The RIZE Massachusetts Foundation is seeking applications for its 2025 Municipal Matching Grant.
Donor Name: RIZE Massachusetts Foundation
State: Massachusetts
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant | Matching Grants
Deadline: 11/01/2024
Size of the Grant: More than $1 million
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
In 2025, RIZE will award $1,250,000 to municipalities in one-year matching grants. In 2026 and 2027, RIZE will also award $1,250,000 per year. The total program funding is $3,750,000. The program seeks to match municipal opioid settlement funds in cities and towns that are 1) using best practices to end the overdose crisis, 2) utilizing Care Massachusetts resources, 3) conducting community outreach and needs assessments, and 4) collaborating with others, particularly those that are pooling funds. Opioid settlement funds offer a unique opportunity for communities to bolster their capacity to address the overdose crisis through strong government and community collaboration and to expand interventions that have proven to save lives.
Uses of Funds
The funds can support projects and initiatives developed with input from people with lived and living experience, public health experts, municipal leaders, and families affected by the crisis. Proposed projects and initiatives must align with the Massachusetts State Sub-Division Agreement for Statewide Opioid Settlements and advance non-punitive, health-centered approaches to substance use disorder-related harms and challenges. Funding is for one year, but applicants can re-apply again in 2026 and 2027.
Examples:
- Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
- A municipality will earmark $30,000 to purchase a van for mobile medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD), and the nonprofit community health center administering MOUD on the van needs $30,000 in matching funds for necessary supplies and equipment. The community health center should apply for $30,000 in matching funds.
- Support People in Treatment and Recovery
- An OAC comprised of 8 towns will earmark $100,000 to revitalize a property for a recovery housing program, and the nonprofit that runs the program needs $100,000 to hire two recovery coaches to provide services onsite. The nonprofit should apply for $100,000 in matching funds.
- Connections to Care
- A municipal public health department wants to hire a drug user health coordinator. The municipality will earmark $40,000 to hire the coordinator but needs an additional $40,000 to offer a fair salary. The municipality should apply for $40,000 in matching funds.
- Harm Reduction
- A municipality wants to purchase harm reduction vending machines or overdose response kits and will earmark $20,000 but needs an additional $20,000 to complete the purchase, and fund the installation and marketing. The municipality should apply for $20,000 in matching funds.
- Address the Needs of Criminal Justice-Involved Persons
- A municipality is working with a nonprofit to support people re-entering their community and ensure continuity of care for individuals on MOUD. The municipality will earmark $40,000 for a re-entry program but needs an additional $40,000 to fully fund the initiative. The municipality should apply for $40,000 in matching funds.
- Municipalities created an OAC to implement Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) across all police departments and will dedicate $20,000. Matching funds will allow for the coordination and evaluation of the CIT, with a specific focus on people with substance use and mental health issues. The lead municipality in the OAC should apply for $20,000 in matching funds.
- Support Pregnant and Parenting Women and their Families, including babies with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS)
- A local community organization provides a post-partum support group for parenting women with opioid use disorder (OUD) and their families at the local nonprofit hospital. There has been a long-identified need to increase the support by implementing home visits. The municipality has agreed to earmark $50,000 to cover the increased costs, and the nonprofit should apply for $50,000 in matching funds.
- Prevent Misuse of Opioids and Implement Prevention Education
- A municipality earmarks $50,000 to partner with a nonprofit organization to provide evidence-based education and interventions for youth and adolescents at risk for OUD. The nonprofit should apply for $50,000 in matching funds.
Wo should apply?
RIZE seeks to award matching funds to local governments and nonprofit organizations across the Commonwealth that work on any aspect of the care continuum, from prevention to recovery, and that work with communities and populations that are diverse, historically underserved, and have experienced a higher rate of opioid-related overdose deaths. Both government and nonprofit applicants must submit proof of the municipality’s commitment to earmark a matching portion of their opioid settlement funds to the proposed initiative. Such proof may be a formal recorded budget discussion or a commitment letter signed by the mayor or city/town manager. Municipalities are encouraged to pool settlement funds and can apply together as an OAC, although one municipality must be designated as the lead applicant. Municipalities applying as an OAC must submit a joint letter signed by each participating municipality illustrating the shared commitment. Coalitions that target the opioid crisis with documented support of matching funds from any of the cities/towns within the coalition may also apply.
For more information, visit RIZE Massachusetts Foundation.
