lived experiences, and
as early as possible, only 15% of infants and
builds on the strengths that help children thrive.
toddlers with mental health concerns receive
developmentally appropriate relationship-based
Research shows that untreated parental mental
intervention services. Access is even more limited
health challenges, such as perinatal mood and
for families of color.4 While mental health support
anxiety disorders, affect up to 20% of mothers
may appear in pediatric clinics, home visiting
and are linked to developmental and emotional
programs, early learning settings, and community
difficulties in children.2 When trauma in a parent’s
organizations, many established models of care still
life goes unaddressed, it can make it more difficult to
fall short of meeting the scale of family need. Some
respond to a child’s needs and may unintentionally
established models have strong evidence bases, built
continue cycles of disconnection and adversity.
through long-term investment and institutional
While mental health and trauma are deeply
support. Yet many still struggle to adapt to families’
interconnected, they are not interchangeable—
evolving needs, grow equitably, sustain funding, or
supporting families requires approaches that
deliver consistent therapeutic care in the systems
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
that culturally tailored interventions improve
models, tailored to meet the needs of underserved
engagement, satisfaction, and outcomes—yet these
BIPOC families and cultural groups. This initiative
approaches continue to lack adequate investment.5
provides funding, time, and capacity-building
The need for culturally rooted relationship-centered support for these models to grow and thrive.
mental health care is urgent. Without it, cycles
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.
experiences, and strengths of families who
Growth requires more than a strong model—it also
have been historically marginalized, especially
requires the right internal conditions and external
BIPOC. By “models,” we mean clearly defined and
support systems. Families at the HEART is committed
documented approaches that include tools, resources,
to investing in organizations so they can build that
training, and expected outcomes, making the
foundation for lasting, community-rooted impact.
models teachable, replicable, and accessible.
Each organization will chart its own course—
Each selected organization will receive a total upfront
aligned with its model, mission, and community
grant award of $425,000 beginning in January 2026
leadership—while nurturing the teams driving
to support the time and direct costs needed for
transformative change for families. An advisory
planning and implementing capacity-building efforts
board of field experts will help select grantees and
tailored to their model and community context.
offer ongoing guidance throughout the initiative.
This initiative is designed to support step-change
While we are united by common goals, grantees
growth, helping models deepen their impact, respond
will lead the development of their own
to evolving needs, and expand in sustainable,
strategies. Together, we aim to learn not only
healing-centered ways. Growth may take many
how culturally specific models grow, but how
forms, including enhancing services within existing
funding can serve as a catalyst for systemic
communities, adapting models to new settings,
change rooted in justice, healing, and equity.
or embedding them within broader systems.
Families at the HEART is not intended to fund
direct services or short-term programs. Instead, it
supports the refinement, adaptation, and long-
term sustainability of therapeutic and/or somatic
models. This kind of growth is time-intensive and
requires intentional space, reflection, and resources
beyond the demands of day-to-day service delivery.
We recognize that meaningful transformation
takes time. That’s why the initiative offers not
only direct funding, but also targeted support
in evaluation, capacity building, technical
assistance, and professional development. The
initiative brings together the lived experiences of
families of color, the discipline of implementation
Request for Proposals: Families at the HEART 6 Table of Contents

Section 3: Key Information
Offerings and Expectations
Selected grantees will receive a total of $425,000
in funding over three years to support model
development efforts. This investment is designed
to help organizations strengthen, sustain, and
expand community-rooted, healing-centered
models for prenatal-to-age-3 families, providing
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.
3. Nurturing leadership as a driver
of transformative change that can
shift broader systems of care.
Grantees will join a learning cohort and
receive mentorship from experienced
leaders, with structured opportunities for
peer collaboration, reflection, and growth.
In the first year, grantees will work with Perigee
Fund and capacity partners to develop tailored,
actionable, and capacity-building plans. In
years two and three, they will implement those
plans, engage advisors of their choosing, and
access shared resources for ongoing support.
An initiative-wide evaluation partner will engage
with grantees throughout the three years to support
learning, measure growth, and inform broader
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. We recognize that this work is time-intensive; plans are expected to evolve through
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.
• Creating a strategic approach that integrates
• Defining key elements of model integrity and
risk assessment, scenario planning, and
identifying challenges and opportunities to
organizational agility to navigate potential
facilitate model expansion.
challenges.
• Strengthening measurement, evaluation,
• Strengthening organizational capacity to
and learning processes to improve service
attract and manage diversified funding
quality, enhance storytelling, and effectively
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

Review and Selection Process
Information Session Phase 2: Full Proposal & Virtual
Interviews
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. We will publish a recording initiative goals and demonstrated readiness. Each
of both information sessions on our website. finalist organization will also participate in a
virtual group interview with Perigee staff and
Phase 1: Expression of Interest (EOI) the anticipated capacity-building providers.
Full proposals will be reviewed by the Perigee team and
Due at 5:00 p.m. PT on Friday, August 15, 2025
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
Expression
of
Interest
Proposal
Award
Timeline Overview
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. As we receive questions, Perigee staff will create and routinely update a Frequently
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
the information session on our website.

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
early childhood. Prenatal-to-age-3 mental health
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
parents of all genders can also experience mood
Expansion is the process of broadening the reach, scope,
and anxiety disorders and substance use disorders
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
access. as early social-emotional development, takes
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
will likely work across multiple areas, but Families at
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.
Step changes are concrete, incremental, and ideally
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.
other sensory experiences to help parents and infants
regulate emotions, improve communication, and foster
secure attachments.
Systems Change: Systems change is defined as “shifting
the conditions that are holding the problem in place.”
This definition comes from the Social Innovation Gen-
eration (SIG) group in Canada and is used by FSG in the
2018 article, “The Water of Systems Change.” Drawing
from extensive literature about systems change, the
“Water of Systems Change” defines six conditions
that often hold social or environmental problems in
place. Some are explicit or semi-explicit, and others
are implicit.
For this RFP, Perigee defines systems change as the
work of shifting conditions in an ecosystem so that
maternal, infant, and early childhood mental health
support is more available and accessible to families.
The work of each grantee will likely include the three
levels of structural, relational, and transformative
change, as they work to ensure mental health support
is more equitably available for families.
Six Conditions of Systems Change
Structural Change (Explicit)
Policies Practices Resource
Flows
Relational Change (Semi-Explicit)
Relationships Power
& Connections Dynamics
Transformative
Change
(Implicit)
Mental
Models
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
3. 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
4. Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance. (2023). Racial and ethnic disparities in maternal mental health.
Retrieved from https://www.mmhla.org
5. 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

How to Apply

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.
ensuring families—especially those impacted
by trauma, poverty, and racism—have access
to the support they need to heal and thrive.
Families at the HEART (Healing, Empowerment, and
Access to Relational and Transformative Practices) Baby &
Caregiver
is a Perigee Fund initiative that supports the growth
of community-rooted mental health models that,
Family
once expanded, will increase access for families
during pregnancy and the early years of a child’s
Communities
life. By “models,” we mean clearly defined and
documented approaches that include tools, resources,
Programs
training, and expected outcomes, making the models
teachable, replicable, and accessible. Rather than Systems & Policies
funding direct services or individual programs, the
initiative invests in approaches uniquely positioned
to address the compounding impacts of trauma,
racism, and poverty—approaches shaped by
community wisdom and implementation practice.
Grounded in the belief that healing begins with
connection, this initiative uplifts practices
Perigee’s working definitions of the
centered in cultural identity, trusted relationships,
terms hyperlinked throughout this
and collective care. Families at the HEART
document can be found in the Key
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

Section 2: Funding Opportunity
The Need and Opportunity to Grow Community-Rooted Healing
Models that Serve Diverse Prenatal-to-Age-3 Families
At Perigee Fund, we believe that strong, nurturing We recognize that trauma can deeply shape the
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. We support
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.
families deserve support that honors their
Despite the increasing need and power of intervening
cultures, reflects their lived experiences, and
as early as possible, only 15% of infants and
builds on the strengths that help children thrive.
toddlers with mental health concerns receive
developmentally appropriate relationship-based
Research shows that untreated parental mental
intervention services. Access is even more limited
health challenges, such as perinatal mood and
for families of color.4 While mental health support
anxiety disorders, affect up to 20% of mothers
may appear in pediatric clinics, home visiting
and are linked to developmental and emotional
programs, early learning settings, and community
difficulties in children.2 When trauma in a parent’s
organizations, many established models of care still
life goes unaddressed, it can make it more difficult to
fall short of meeting the scale of family need. Some
respond to a child’s needs and may unintentionally
established models have strong evidence bases, built
continue cycles of disconnection and adversity.
through long-term investment and institutional
While mental health and trauma are deeply
support. Yet many still struggle to adapt to families’
interconnected, they are not interchangeable—
evolving needs, grow equitably, sustain funding, or
supporting families requires approaches that
deliver consistent therapeutic care in the systems
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
that culturally tailored interventions improve
models, tailored to meet the needs of underserved
engagement, satisfaction, and outcomes—yet these
BIPOC families and cultural groups. This initiative
approaches continue to lack adequate investment.5
provides funding, time, and capacity-building
The need for culturally rooted relationship-centered support for these models to grow and thrive.
mental health care is urgent. Without it, cycles
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.
experiences, and strengths of families who
Growth requires more than a strong model—it also
have been historically marginalized, especially
requires the right internal conditions and external
BIPOC. By “models,” we mean clearly defined and
support systems. Families at the HEART is committed
documented approaches that include tools, resources,
to investing in organizations so they can build that
training, and expected outcomes, making the
foundation for lasting, community-rooted impact.
models teachable, replicable, and accessible.
Each organization will chart its own course—
Each selected organization will receive a total upfront
aligned with its model, mission, and community
grant award of $425,000 beginning in January 2026
leadership—while nurturing the teams driving
to support the time and direct costs needed for
transformative change for families. An advisory
planning and implementing capacity-building efforts
board of field experts will help select grantees and
tailored to their model and community context.
offer ongoing guidance throughout the initiative.
This initiative is designed to support step-change
While we are united by common goals, grantees
growth, helping models deepen their impact, respond
will lead the development of their own
to evolving needs, and expand in sustainable,
strategies. Together, we aim to learn not only
healing-centered ways. Growth may take many
how culturally specific models grow, but how
forms, including enhancing services within existing
funding can serve as a catalyst for systemic
communities, adapting models to new settings,
change rooted in justice, healing, and equity.
or embedding them within broader systems.
Families at the HEART is not intended to fund
direct services or short-term programs. Instead, it
supports the refinement, adaptation, and long-
term sustainability of therapeutic and/or somatic
models. This kind of growth is time-intensive and
requires intentional space, reflection, and resources
beyond the demands of day-to-day service delivery.
We recognize that meaningful transformation
takes time. That’s why the initiative offers not
only direct funding, but also targeted support
in evaluation, capacity building, technical
assistance, and professional development. The
initiative brings together the lived experiences of
families of color, the discipline of implementation
Request for Proposals: Families at the HEART 6 Table of Contents

Section 3: Key Information
Offerings and Expectations
Selected grantees will receive a total of $425,000
in funding over three years to support model
development efforts. This investment is designed
to help organizations strengthen, sustain, and
expand community-rooted, healing-centered
models for prenatal-to-age-3 families, providing
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.
3. Nurturing leadership as a driver
of transformative change that can
shift broader systems of care.
Grantees will join a learning cohort and
receive mentorship from experienced
leaders, with structured opportunities for
peer collaboration, reflection, and growth.
In the first year, grantees will work with Perigee
Fund and capacity partners to develop tailored,
actionable, and capacity-building plans. In
years two and three, they will implement those
plans, engage advisors of their choosing, and
access shared resources for ongoing support.
An initiative-wide evaluation partner will engage
with grantees throughout the three years to support
learning, measure growth, and inform broader
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. We recognize that this work is time-intensive; plans are expected to evolve through
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.
• Creating a strategic approach that integrates
• Defining key elements of model integrity and
risk assessment, scenario planning, and
identifying challenges and opportunities to
organizational agility to navigate potential
facilitate model expansion.
challenges.
• Strengthening measurement, evaluation,
• Strengthening organizational capacity to
and learning processes to improve service
attract and manage diversified funding
quality, enhance storytelling, and effectively
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

Review and Selection Process
Information Session Phase 2: Full Proposal & Virtual
Interviews
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. We will publish a recording initiative goals and demonstrated readiness. Each
of both information sessions on our website. finalist organization will also participate in a
virtual group interview with Perigee staff and
Phase 1: Expression of Interest (EOI) the anticipated capacity-building providers.
Full proposals will be reviewed by the Perigee team and
Due at 5:00 p.m. PT on Friday, August 15, 2025
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
Expression
of
Interest
Proposal
Award
Timeline Overview
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. As we receive questions, Perigee staff will create and routinely update a Frequently
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
the information session on our website.

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
early childhood. Prenatal-to-age-3 mental health
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
parents of all genders can also experience mood
Expansion is the process of broadening the reach, scope,
and anxiety disorders and substance use disorders
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
access. as early social-emotional development, takes
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
will likely work across multiple areas, but Families at
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.
Step changes are concrete, incremental, and ideally
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.
other sensory experiences to help parents and infants
regulate emotions, improve communication, and foster
secure attachments.
Systems Change: Systems change is defined as “shifting
the conditions that are holding the problem in place.”
This definition comes from the Social Innovation Gen-
eration (SIG) group in Canada and is used by FSG in the
2018 article, “The Water of Systems Change.” Drawing
from extensive literature about systems change, the
“Water of Systems Change” defines six conditions
that often hold social or environmental problems in
place. Some are explicit or semi-explicit, and others
are implicit.
For this RFP, Perigee defines systems change as the
work of shifting conditions in an ecosystem so that
maternal, infant, and early childhood mental health
support is more available and accessible to families.
The work of each grantee will likely include the three
levels of structural, relational, and transformative
change, as they work to ensure mental health support
is more equitably available for families.
Six Conditions of Systems Change
Structural Change (Explicit)
Policies Practices Resource
Flows
Relational Change (Semi-Explicit)
Relationships Power
& Connections Dynamics
Transformative
Change
(Implicit)
Mental
Models
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
3. 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
4. Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance. (2023). Racial and ethnic disparities in maternal mental health.
Retrieved from https://www.mmhla.org
5. 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

Focus Areas & Funding Uses

Fields of Work

mental-healthnonprofitscapacity-building

Categories

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