Western Reserve Health Foundation Grant

The Western Reserve Health Foundation offers funding aimed at improving the health and well-being of residents in Mahoning County, Ohio. Rooted in a deep understanding of the diverse determinants of health—including structural, cultural, and geographic factors—the Foundation tailors its grantmaking to address inequities experienced by populations such as racial and ethnic minorities, rural or urban communities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, women, and people with disabilities. Grants vary in size and scope to reflect the depth and complexity of the health disparities encountered by different groups in Mahoning County. The Foundation’s current grant priorities align with the 2023–2025 Mahoning County Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). It seeks innovative projects that tackle three key issue areas: mental health and substance abuse, access to care, and community conditions and safety. For mental health and substance abuse, priority is given to community coalitions, collaborations, and proposals expanding evidence-based practices. For access to care, emphasis is placed on culturally congruent care, support for residents in high social vulnerability index areas, strategic partnerships, data tool enhancements, and policy advocacy. Community conditions and safety priorities include improving housing quality, expanding transit and pedestrian infrastructure, increasing greenspace and parks, and enhancing access to healthy foods. In addition to the CHIP priorities, the Foundation also funds organizations and programs that serve cancer patients and their families. All applicants are encouraged to demonstrate how individuals with personal or lived experience influence planning and implementation. Strong proposals will include well-defined success metrics, incorporate both qualitative and quantitative data for impact measurement, and address systemic causes of poor health such as racial inequity and poverty. Projects that aim to change policies, systems, and environments to make healthy choices more accessible are especially encouraged. Further, proposals that leverage additional public and private funding and engage cross-sector partnerships—including public health, government, education, and healthcare—are preferred. The Foundation values alignment with the Healthy Community Partnership, a regional coalition focused on CHIP-aligned strategies. Applicants connected with this partnership and its goals are given funding preference. Organizations not currently engaged with the partnership are encouraged to contact Sarah Lowry at slowry@cfmv.org or 330-743-5555 for guidance on how to get involved. The next application deadline for this grant is October 15, 2025. Applications must be submitted through the Foundation's online grant portal, accessible via their main website. No pre-application deadlines such as Letters of Intent or concept papers are required for this opportunity. While a specific application open date is not mentioned, the fixed deadline indicates a standard submission cycle. Evaluation of applications will be based on several factors including collaboration, equity-focused outcomes, use of data, and potential for long-term systems change. Proposals are reviewed for how well they align with the Foundation’s values and priorities, particularly their relevance to the CHIP and engagement with the Healthy Community Partnership. Funding amounts, total program funding, and number of awards are not specified in the available documentation and may vary depending on project scope and scale.

Applicants not affiliated with the Healthy Community Partnership are encouraged to contact the listed representative for guidance.