The Vibrant Communities Mental Health Grant Program is an initiative of the St. Croix Valley Foundation (SCVF) that seeks to address mental health and well-being across its six-county service area, including Chisago and Washington counties in Minnesota and Burnett, Polk, St. Croix, and Pierce counties in Wisconsin. Recognizing that mental health is a significant concern both locally and nationally, SCVF supports a range of programs that contribute to mental health prevention, access, diagnosis, treatment, and management. These grants aim to enhance community well-being by funding efforts that address various stages of mental health care.

The grant program supports a broad spectrum of mental health-related initiatives. Eligible projects may include prevention programs for high-risk individuals or families, interventions aimed at improving access to mental health services, training programs to support illness identification and early diagnosis, therapeutic treatment services, and long-term management programs for individuals with diagnosed mental health conditions. Past funded initiatives include mentoring programs for at-risk youth, low-cost mental health evaluations with interpretation assistance, school-based behavioral health interventions, and vocational training for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness.

Funding from this program may be used to develop, enhance, or expand the capacity of mental health programs, services, and organizations. Eligible expenses include staffing, training, therapeutic services, and operational costs related to supporting individuals facing mental health challenges. However, funding cannot be used for direct payments to individuals for treatment or medications, general public health promotion efforts, or capital expenses such as buildings or equipment.

The grant program is administered in collaboration with ten regional community foundations affiliated with SCVF. Applicants must provide programming in at least one of these affiliate communities and specify the anticipated impact of their work. Grants are available in two tiers: Affiliate Community Grants, which range from $500 to $6,000, and Multi-Affiliate Grants, which range from $500 to $10,000.

Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, government agencies, tribal entities, and educational or religious organizations with tax-exempt status. Organizations must demonstrate their capacity to deliver mental health programming, provide strong justification for their proposed work, outline thorough project details, and articulate clear and realistic outcomes. The evaluation committee assesses applications based on these criteria.

The grant application process is conducted online via SCVF’s application portal. The application period opens on February 17, 2025, with a submission deadline of March 28, 2025, at 11:59 PM. Grant award notifications will be made in May 2025, and funds must be expended within one year of the award. Interested applicants can direct questions about the program to Angie Pilgrim via email at apilgrim@scvfoundation.org.