NANTAHALA HEALTH FOUNDATION NOW ACCEPTING FUNDING PROPOSALS

August 12, 2019

Nantahala Health Foundation, a newly formed public 501(c)(3) organization, is excited to announce its initial request for funding proposals from local organizations in Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon, Swain counties and the Qualla Boundary. 

After completion of a six-month-long strategic planning process to gather information about the most critical issues challenging Western North Carolina and creating health disparities, NHF has successfully defined its current funding priorities. In keeping with the Board of Directors’ two priorities for the foundation’s inaugural year, NHF will strive to create a stronger network of existing nonprofits and organizations by funding strategies and supporting initiatives that address root causes of health inequalities. 

NHF will work with local organizations in Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon, Swain counties and the Qualla Boundary and explore cutting-edge programming to build capacity and address the six areas that measure community health: education, economic stability, healthcare, neighborhood and built environment, and social and community context.  The foundation looks forward to collaborating with community change agents in these innovative organizations to improve health for all people in its community. 

Beginning Thursday, August 15, NHF is welcoming applications for projects that achieve outcomes for residents in Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon, Swain counties and the Qualla Boundary in the following areas:

• Education:
  • Career Technical Education – 
    • Specifically, innovative projects that prepare individuals for the workforce, particularly by teaching job-readiness and retention skills, other than technical skills, for all ages.
  • Early Childhood Education Initiatives – 

• Assisting expansion of availability of childcare facilities
• Increasing childcare affordability (such as scholarships for low-income families on the waiting list for voucher support) 
• Increasing the availability of summer camps and after school programs
• Health Care:
  • Increasing access to health care, behavioral health services, medication assistance and dental care
• Poverty:
  • Alleviating poverty
  • Ending food insecurity for older adults 
  • Providing or increasing emergency housing shelters
• Housing:
  • Increasing provision of home repair or rehabilitation for people in need
  • Providing access to mold remediation services
• Special Interest Category:
  • Transportation
    • This has been identified as a primary need in the region and impacts all of the social determinants of health. NHF is looking to fund initiatives with either unique solutions and/or current efforts to provide transportation, especially those with collaborative efforts among human service or medical providers.

NHF is not currently funding:  

• Individuals
• Political purposes, including lobbying
• Projects or organizations outside of Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon, Swain counties and the Qualla Boundary
• Grants prohibited by IRS regulations 

For more information and/or to submit a proposal starting on August 15, please visit nantahalahealthfoundation.org.