Responsive Grants Program

Responsive Grants Program is sponsored by Sisters Health Foundation. The Sisters Health Foundation's Responsive Grants Program is a competitive grants program supporting efforts that promote healthy eating, active living; thriving neighborhoods; and mental health and addiction in the Mid-Ohio Valley. It offers funding for project, capacity building, equipment or technology, small capital projects, or general operating support.

The program operates on a two-stage process: submitting a letter of inquiry and, if invited, a full application. The foundation serves specific counties in West Virginia (Calhoun, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Tyler, Wirt, Wood) and Ohio (Athens, Meigs, Washington).

Apply to Responsive Grants Program – Sisters Health Foundation The Responsive Grants Program helps organizations respond to systemic issues in their communities. These issues, such as transportation access, health care access, and food and housing insecurity, take significant time and effort to address.

In the Responsive Grants Program, organizations can apply for project, capacity building, equipment or technology, capital projects, or general operating support . Grants in this program average $18,000 to $20,000. Please refer to our Grants Awarded page to see the types and sizes of our grants.

This program has a two-stage process: 1) submitting a letter of inquiry and if invited, 2) submitting a full application. An applicant must be a tax-exempt nonprofit under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or a public institution. The funding request addresses at least one of three priority areas: Healthy Eating, Active Living; Thriving Neighborhoods; and Mental Health and Addiction.

Applicants who recently received a grant may only apply once in a 12-month period for either the Basic Needs/Direct Service Program or the Responsive Program. For example, if an organization received a grant in the spring, they cannot apply for a grant in the fall of the same year.

The project or strategy will positively impact residents in one or more counties of our 11-county service area: West Virginia : Calhoun, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Tyler, Wirt, Wood Ohio : Athens, Meigs, Washington To learn about requests we do not fund, visit the Overview page that lists Grants We Do Not Fund. The Responsive Grants Program also offers the opportunity for flexible funding.

This type of grant allows organizations to meet and respond to emerging needs to uphold their mission. Opportunities to be considered for flexible funding arise out of conversations with SHF staff at the site visit stage.

Organizations considered for flexible funding must be a 501(c)(3) or public entity, with the exception of municipalities (e.g. cities, towns, villages) and county governments, must have received an SHF grant at least once, and embrace a mission strongly aligned with that of SHF. SUBMIT : Applicants use the online application system to submit a letter of inquiry (LOI) form by the stated deadline.

Emailed or hard copy letters of inquiry will not be accepted. The purpose of the letter of inquiry is to enable any eligible agency or organization to present a project or idea to the Sisters Health Foundation staff for an initial review. REVIEW : Staff reviews the LOIs to assess alignment with the foundation’s mission and grantmaking priorities.

SHF will notify some applicants that their requests will not move forward in the process at this stage. For requests where SHF is able to provide funding totaling $5,000 or less, SHF may make a decision based on information provided in the Letter of Inquiry and notify applicants of an award without requesting further information. Others will be invited to move forward and discuss their project during a site visit or meeting.

After site visits, staff determine if the request is ready to move forward to the full application stage. APPLY : Applicants submit the completed grant application and supporting documents (as requested) through the online system by the deadline. EVALUATION : Staff and the Grants Committee review the applications and develop recommendations for consideration by the Board of Directors.

DETERMINATION : The Board reviews the recommendations and determines funding to be awarded. NOTIFICATION : Staff notifies organizations of Board decisions. Notifications generally follow this timeline: May (spring cycle) or November (fall cycle); this is approximately 19 weeks after the LOI submission deadline.

When you are ready, click on the Apply/Login button at the top of this page. Enter your login information if you already have an account or create one if you are new to the system.

To assist you in the application process, here are helpful links: Letter of Inquiry Overview and Tips Letter of Inquiry Question List Applicant Tutorial Videos Frequently asked questions about using the online system For any questions about using the online application system, please contact Shei Sanchez at 304-424-6080 ext. 1 or ssanchez@sistershealthfdn. org .

The Sisters Health Foundation has two grant cycles per year. Materials should be submitted online on the respective due date.

Online Letter of Inquiry Due Grant Notifications Sent for Awards of $5,000 or Less Online Full Application Due for Requests Greater than $5,000 Grant Notifications Sent for Awards Greater than $5,000 September 2, 2026 by MIDNIGHT Applications are evaluated using the following six criteria: Mission Fit – The proposal presents a well-documented statement of a genuine and pressing need that fits into the priorities of the Sisters Health Foundation.

Project Quality – The project makes sense, showing an understanding of the issues with goals and objectives that are realistic and understandable. Project Implementation – The implementation plan makes sense, detailing the steps, resources, and time required to execute the project. Budget – The budget is reasonable, matching the program and activities described.

Organizational Capacity – The organization or collaborative partners are capable of implementing and sustaining the program with adequate funding/staff/organizational commitment and community support. Measurable Outcomes – The proposal discusses outcomes and how they would be measured and the project sustained beyond the grant period. Basic Needs/Direct Service Grants Program Responsive Grants Program Frequently Asked Questions