Community Catalyst Grant

The Community Catalyst Grant is administered by the West Virginia First Foundation, a nonprofit organization established to manage and distribute opioid settlement funds in alignment with the West Virginia First Memorandum of Understanding. The Foundation operates exclusively for charitable, educational, and scientific purposes and focuses on addressing substance use disorders, prevention, treatment access, and recovery systems across the state. This grant program represents a structured, multi-year funding initiative designed to support evidence-based and outcome-driven programs that address substance use, public safety, rehabilitation, and prevention. The program provides a total of $9,870,012 in funding distributed across three defined Target Areas: Public Safety Response, Day Report Centers, and Generational Prevention. Each Target Area has a designated funding allocation, with awards distributed over a three-year grant period. Funding must be used strictly for approved purposes and core strategies outlined in the governing Memorandum of Understanding. Allowable costs include personnel, training, direct service delivery, data systems, and program implementation support, while funds may not be used to supplant existing funding or cover unrelated organizational expenses. Indirect costs are capped at 10 percent of requested funds. Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, governmental entities, organizations qualifying under IRC 115, or entities serving a charitable or public purpose acceptable to the Foundation. For-profit organizations are explicitly ineligible. Additional eligibility requirements vary by Target Area and may include specific operational capacity, partnerships, or program models. Applicants must submit only one application and may receive only one award per Target Area per region. Programs must demonstrate the ability to track measurable outcomes and maintain data systems aligned with required metrics. The application process requires submission through the Foundation’s online grant portal. Applicants must prepare and submit a comprehensive package including a project narrative, organizational overview, staffing and capacity details, participant engagement plans, sustainability strategy, and evaluation methodology. Required attachments include a detailed line-item budget using a specified template, proof of tax-exempt or governmental status, financial statements, organizational chart, board list, leadership resumes, partnership agreements, and certifications. Applications must clearly demonstrate measurable outcomes and adherence to required program components. Applications are evaluated based on alignment with the selected Target Area, use of evidence-based strategies, strength of community partnerships, and implementation capacity and sustainability. Each criterion is equally weighted, and final funding decisions are subject to approval by the Foundation’s Board of Directors. The Foundation may request additional documentation, conduct interviews or site visits, and verify submitted information during the review process. The application window opens on June 1, 2026, and closes at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on June 30, 2026. A question submission period runs from May 13 to May 20, 2026, with responses published on May 26, 2026. Applications are reviewed between July and late 2026, with award notifications issued on or before December 31, 2026. Funding is distributed in quarterly tranches and is contingent on performance, reporting compliance, and achievement of program outcomes throughout the three-year grant period. Awardees must comply with extensive reporting, monitoring, and audit requirements, including quarterly reporting and ongoing performance tracking. Continued funding beyond the first year depends on meeting established benchmarks and maintaining compliance. The Foundation retains the authority to modify, suspend, or terminate funding based on performance or compliance issues, ensuring that funded programs deliver measurable and sustainable impact across West Virginia communities.

Align clearly with a Target Area and demonstrate measurable outcomes; prioritize evidence-based strategies; show strong community partnerships; provide clear implementation and sustainability plans