Supporting Grassroots Efforts and Capacity to Address Firearm Injury and Death (FID) Prevention

Missouri Foundation for Health (MFH), a private philanthropic organization dedicated to eliminating health inequities and transforming systems to promote community wellness, has released a Request for Applications (RFA) titled “Supporting Grassroots Efforts and Capacity to Address Firearm Injury and Death (FID) Prevention.” This opportunity targets small grassroots organizations operating in Missouri that are actively involved in community violence interventions (CVI) or firearm suicide prevention (FSP). Through this initiative, MFH aims to strengthen local capacity and infrastructure for FID prevention by offering general operating support to organizations embedded in the communities most affected by firearm-related harms. The grant provides $25,000 annually for two years to qualifying organizations. The funding is unrestricted and can be applied toward operational expenses, infrastructure, community engagement, direct services, or advocacy efforts—so long as those efforts align with the broader goals of FID prevention. Specifically, supported activities may include community healing spaces, advocacy and organizing with people who have lived experience, trauma-informed services, mental health support for front-line staff, and infrastructure or technical assistance for small organizations. This funding mechanism is particularly designed for organizations with a demonstrated commitment to addressing FID and its root causes, such as poverty, disinvestment, and systemic inequities. MFH’s FID Prevention strategy is grounded in several core principles, including systems change, health and racial equity, community-centered engagement, stigma reduction, and a commitment to humility, learning, and innovation. The foundation emphasizes the need to center impacted communities throughout all stages of intervention design and implementation. Preference will be given to applicants with annual budgets under $1 million, particularly those led by individuals with lived experience and those that do not rely on criminal justice or law enforcement approaches in their strategies. Eligible applicants include nonprofit or governmental entities operating within MFH’s funding guidelines. Organizations may apply using a fiscal sponsor if necessary. However, organizations that are currently direct recipients of MFH funding for FSP or CVI are not eligible for this opportunity. Applications are due by noon Central Time on Tuesday, September 2, 2025. MFH strongly recommends submitting ahead of the deadline, as late submissions will not be accepted. The foundation anticipates awarding up to eleven grants—five for CVI-focused efforts and six for FSP-related initiatives. Applicants must complete several submission components, including a one-page acknowledgment form, a three-page narrative (double-spaced, 11-point font minimum) addressing five specified questions, a signed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with any partners, financial statements, current year budget, a conflict of interest disclosure, and—if applicable—a fiscal sponsor agreement. The application portal requires applicants to indicate whether they are applying under the CVI or FSP category and must be completed via MFH’s online grant system. Award notifications are anticipated in November 2025. For questions related to this RFA’s content or goals, interested parties are encouraged to contact Jessi LaRose (Director of Strategic Initiatives) at jlarose@mffh.org or Marcel Scaife (Senior Strategist—Initiatives) at mscaife@mffh.org. For technical questions about the online application system, applicants may contact Wendy Rohrbach, Project Coordinator, at wrohrbach@mffh.org or (314) 345-5504. More information is available at mffh.org.

Submit application well before the noon deadline. MFH will not accept late applications.