Ready to grow your Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) program? Grant funding can get you there — and you don’t have to figure it out alone.
Whether you’re an individual Instructor or a Coordinator working with an organization that’s looking to expand, grant funding can help you train more First Aiders, build stronger partnerships and increase access to life-changing mental health education in your community.
This guide covers all the grant application tips you need, including what grants are, where to find funding and resources for success. Let’s get you funded, so you can start creating more ripples today.
What Is a Grant?
A grant is a financial award provided by a government entity, foundation, corporation or other organization to support a specific project. Grant awards can range in size from as small as $1,000 to several million dollars.
Unlike loans, grants typically do not need to be repaid — but they’re not just free money. Grant awardees are usually expected to track their program’s progress, measure impact and report annual outcomes.
Grant funding for MHFA can help bring mental health resources to the people in your community who need them the most.
Types of Funding Opportunities for MHFA
Before you begin your funding search, it helps to understand the kinds of grants available. Mental health grant opportunities typically fall into two primary categories:
Government GrantsPhilanthropic Grants•Federal: Provided by agencies like the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA)
•State and local: Provided by state governments, municipalities and local health departments•Foundation: Provided by private and community foundations
•Corporation: Offered through corporate social responsibility programs (i.e., the corporation’s philanthropic arm)
You can start by checking out these two annual SAMHSA funding opportunities that can support MHFA programs:
Philanthropic funders may focus on specific populations, uses or geographic regions, so positioning MHFA alongside the funder’s mission is especially important.
Where to Find MHFA Grant Funding
Searching for grants can feel overwhelming. Here are some reliable starting points. Depending on the type of grant you are looking for, there are a few different ways to find funding opportunities for your organization.
Government Grants
Grants.gov provides a searchable, comprehensive database of federal funding opportunities from various agencies. The site also offers a variety of resources, like their Grants Learning Center, which can help you navigate the world of federal mental health grants. You can also subscribe to receive email updates when new funding opportunities are released.
Here are some suggested phrases to help get you started with searching on Grants.gov:
Awareness training
Community mental health
Mental Health First Aid
Mental health training program
Youth mental health program
Mental health education
State and local grants can typically be found on official state, municipality and health department websites.
Philanthropic Grants
Both foundations and corporations have dedicated pages on their websites that outline funding opportunities, as well as information on their previous awards.
Most organizations share important updates and funding opportunities with an email list for subscribers. Many professional networks and associations share funding opportunities with their members, as well.
Engaging with philanthropy can lead to long-term partnerships and funding opportunities, and it can also provide you with access to valuable resources, networks and expertise. These connections help you better understand funders’ priorities, allowing you to tailor your proposals to align with their interests. Candid.org offers several resources and tips for building grantee/funder relationships.
Building awareness of various grant sources and checking them regularly can help you identify opportunities that align with your goals.
Preparing Your MHFA Grant Application
A successful grant application starts long before you begin writing. Here are two key steps to take early in your process.
1. Define your program goals.
Be clear about what you want to achieve. For example:
Who will you train in MHFA?
How many First Aiders are you aiming to train?
What community needs does your MHFA program address?
What outcomes do you hope to see?
2. Gather data to show need.
Most funders want to see evidence that your program addresses a real, documented need. Gather existing data to highlight:
The impact and prevalence of mental health and substance use challenges in the community and/or population of focus.
Include local and state statistics, as well as national data.
Highlight population-specific trends.
The needs of those impacted by imbalances in the prevalence of mental health and substance use challenges and access to treatment, where applicable.
Identify gaps in access or service.
Writing a Winning MHFA Grant Proposal
While every grant is different, most applications evaluate similar components. Here’s what you should include:
A compelling need statement:
Clearly explain the challenges your community faces.
Who is most impacted?
Why is your MHFA program needed now?
A clear program plan:
Describe how MHFA will be implemented.
Who will be trained?
How will the program be delivered?
Measurable outcomes:
How many individuals will be trained?
How will you show improvements in knowledge or confidence?
How can you demonstrate an increased connection to resources?
Organizational capacity:
Demonstrate that your organization can successfully implement the program.
To make sure your application stands out, follow these strategies:
Follow instructions carefully. The simple steps are sometimes the most important! If your application is missing a section or the formatting is off, it may be disqualified. Make sure you’ve filled out everything correctly and included all appropriate information.
Be clear and concise. Reviewers often read hundreds of applications, so make yours easy to follow.
Highlight real impact. Show how your MHFA program will benefit individuals, families and the broader community.
Essential Resources for MHFA Grant Seekers
Once you have identified a funding opportunity, the resources below will help guide you through the creation and submission of your proposal. You’ll find places to gather data, writing advice, information about MHFA and tips for measuring your MHFA impact.
MHFA Grant Writing Toolkit — This toolkit offers information, guidance and language to help you secure funding for MHFA programs from philanthropies and federal, state and local governments.
MHFA Funding Opportunities FAQ — This resource provides answers to common questions around seeking and applying for funding for MHFA programming.
Community Tool Box: Applying for Grants — This toolkit provides a step-by-step overview of the grant writing process and a general template for writing a grant application.
Candid.org — Candid provides several grant writing resources and is home to subscription-based directory of nonprofits and funders.
SAMHSA’s Grants webpage — Provides a listing of SAMHSA’s forecast, current and previous grant and funding opportunities and a variety of resources for grant applicants.
Taking the First Step Toward MHFA Grant Success
Grant funding can open the door to meaningful growth for your MHFA program, but getting started is often the hardest part. Start small by exploring available funding opportunities and identifying a few that look like a good fit for your program. Then, begin outlining your goals and impact.
Each grant proposal you submit is an opportunity to boost your MHFA impact: increasing awareness, reducing stigma and equipping more people with the skills to help those in need.