The Jefferson Regional Foundation has announced the Community Voice Fund as a vehicle to encourage partners to convene residents and stakeholders of the Jefferson service area and include their existing energy, knowledge, passion, and lived experience for immediate and long-term ideas and action plans that will increase health and well-being
The Foundation’s 10th anniversary provides an opportunity for a renewed focus on engaging community members on strategies for increasing overall health and well-being. Although the Foundation has consistently partnered with non-profit organizations to offer resources for unmet needs, this opportunity illuminates the importance and necessity for residents to have a voice in the creation of strategies and planning that impact their communities. During a recent Collaborative meeting, the Foundation learned through survey responses that while all the nonprofit partners are highly invested in serving our neighbors, only 39% of respondents live within the Jefferson service area. Further, Collaborative members acknowledged and expressed a need for casting a wider net when convening for the purpose of community service planning.
The Community Voice Fund guidelines and application can be found on the Foundation’s website (https://jeffersonrf.org/community-voice-fund/) and on the Jefferson Community Collaborative website (https://jeffersoncollaborative.org/community-voice-fund/). Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis from March 3rd, 2023 to April 28, 2023.