Wellness and Recovery Fund Action Grants

Brooklyn Community Foundation launched the Wellness and Recovery Fund in November 2021 in partnership with the New York State Office of the Attorney General to redistribute seized funds to organizations working to ensure that those who navigate the difficult road of substance abuse and addiction do so with reliable support that honors their agency and dignity. The Wellness and Recovery Fund awarded $2.2 million in early 2022 to support community-led responses to substance abuse treatment, substance misuse, addiction, harm reduction services, and systems change efforts that directly impact the lives of people in recovery and people living with addiction.

The Fund is deeply rooted in our values of racial equity and centers our racial justice lens, which prioritizes support for nonprofits led by members of affected communities and centers the voices of those directly impacted by structural racism in decision-making.

Made possible with the support of a generous anonymous donor, the Wellness and Recovery Fund’s Action Grants will distribute $65,000 total to existing programs working with people with a history of substance misuse and mental illness, and people with a history of substance misuse experiencing homelessness focused on:

Narrative shifting that destigmatizes substance abuse/misuse
Addiction and harm reduction services
Organizing and advocacy actions
Training for and the distribution of harm reduction supplies such as fentanyl strips and overdose prevention kits

GRANT AWARDS

The Wellness and Recovery Fund Action Grants will provide up to $5,000 for one year to groups in Brooklyn that are aligned with our values and eligibility criteria. Grant decisions will be made on a rolling basis.

All non-Brooklyn-based organizations must apply for program support for their relevant Brooklyn-based work. Grant awards will prioritize groups that center the power and leadership of people from the following neighborhoods: Bedford Stuyvesant, Brownsville, Bushwick, Coney Island, Crown Heights, East Flatbush, East New York, Flatbush and Sunset Park.

ORGANIZATION PRIORITY CONSIDERATIONS

The Foundation seeks to fund a range of organizations that expand access and opportunity with and for Brooklynites with a history of substance misuse− groups of different sizes, approaches (e.g., direct service, community organizing, policy/advocacy), histories and levels of visibility, and serving different parts of the borough.

In reviewing proposals, we will give preference to organizations that:

Use a racial justice lens in their work. Organizations consider inequities based on race and their impact in designing programs, looking for solutions and defining success.
Acknowledge intersecting oppressions. Organizations understand how multiple oppressions impact one another and the lives of the people with whom they work.
Work on the frontlines of issues. Organizations that are grassroots and doing work at the community level.
Have budgets under $2,000,000 (in one of the past two fiscal years) that meet the funding criteria.

We will also consider organizations with budgets of over $2,000,000 (in the last fiscal year) if your work includes efforts that push forward policy and systems level change that significantly shifts one or more elements of a system (e.g., criminal justice, education, immigration, etc.). This may include but is not limited to:
- Legislative and institutional advocacy to address unjust policies that disproportionately impact young people from historically/currently disenfranchised and under-resourced communities. This may look like advocating for new bills at the state level and/or change to existing policies within city agencies.
- Base building and coalition building that increases power through organizing campaigns and building a broad and diverse base of stakeholders and partners. Your organization is part of a coalition or alliance with strategic objectives to achieve short-term and long-term goals.

ELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS

To be eligible to apply, an organization must:

Be incorporated as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization or be working under the auspices of an authorized fiscal sponsor.
Have a minimum annual budget of $100,000. Grant awards will not exceed 20% of the applying organization’s annual budget.
Have an office or a regular physical presence in Brooklyn; and serve the people of Brooklyn
Address one or more of the Wellness and Recovery Fund Action Grants focus areas in their mission and primary activities.

Please note that we do not fund the following: