October 1, 2021

New grant opportunity to support mental health and wellness in faith communities

The Horizon Foundation is partnering with faith leaders to support the mental health and wellbeing of our community.

**DEADLINE EXTENDED UNTIL NOVEMBER 5, 2021**

Mental health needs are rising. We know that crisis calls and emergency room visits for mental health needs have increased. Anxiety is noted as the top concern of many seeking help. Our children and youth are also returning to schools after nearly two years of significant disruption to their lives.

The mental health needs of our community are top of mind – and faith leaders are often among the first people to become aware of these needs. The Foundation is seeking partners to help protect and support mental health and wellness in faith communities.

Applicants must be faith leaders and/or leaders of organizations that serve faith communities.  Priority will be given to applicants who demonstrate an ability to clearly impact the mental health needs of our Howard County faith communities.

Successful applicants will demonstrate a commitment to the following:

  • Program development or expansion
    • Applicants should propose how they would develop or expand programs/ministries to better meet the needs of their faith communities. This might include, for example, contracting with a mental health provider to offer support groups to congregants; or launching a ministry focused on addressing the increasing mental health needs of youth and young adults.
    • Priority will be given to applicants who demonstrate how the programming/ministry will continue if Foundation funding is no longer available after the grant period ends.
  • Health and wellness of leadership
    • The Foundation recognizes that our faith leaders need to practice their own self-care. It is important for those who serve others to have opportunities to invest in their own mental wellness. Considering this need, applicants may include budget items (of no more than $500) in the grant application that support faith leader self-care and wellness.
  • Training
    • Applicants will agree to participate in a Foundation-hosted mental health training during 2022. The training may occur all at once (e.g., one full day), or be segmented over shorter sessions (e.g., several two hour blocks). Total training hours will not exceed 10 hours over the course of the year. Additional attendees from each organization may be allowed to participate in the training(s), but at least one participant must be a faith leader. The Foundation will communicate with selected grantees to coordinate the training(s) during 2022.

Grants of up to $15,000 will be awarded. Organizations must be tax-exempt under IRS Section 501(c)(3), or directly affiliated with a 501(c)(3) that can receive funds on its behalf. Multiple requests from the same organization will be reviewed collectively as one application.

The grant period will be from January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022.

 

How to Submit Proposals

All proposals must be submitted using our online grants system.

The deadline to submit the application is November 5, 2021 (11:59 PM)Proposals will be reviewed and qualified applicants will be notified no later than November 15, 2021. Award notifications will be sent via email to the email address listed in the grant application.

 

Interested in learning more?

For questions about this RFP, contact Tiffany Callender Erbelding at tcallender@thehorizonfoundation.org

For help navigating the grant system or submitting the application, contact Kenitra Fokwa at kfokwa@thehorizonfoundation.org