WVFF Announces Final Awardees of the Initial Opportunity Grant

WEST VIRGINIA (March 28, 2025) – West Virginia First Foundation (WVFF) is proud to announce the awardees of the Supplemental Round of its Initial Opportunity Grant (IOG) program, supporting innovative and impactful initiatives in the state’s fight against the opioid crisis.

Launched in October 2024, the IOG program received an overwhelming response, with 174 applications submitted from organizations across West Virginia. Following a rigorous review, the WVFF Board of Directors awarded nearly $10.4 million in grants at its December 2024 annual meeting. To offer a second chance to applicants with incomplete submissions, WVFF opened a Supplemental Round. At its March 20, 2025 quarterly meeting, the Board approved an additional $6.21 million in funding, bringing the total investment through the IOG program to nearly $17 million.

“We are honored to support organizations leading the charge in West Virginia’s response to the opioid epidemic,” said Jonathan Board, Executive Director of WVFF. “This additional round of funding ensures that no promising idea is left behind and that impactful, community-driven solutions have the resources they need to save lives across West Virginia. We’re especially grateful to our Board of Directors, the Initial Opportunity Committee, and our Expert Panel members for their dedication and thoughtful evaluation during the entire Initial Opportunity Grant process—it simply would not have been possible without their commitment.”

Grants from this round will support a wide array of initiatives, including prevention education, treatment services, and long-term recovery support. Awardees represent a broad spectrum of community-based organizations, healthcare providers, and grassroots initiatives dedicated to saving lives and strengthening West Virginia’s response to substance use disorder.

To learn more about the IOG program and view the list of grant recipients in total, visit https://wvfirst.org/grants.