Opioid Innovative Mini-Grants
In collaboration with Behavioral Health Department, Alameda County Health, Three Valleys Community Foundation is launching an inaugural round of Innovative Mini-Grants to be awarded to community-based, nonprofit organizations working thoughtfully, creatively, and collaboratively to address the opioid crisis in Alameda County.
Inaugural Innovative Mini-Grants to Address
Opioid Crisis in Alameda County
Strengthening and investing in the well-being of our communities has always been at the heart of Three Valleys Community Foundation’s mission. With its compounding and rippling effects across our communities, the opioid epidemic is among the most serious public health crises impacting the lives of Alameda County residents today. Local community organizations and coalitions implementing creative solutions to improve the availability and effectiveness of opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment can be empowered to work together and mobilize resources to serve individuals and communities most affected by the opioid crisis.
Through this grantmaking opportunity, 3VCF is committed to engaging communities and investing in nonprofit organizations whose work addresses prevention, treatment, recovery and/or harm reduction strategies.
Uplifting our values of collaboration and innovation, and building upon our concentrated focus on overall community mental health and wellness, 3VCF encourages organizations doing innovative, transformative work to address the intersectionality of behavioral health and the opioid epidemic among Alameda County’s most vulnerable communities, to apply.
Our Innovative Mini-Grant application window is open from October 15 through midnight PT on December 10, 2024. A selection committee, composed of health professionals, subject matter experts, and community members who represent Alameda County, and who have diverse backgrounds and expertise, including expertise in behavioral health services, substance use disorder abatement and non-profit management, will evaluate applications. We will publicly announce grant awards at our State of Giving Gathering to be held on March 13, 2025. The grant implementation window will take place over a 12-14 month period beginning in March 2025.
“Solutions that are needed to address the opioid epidemic require us to adopt a visionary approach, embracing the challenge to be innovative and nimble as we reach for immediate but lasting interventions. Through active community engagement and thoughtful collaboration, this grantmaking initiative will help discover and promote innovative ways and emerging strategies for prevention, mitigation, harm reduction, treatment and recovery.”
Eligibility Criteria
3VCF will consider applications from:
- 501c3 nonprofit entities, or fiscally sponsored projects / community-based organizations of any size or stage of development. Both cities and school districts in Alameda County may apply, independently or in collaboration.
- Collaborative initiatives / applications of two or more organizations led by a 501c3. Collaborations are strongly encouraged, but not required.
- Priority consideration will be given to applications that serve Alameda County’s most vulnerable communities, and populations that are disproportionately impacted by Substance Use Disorder (SUD), as outlined in 3VCF’s By the Numbers – Communities in Crisis – with Disparate Consequences. Priority will also be placed on applications that include California’s High Impact Abatement Activities priority areas.
- All applications must be designed to directly benefit and serve Alameda County
APPLICATION UPDATE
Applications must be submitted using Three Valleys Community Foundation’s Online Portal. For additional information please download the RFP.
Informational Webinar:
3VCF hosted an informational webinar for prospective applicants on Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at 12 noon PT. All nonprofits and community-based organizations interested in this grant opportunity were strongly encouraged to participate.
A recording of the webinar information session may be accessed here for those who were unable to attend.
Application Timeline
- October 15, 2024: Application process opens; RFP released
- October 22, 2024 at 12 Noon PT: Virtual information session for prospective applicants
- October 16, 2024 – December 9, 2024: Technical Support / Applicant HelpDesk, info@3vcf.org
- December 10, 2024 by midnight PT: Grant applications due
- December 2024 – January 2025: Potential requests for supplemental information
- End of January 2025: Applicants notified of status
- February 2025: 3VCF Meets with Grantees and Grant Agreements Signed
Grants will be awarded publicly at 3VCF State of Giving Gathering. Grant recipients are expected to have a representative attend this weekday evening event in February. The date will be shared once finalized. All applicants are also invited. - March 2025: First payment on approved grants
- March 2025 – April 2026: Grant implementation
- September 2025: Mid-term formal progress check-in with grant recipients, site visits conducted as needed; final payment on approved grants
- April – May 2026: Final grantee check-in, reporting, and data collection