Basic Needs/Direct Service Grants Program

The Basic Needs/Direct Service Grants Program is administered by the Sisters Health Foundation, a nonprofit organization aligned with the Congregation of St. Joseph. The Foundation serves under-resourced populations within a defined geographic region and seeks to improve the health and well-being of individuals and communities. This particular grant program focuses on providing direct material assistance to meet basic needs, such as food, clothing, personal care items, and emergency aid related to housing and utilities. It is designed to support organizations actively involved in offering immediate material support to vulnerable populations. The goal of the Basic Needs/Direct Service Grants Program is to enhance the ability of community-based organizations to respond to urgent needs within their localities. Grants range from $500 to $5,000 and must be used exclusively for the provision of direct material aid. The Foundation explicitly excludes funding for general operating expenses, equipment, or other non-direct support needs under this program. Applicants whose requests fall outside this scope are encouraged to explore the Foundation’s Responsive Grants Program instead. Eligible applicants must be either a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or a public institution. They must have a minimum of one year of operational history providing direct material aid and must demonstrate that such aid is central to their mission and activities. Additionally, the proposed project must positively impact residents in one or more of the counties within the Foundation’s designated service area. While the specific counties are not listed in the source material, eligibility is geographically limited to this defined area. The application process is designed to be time-efficient and user-friendly. Interested applicants must begin by emailing Marian Clowes, Associate Director, at mclowes@sistershealthfdn.org to schedule a conversation with Foundation staff. This discussion is intended to clarify the project's fit with program goals. Following the conversation, Foundation staff will draft an initial application on behalf of the applicant. Once the draft is ready, the applicant is responsible for reviewing, editing, uploading a project budget, and submitting the final application via the online system. The Basic Needs/Direct Service Grants Program operates on a biannual cycle. For 2025, the spring cycle opens on January 22 with notifications sent in February, while the fall cycle opens on July 16 with notifications sent in August. Applicants are encouraged to initiate contact at least two weeks prior to these deadlines to allow time for the preliminary conversation and application drafting. Once awarded, funds must be used exclusively for the stated project within the designated grant period. No more than 10% of awarded funds may be used for administrative purposes. A final report must be submitted within one year of grant receipt or sooner if all funds are expended. Organizations may receive funding only once per 12-month period. Applications are evaluated based on the project’s service to under-resourced populations, evidence of need, alignment with the Foundation’s priorities, and organizational capacity. For assistance with the online system, applicants may contact Shei Sanchez at ssanchez@sistershealthfdn.org or call 304-424-6080 ext. 1. General inquiries should be directed to Marian Clowes at mclowes@sistershealthfdn.org or 304-424-6080. All communication should occur well in advance of the deadline to ensure adequate preparation.

Applicants should email at least two weeks before the deadline; review the Conversation Guide before the call.