Seed Funding Opportunities

The VCU Health Hub at 25th connects community members and partners with funding opportunities to support health and wellness initiatives. Explore available grants that align with our mission to enhance access to care, promote health education, and advance community well-being. Check back regularly for updates on new opportunities and deadlines.

VCU Health Hub Seed Grants RFP.pdf

Request for Proposals

2025 Seed Grants

The VCU Health Hub at 25th serves as a central hub for community partnerships, interdisciplinary learning, and community-driven programs that support the well-being of Richmond’s East End. In alignment with this mission, the VCU Health Hub at 25th Seed Grants Initiative provides funding for community-based organizations located in or with a history of working in the East End to develop or expand programs that address community-identified needs.

The purpose of the Health Hub seed funding is to:

• Build the capacity of community organizations working to address key issues in Richmond’s East End.
• Strengthen partnerships between community organizations and the VCU Health Hub.

Ultimately, these funds aim to support efforts that help make the East End a thriving place to live, work, and raise families.

Priority Areas

For 2025, we are focusing on three key priority areas:

1. Food Access – Broad efforts that support how communities understand, produce, use, and obtain food. This can include, but is not limited to, initiatives like community gardening, growing fruits and vegetables, learning about food systems, and other creative approaches that address food-related needs identified by the community. We encourage applicants to think about what food access looks like for the people they work with, what gaps or barriers exist, and how this funding could be used to meet those needs — whether through new ideas or by partnering with others already working in this space to expand and strengthen food access.
2. Financial Literacy and Economic Empowerment – Programs that support East End residents in building financial knowledge, skills, and opportunities to improve their economic well-being, including practical skill-building that can be helpful in their day-to-day lives.
3. Community Well-Being and Resilience – Programs that support overall well-being, connection, and resilience for individuals, families, and the broader community. We encourage applicants to think creatively about what well-being and resilience look like in everyday life and how to cultivate it in ways that matter to the people you serve. This could include programs that strengthen relationships, support families, promote safety, offer emotional or social support, build skills to manage stress, or create opportunities for people to come together and connect. We are looking for proposals that reflect what you have heard and seen in your work — what your community has identified as important — and how your program can address those needs in meaningful and innovative ways.

Awards

Up to ten (10) seed grants of $2,000 each will be awarded.

Grant Period

July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026

Eligibility Requirements

To apply for this seed funding, applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:

1. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization OR have a fiscal sponsor with 501(c)(3) status who agrees to manage the funds on your behalf. If applying with a fiscal sponsor, a letter of commitment from the fiscal sponsor is required.
2. Be located in Richmond’s East End OR demonstrate a history of working with East End residents.
3. If not located in or with a history of working in the East End, applicants must submit a letter of support from an East End-based organization that is familiar with their work.
4. Clearly identify the person responsible for administering the funds and overseeing the project.
5. Propose a program that aligns with at least one of the three focus areas outlined in this funding opportunity.
6. While previous recipients are eligible to apply, they must have submitted all required reports and fully complied with the requirements of prior seed funding opportunities.

Informational Session

Two informational sessions will be held via Zoom to provide general information, grant writing support, and application guidelines.

• April 8, 2025 at 12:00 PM - General Info Session about the RFP
• April 21, 2025 at 12:00 PM - Grant Writing Support and Guidelines

Register here

Deadline

Proposals are due Friday, April 25, 2025, by 4:00 p.m. Submit via a GoogleForm.

Read/Download the Full RFP Document for submission details below

VCU Health Hub Seed Grants RFP.pdf

Apply Now!