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OneOhio Recovery Foundation

Annual Giving
$45.4M
Decision Time
5mo
Success Rate
17%

OneOhio Recovery Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $45.4 million (2024 Regional Grant Cycle)
  • Total Settlement Funds: $860 million over 15-20 years
  • Funds Received to Date: $236 million (as of April 2025)
  • Success Rate: 12% (245 projects funded from 1,442 funding requests)
  • Decision Time: 4-6 months (varies by cycle stage)
  • Grant Range: Varies by region and project scope
  • Grant Terms: 12, 24, or 36 months
  • Geographic Focus: Statewide Ohio (19 regions)

Contact Details

Website: https://www.oneohiofoundation.com

Email: info@oneohiofoundation.com

Address: 670 Meridian Way, Westerville, OH 43082

Grant Information Hub: https://www.oneohiofoundation.com/grants

Overview

The OneOhio Recovery Foundation was created at the direction of Ohio's state and local leaders to distribute 55% of the opioid settlement funds Ohio receives from pharmaceutical companies for their role in the national opioid epidemic. The Foundation manages approximately $860 million to be distributed over 15-20 years, with $236 million received as of April 2025. In its inaugural 2024 Regional Grant Cycle, the Foundation awarded over $45.4 million to 245 projects statewide from 1,442 funding requests totaling $581 million. The Foundation is committed to ensuring all funding supports evidence-based, forward-looking strategies for prevention, treatment, recovery, and abatement of substance use and co-occurring disorders. Regional Grant Cycle 2 has a budget of $45.78 million, distributed across 19 regions following legal settlement formulas.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Regional Grant Cycle (annual cycle)

  • 2024 Regional Grant Cycle: $45.4 million awarded to 245 projects
  • Regional Grant Cycle 2: $45.78 million budget (approximately $300,000 more than Cycle 1)
  • Application Method: Rolling announcements; funding inquiry-based system (streamlined from previous registration requirements)
  • Grant Terms: 12, 24, or 36 months
  • Distribution: Allocated across 19 regions following legal settlement formulas

Priority Areas

All funded initiatives must align with the OneOhio Memorandum of Understanding and Ohio Abatement Strategies, supporting:

  • Prevention: Youth prevention initiatives, school-based mental health supports, substance use avoidance and awareness education
  • Treatment: Treatment expansion for substance use disorders, dual diagnosis programs, decreasing oversupply of licit and illicit opioids
  • Recovery Support Services: Recovery housing, peer support services, recovery support programs
  • Criminal Legal System Integration: Post-overdose outreach programs
  • Workforce Development: Building capacity in the behavioral health field
  • Community Resilience: Supports for children and families impacted by substance use disorder

Recent funded projects (December 2024) include youth-focused prevention initiatives and supports for children and families impacted by substance use disorder, totaling $3.4 million across seven projects.

What They Don't Fund

  • Supplanting existing programs: Funding cannot replace existing programs or services. Successful proposals must support new programs, expanded programs, or enhancements to existing programs
  • Non-evidence-based approaches: All strategies must be evidence-based and forward-looking
  • Activities outside approved purposes: Must align with the defined Approved Purposes and opioid remediation strategies negotiated in the litigation settlement
  • Conflict of interest applications: Board of Directors members may not apply for funding from the region they represent

Governance and Leadership

Board Structure

The Foundation is governed by a 29-member board providing representation from 19 regions across Ohio:

  • 8 members appointed by metropolitan regions
  • 11 members appointed by non-metropolitan regions
  • 4 statewide appointees selected by Ohio General Assembly leaders
  • 5 statewide appointees selected by the Governor
  • 1 statewide appointee selected by the Attorney General

Key Leadership

Alisha Nelson, Executive Director A longtime advocate for improved behavioral health services with extensive public and private sector experience. Nelson most recently served as Director of Behavioral Health Strategy for one of Ohio's Medicaid managed care organizations and previously served as Director of RecoveryOhio in Governor Mike DeWine's office.

Don Mason, Board Chair Serves as Chair and Region 12 (Non-Metro) representative, elected to a two-year term.

Leadership Quote

From the 2024 Annual Report: "The OneOhio Recovery Foundation is committed to continuously refining and reenergizing our efforts, responding to emerging needs and working alongside our partners to make sure that every Ohioan can heal and thrive. As we prepare for another round of grants, we remain dedicated to ensuring that these funds are used to build a future where no one is left behind."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Foundation uses a streamlined, multi-stage review process accessed through the OneOhio Grant Portal:

Six-Stage Process:

  1. Funding Inquiry Submitted - All required applicant information collected at this stage (no pre-registration required)
  2. OneOhio Region Review - Regional Grant Review Committees review applications and make recommendations
  3. Expert Panel Review - OneOhio Expert Panel reviews for compliance with evidence-based standards
  4. Invite-Only Technical Application - Selected applicants submit detailed technical applications
  5. Grant Oversight Committee Review - Reviews for regulatory compliance
  6. Board of Directors Approval - Final approval by the 29-member board

Eligible Applicants:

  • Tax-exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3) or other relevant IRS Code sections
  • Private, for-profit organizations offering services meeting the Foundation's charitable purpose
  • Government entities
  • Must be Ohio-based organizations

Regional Grant Cycle 2 Key Dates:

  • RFP Release: December 10, 2025
  • Funding Inquiry Opens: January 14, 2026
  • Funding Inquiry Closes: February 11, 2026

Decision Timeline

Full Cycle Timeline: 4-6 months from funding inquiry submission to final board approval

Announcement Method: Rolling basis - funding awards announced in batches as they receive final approval. The Foundation announced 173 grants totaling $30 million as of December 2024, with announcements continuing through February 2025.

Each grant application review takes approximately 20 minutes at the regional committee level.

Success Rates

2024 Regional Grant Cycle:

  • Applications Received: 1,442 funding requests totaling $581 million
  • Awards Made: 245 projects
  • Success Rate: Approximately 17% (245/1,442)
  • Total Awarded: $45.4 million
  • Average Award: Approximately $185,000

The Foundation acknowledged that while they couldn't fund every application, many more funding opportunities lie ahead with future settlement fund distributions.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication restrictions documented. The Foundation operates annual regional grant cycles, suggesting unsuccessful applicants can apply in subsequent cycles. Given the multi-year distribution of settlement funds (15-20 years), the Foundation anticipates ongoing funding opportunities.

Application Success Factors

Evidence-Based Approaches Are Critical

The Foundation states: "All Foundation funding awards support evidence-based, forward-looking strategies for the purposes of prevention, treatment, recovery, and abatement of substance use and co-occurring disorders." Applications must demonstrate alignment with recognized evidence-based practices.

New or Enhanced Programs - Not Replacement Funding

Key requirement: "Funding proposals cannot be used to supplant existing programs or services. Successful proposals will support new or expanded programs or enhancements to existing programs." This is a critical distinction that applicants must demonstrate clearly.

Regional Alignment Matters

The Foundation "works closely with its 19 Regions to ensure funding decisions reflect local priorities and community needs." Each region may establish specific funding priorities based on local needs, so applicants should understand their region's particular focus areas.

Utilize Available Resources

The Foundation provides extensive support through:

  • OneOhio Impact Academy Webinar Series: Free webinars highlighting programs and services aligned with the Foundation's strategies, featuring leaders sharing experiences and lessons learned
  • Grant Applicant Training: Walks potential applicants through the grant portal and answers application questions
  • Grant Headquarters webpage: Regularly updated with important information and resources

Recent Funding Patterns

December 2024 final awards ($3.4 million across seven projects) focused specifically on youth-focused prevention initiatives and supports for children and families impacted by substance use disorder, indicating potential priority areas.

Collaborative Decision-Making

All grantees are "chosen through a transparent and collaborative process that includes input from each of the 19 OneOhio Regions, the OneOhio Expert Panel, the Grant Oversight Committee, the full Board of Directors and Foundation staff." Applications must satisfy multiple review layers focusing on different aspects (regional needs, evidence-base, regulatory compliance).

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Evidence-based is non-negotiable: Every proposal must demonstrate alignment with recognized, evidence-based strategies for opioid crisis remediation. Use the Foundation's Impact Academy webinars to understand what qualifies.

  • Enhancement, not replacement: Clearly articulate how your proposal creates something new, expands existing services, or enhances current programs - never frame it as maintaining current operations.

  • Know your region's priorities: The Foundation operates through 19 regional structures, each with potential unique priorities. Research your specific region's focus areas and decision-makers.

  • Prepare for a multi-stage process: With six review stages and a 4-6 month timeline, start early and be prepared for the invite-only technical application stage if your funding inquiry is successful.

  • Lower success rate means high competition: With only 17% of applications funded in Cycle 1, applications must be exceptionally well-crafted and strongly aligned with both state-level and regional priorities.

  • Leverage free support resources: The Foundation invests heavily in applicant training and education through webinars and training sessions - use these to strengthen your application and demonstrate understanding of their framework.

  • Multi-year funding available: With grant terms up to 36 months and long-term settlement fund distribution, think strategically about project timelines and potential sustainability beyond the grant period.

References

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