Sisters Health Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Sisters Health Foundation supports oral health, healthy lifestyles and health equity in the Mid-Ohio Valley region in West Virginia and Ohio.
FUNDING AREAS: Health, healthy lifestyles, health equity
IP TAKE: This local West Virginia funder awards grants twice a year and has an accessible staff.
PROFILE: Established in 1996, the Sisters Health Foundation (SHF) is a health legacy foundation based in Parkersburg, West Virginia. It formed because of a half-sale and joint venture between St. Joseph Hospital and the Columbia HCA. SHF is a sponsored ministry of the congregation of St. Joseph. The foundation aims to "promote healthy and sustainable communities by providing resources, strengthening collaborative relationships and supporting initiatives that impact people in the Mid-Ohio Valley.” SHF funds local efforts for oral health, healthy lifestyles and health equity.
The Sisters Health Foundation’s oral health grants focus mostly on children but also address the needs of pregnant women, access for the uninsured, oral hygiene education for parents and advocacy and policy changes. Healthy lifestyle grants fund efforts to fight obesity, inactivity and poor nutrition. These grants also increase access to healthy foods and promote policy changes. Health equity grants address racial, socioeconomic and geographic disparities to build local leadership and advocate for equity improvements. SHF also provides capacity-building support to nonprofits and funds special initiatives that address rural development, hunger and other topics of interest.
Grants range between about $500 and $25,000. Learn more about this funder’s local giving on the grants awarded page of the SHF website. Grantmaking focuses on the Mid-Ohio Valley in West Virginia and Ohio. West Virginia counties in focus are Calhoun, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Tyler, Wirt and Wood. Past local grantees include Adams House Ministries, Calhoun County Committee on Aging and Community Recovery Center.
This foundation accepts grant applications from nonprofits for its basic needs/direct service grants and responsive grants. Guidelines differ between these two grant programs. SHF has spring and fall grant cycles with deadlines in January and July. It is necessary to contact the SHF staff or submit a letter of inquiry before completing a full application via online system. Direct general questions to the staff at 304-424-6080 or to individual staff members by email.
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