WCF supports timely and affordable care, prevention, and practical help that allow residents to maintain their health, safety, dignity, and independence.
Why This Focus Matters
The presence of a clinic or program does not always mean people can use it. Residents must be able to afford care, reach it, understand their options, and move between services without delay or confusion. Healthy food, safety, social connection, and other forms of prevention also help people stay well and avoid a crisis.
Older adults, people with disabilities, and family caregivers may need added support to remain healthy, independent, and connected at home and in the community. WCF seeks practical approaches that respect each person’s dignity and choices.
Outcomes We Seek
WCF gives priority to requests that clearly support one of these outcomes. No single grant or organization is expected to create community-wide change alone.
- Accessible and coordinated care: Residents can receive timely and affordable physical, dental, mental health, preventive, recovery, and related care. Services work together when needed.
- Health-related stability and prevention: Residents and families have reliable access to healthy food, safety, and other support that protects health and reduces avoidable crises.
- Health and independence: Older adults, people with disabilities, and family caregivers have the support they need to maintain health, independence, dignity, and connection at home and in the community.
What WCF May Support
These are examples, not a complete list. All requests must follow WCF’s general grant guidelines and the limits of the funds available.
- Physical, dental, mental health, preventive, recovery, rehabilitation, and other health services for residents who face barriers to care.
- Help with finding care, completing referrals, understanding benefits, and coordinating services.
- Healthy food, nutrition help, and other preventive support that reduces health risks and instability.
- Safety, abuse prevention, crisis response, and recovery support when health or well-being is the main purpose.
- Aging-in-place services, help at home, respite, caregiver education, and opportunities that reduce isolation.
- Services and accommodations that help people with disabilities maintain health, independence, and community participation.
- Mobile, neighborhood-based, or technology-supported care that is easier to reach and use.
- Capacity building that improves an organization’s skills, tools, or systems. General operating support is available only to organizations that have received a competitive WCF grant before.
What Strong Requests Show
- A clear barrier: The request identifies who is least likely to receive needed care or support and explains why.
- A practical response: The approach addresses barriers such as cost, transportation, language, schedules, eligibility, stigma, or services that do not work well together.
- Good coordination: The applicant understands related services and shows how residents will move among partners, referrals, and levels of care.
- Prevention and follow-through: The work helps residents get care earlier, stay connected to support, or avoid preventable crises.
- Dignity and choice: Residents receive clear information, help shape their care, and have meaningful choices.
- The ability to deliver: The applicant has the staff, partners, safety steps, and financial plan needed to do the work.
How We Will Learn
Reporting should match the size and type of grant. WCF and its grantees may use numbers, resident feedback, partner observations, or other useful information. Depending on the request, we may look at:
- Whether residents received needed care or completed referrals and how easy or difficult the process was.
- Whether the work reduced barriers tied to cost, transportation, schedules, language, or access.
- Whether residents gained more reliable food, safety, prevention, or follow-up care.
- Whether older adults or people with disabilities maintained independence and connection and whether caregivers received useful relief or support.
- What residents say about the access, dignity, coordination, and value of the help they received.
Choosing the Best Fit
Requests may cross focus areas. Transportation focused mainly on medical or behavioral health care may fit here. Transportation that connects residents more broadly to work, education, and essential services usually fits Housing & Economic Mobility. School-based mental health work fits here when health is the main goal.
Before Applying
- Review WCF’s general grant guidelines and confirm that your organization is eligible.
- Choose the focus area and outcome that best match the main change your work seeks.
- Complete the required in-person or video meeting with WCF staff.