Safety is essential for a healthy community. In recent years, we’ve seen an increase in mental health challenges, as well as an uptick in community violence and associated trauma.
We were sadly reminded of just how prevalent community violence has become on June 6th when Huguenot High School’s graduation ceremony was marred by a shooting. These events are not only horrific and terrifying for our community, they result in deep trauma and re-traumatization experienced by attendees of the graduation celebration and all who have experienced violence in the past.
Our community is not a safe space when our citizens live in fear. To truly promote safety, the increase in community violence and the trauma it causes – particularly to communities of color – must be addressed so that everyone has an opportunity to thrive.
As an organization committed to fostering an equitable and healthy Richmond region, RMHF is committed to promoting community safety and healing. Our commitment to that goal, and the importance of achieving it, is more critical than ever. Community Healing grants allow us to strengthen organizations doing the important work of improving behavioral health services, reducing or preventing community violence, and fostering community healing for those most impacted by these issues and events.
These grants support individual nonprofit organizations, or collective action through collaborations and partnerships, that are doing the very critical work of addressing these crucial safety and health issues through intervention, prevention, and/or healing initiatives.
The following 7 organizations have been awarded Community Healing grants:
- Girls for a Change, in collaboration with, Baresoul
- Diversity Richmond, in collaboration with, Minority Veterans of America
- Legal Aid Justice Center, in collaboration with, Richmond Transparency and Accountability Project
- Education Connection Academy, in collaboration with, Avail
- Real Life
- YWCA
- Voices for Virginia’s Children
RMHF’s Community Healing grants are awarded on a rolling basis. We encourage mission-aligned 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations to apply for these grants, individually or as a lead organization of a collaboration. The grants range from $15,000 – $25,000 for individual organizations and $25,000 – $50,000 for a lead organization with collaborative partnerships. The next deadline for proposals is July 28th. Please click here to learn more and apply.