PHILADELPHIA – Today, the City announced the application period for community–based organizations (CBOs) to seek grants from the Overdose Prevention and Community Healing Fund is now open and will close on January 11, 2024. The Overdose Prevention and Community Healing Fund, a partnership between the City of Philadelphia and the Scattergood Foundation, uses national opioid settlement dollars to repair the harms inflicted on communities across Philadelphia as a result of the opioid epidemic and overdose crisis. The Fund draws on lived experience and community participation to direct resources to organizations doing work in the following three areas: overdose prevention, community and family healing, and/or substance use prevention.
Grant applications will be reviewed by Community Granting Groups that will submit their final recommendations in spring 2024. Applicants will have the opportunity to apply in one of the three geographic areas – Kensington, North Philadelphia, or citywide. While the overdose crisis has touched just about every zip code, Kensington and North Philadelphia have the highest rates of overdose; for this reason, organizations working to improve these areas will receive special consideration. The first round awarded $1.9 million in grants to 27 CBOs. The organizations that were awarded grants in the first round are eligible to re-apply.
In 2022, Philadelphia reported 1,413 fatal drug overdoses, an 11% increase from the previous high of 1,276 in 2021. More than 80% of the overdose deaths recorded in 2022 involved opioids, virtually always fentanyl. The Health Department also found that the number of Black and Hispanic individuals dying from drug overdose continues to increase from 2018 to 2022, an 87% increase for Black individuals and a 43% increase for Hispanic individuals.
“The continued rise in overdoses is tragic and points to why this grant program is greatly needed,” said Mayor Jim Kenney. “This second round of grants reflects the City of Philadelphia’s commitment to ensuring that communities that continue to be devastated by the opioid epidemic have a say in how and where settlement funds are re-invested.”
The $3.3 million Overdose Prevention and Community Healing Fund will allow community-based organizations across Philadelphia to actively engage residents with on-the-ground overdose prevention work. “While overdose rates sadly continue to rise, we are making progress with the services we provide through the work of these grantees who are working in the community and are trusted messengers,” said Noëlle Foizen, Director of the Opioid Response Unit. “As we continue to evolve, deepening our connection to trusted community organizations and honoring the leadership and insight of community members is key to creating sustained change. The Prevention Fund gives way for exactly that.”
The application form and Requests for Applications are available on the Scattergood Foundation’s website. The Scattergood Foundation will operate the fund, support grantmaking activities, administer grants, as well as provide technical assistance to grantees.
“The right to dictate how dollars from the Opioid Settlement get spent is central to the process of collective healing,” said Joe Pyle, President of the Scattergood Foundation. “This round, we engaged a Community Advisory Committee in addition to Community Granting Groups to ensure that this program centers the voice and participation of impacted residents. Participatory grantmaking has the power to embolden communities and create impactful long-lasting change.”
About the Overdose Prevention and Community Healing grants:
The Overdose Prevention and Community Healing Fund supports organizations and programs that are doing work in at least one of the following focus areas:
- Overdose Prevention: The focus of the funded work is to prevent overdose among people who use drugs. Work in this focus area includes but is not limited to outreach, education, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery services.
- Community and Family Healing: The focus of the funded work is to promote healing for individuals, families, and communities that have been impacted by the overdose crisis. Work in this focus area includes but is not limited to grief counseling and healing services, building social connection and resilience in impacted communities, and supporting the well-being of community workers in the substance use field.
- Substance Use Prevention: The focus of the funded work is to provide education and supportive opportunities for people who may be at risk of using drugs. Work in this focus area includes but is not limited to awareness building and outreach, education, training, and other prevention-focused programming.
Types of grants available:
The Overdose Prevention and Community Healing Fund is offering two types of grants. Applicants may apply for one of the following grant types:
- Organizational Support Grants for $20,000 can support organizations that are working to advance overdose prevention, community, and family healing, and/or substance use prevention. Funding can be used to support a wide range of operating and program costs.
- Program Grants for $100,000 can support specific programs and projects that directly advance overdose prevention, community, and family healing, and/or substance use prevention. Funding can be used to support staff time and specific program-related costs.
Eligibility:
- Non-profit Organizations: Organizations have 501(c)(3) status or fiscal sponsorship.
- Geographic Location: Organizations are headquartered in and serve communities located in Philadelphia County.
- Organization Budget Size: Organizations have an annual budget of $5 million or less.
- Attend or View Information Session: Applicants are required to attend or view a recording of one information session to learn more about the application process and one compliance session to learn about grant requirements.
How to apply:
Beginning November 16, 2023, eligible organizations may apply for a grant through the City’s Overdose Prevention and Community Healing Fund using the online application on the Scattergood Foundation’s website. Applications are due on January 11, 2024, at 5:00 PM EST.
Attend an information session
Learn more about the application process:
Tuesday, December 5, 2023, from 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM | Register
Wednesday, December 6, 2023, from 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM | Register