The Core Priorities Initiative is the foundation’s largest funding opportunity. The initiative provides two-year grants ranging from $100,000 to $300,000 to support projects that directly impact one or more of the foundation’s priority focus areas.
Food Insecurity
– Development of local and regional food systems
– Food as medicine programs
– Pantries as hubs for resources and connection
Mental and Behavioral Health
– Formal and informal case management
– Community-based clinical services
– Youth prevention and intervention programs
Substance Use Disorder
– Programs that address barriers to long-term recovery
– Family-centered supports and services
– Tobacco use prevention and cessation programs
Emerging Health Needs
– Supportive housing
– Health services and programs embedded in community settings
– Social determinants of health for children and transitional-age youth, older adults, and people in reentry or recovery
Every project is unique, and the foundation welcomes a range of thoughtful approaches to addressing health and well-being across our priority focus areas. We are especially interested in work that is collaborative, sustainable, and rooted in community.
Strong Core Priorities projects often demonstrate these essential characteristics:
Meet people where they are
– Prioritize human dignity and whole-person health
– Bridge gaps in community services and supports
– Develop embedded and integrated service models
Help identify what works
– Pilot or adapt innovative models tailored to specific community contexts
– Contribute to learning for best practices
– Build evidence base for promising approaches
Strengthen organizational and community capacity
– Strengthen community networks and partnerships
– Advance collaborative solutions to persistent community challenges
– Build momentum over time to meet evolving needs
Build toward financial sustainability
– Leverage private, state, or federal funding
– Develop reimbursable services, social enterprises, or other sources of revenue
Core Priorities proposals are considered through a two-step process that begins with a Letter of Interest (LOI). The foundation views the LOI stage as an opportunity to learn about organizations’ work and begin building a pipeline of promising projects.
Organizations are encouraged to submit proposals for projects in development that may be ready for funding and implementation during the 2027 calendar year.
Following the LOI submission period, the foundation’s program team will review proposals for mission alignment, project readiness, and potential impact. A select number of organizations may be invited to submit a full Core Priorities application and/or work with a program officer to further develop the project for a future application.
The foundation’s Board of Trustees considers applications throughout the year at its quarterly meetings. We anticipate four to five 2027 Core Priorities projects may be selected for funding.
Letter of Interest (LOI) period…………………………………….Oct. 1 – Oct. 21, 2026
LOI decision notification…………………………………………………….Dec. 11, 2026
Contact Claire Snyder or Jana Stoner to discuss project-related questions or ideas. For technical assistance related to the grant management system, email grants@pfwv.org or call 304-397-5955.