Nurturing Community – Applications Open for Vibrant Communities Mental Health Grants

The Northwest Alliance Community Foundation (NACF) is again joining with the St. Croix Valley Foundation (SCVF) and its affiliates to launch the Spring 2024 Vibrant Communities Mental Health Grants.   The application is now live, with a deadline of March 22.  Learn more about eligibility and apply online at scvfoundation.org/grants.

The Vibrant Communities grant program recognizes that supporting mental health and wellbeing lies on a spectrum from prevention to management.  Now in its fourth year, the program has disbursed nearly $450,000 to regional organizations  implementing mental health programming, from prevention and diagnosis to treatment and management.  Beginning in spring 2021, NACF has awarded funds locally totaling $29,000 to ten area nonprofits to help support a range of services and programs addressing the mental health and wellbeing of our citizens.

The SCVF six-county service area (Chisago and Washington Counties in Minnesota, and Burnett, Polk, St. Croix and Pierce Counties in Wisconsin), finds that local data aligns with national statistics:  more than half of adults will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder at some point in their lifetime; one in five Americans will experience a mental illness in a given year; one in five children, either currently or at some point during their lifetime, have had a seriously debilitating mental illness.

The Vibrant Communities grant program intends to fund programs that address any aspect of the mental health and wellbeing spectrum, with funds available to develop, enhance, or expand the capacity of programs, services, or organizations to provide mental health supports.  Guidelines and eligibility, the application, and previous recipients are available online at scvfoundation.org/grants.  The application portal is open now through March 22, and applicants will receive notification of their award status by the end of May.

The St. Croix Valley Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization fully accredited by the Community Foundations National Standards Board and the Charities Review Council.  Its mission is to enhance the quality of life in the St. Croix Valley.  As one of the SCVF affiliates, the NACF encourages local philanthropy in response to local needs.  Please consider joining us by making a donation.  Check our website nacommunityfoundation.org for more information or email nacf.hq@gmail.com.