SHWF Public Health Grants: Care Closet Grants

Note: Categories for the Public Health Grants include: Care Closet Grants; and Salem Public Health Fellowship.
Salem Health and Wellness Foundation
The Foundation has made over $59 million in grants, contributions and scholarships to more than 60 organizations, all with the specific requirement that the funds address health problems in our county.
Grantmaking Overview
The Salem Health and Wellness Foundation is committed to supporting projects that enhance, improve, and transform the health, safety and well-being of the County’s residents. This is done primarily through the Foundation’s grantmaking process that is simultaneously attentive to community strengths and challenges. All grant opportunities are available through public notice through our website and/or announcements by the Foundation’s Executive Director.
The Foundation’s work is guided by its Mission and Values, as well as the Social Determinants of Health and Five Protective Factors. We believe that the “determinants” should be reframed as “drivers” of health, highlighting the Foundation’s desire to build on the strengths and strong traditions of community support from Salem County’s citizen volunteers, non-profit organizations, government offices, faith and business communities and health care providers. Our grantmaking is based on our belief in possibilities.
Salem Health and Wellness Foundation’s grantmaking is also driven by available data and community narratives. This information supports our priority setting and funding decisions. We strongly encourage all grant applicants to use the valuable combination of data, and the accompanying narratives, in shaping their proposals.
The Salem Health and Wellness Foundation supports system improvement and transformation projects under the category of Public Health grants. These grants are based on the Social Determinants of Health, taking into account the physical, psychological and social well-being and safety of Salem County residents. The projects tend to be larger in scope and nature and typically address the opportunities available to improve significantly the health, safety and well-being outcomes for the County. For the vast majority of grants, our team will approach an organization directly and invite them to submit a proposal. Infrequently, we may solicit applications for a targeted project through an open call for proposals. Public Health grant proposals must be approved by the foundation’s Board of Directors.
Categories for Public Health Grants include: Care Closet Grants; and Salem Public Health Fellowship.
Introduction
The Salem Health and Wellness Foundation (SHWF) is seeking applications from Salem County elementary schools to launch or sustain a Care Closet for students. The purpose of this project is to provide necessities, such as health and hygiene products, healthy snacks, clothing, etc., to Salem County elementary school aged youth. More specifically, the desired long-term goal of the Care Closet project is to alleviate stressors related to basic needs experienced by families, ultimately boosting protective factors around child abuse prevention.
Awarded applicants will receive $2,000 in flexible funding to purchase supplies needed to launch or sustain a Care Closet in their school. The application is open to any elementary school in Salem County serving youth ages 5 to 12. Schools from any Salem County school district are welcome to apply. Finalists will be selected based on merit, not location – awarded applicants will span the County and not be limited to any particular district.

Eligibility

The application is open to any elementary school in Salem County serving youth ages 5 to 12.