Overdose Prevention and Community Healing Fund

The Overdose Prevention and Community Healing Fund was a participatory grantmaking initiative that used national opioid settlement dollars to repair harms caused by the opioid epidemic and overdose crisis across Philadelphia. Rather than relying on traditional funding structures, the Prevention Fund centered the voices and lived experiences of individuals, families, and communities most impacted by the crisis.

Facilitated and administered by the Scattergood Foundation, the Prevention Fund supported community-based organizations working in treatment, recovery, overdose prevention; community and family healing; and opioid use prevention. Through its participatory process, impacted residents helped direct resources to grassroots organizations advancing healing, dignity, equity, and long-term community wellness.

The program awarded $5 million to 59 organizations across Kensington, North Philadelphia, and citywide, ensuring that settlement resources reached communities most affected by the overdose crisis.

“I’ve seen personally what a powerful force for positive change the Overdose Prevention and Community Healing Fund has been in my community. I’ve seen new programs funded where none would have been, I saw community leaders empowered, I saw willing hands given the tools they needed to do their good work.”
-Tamas Miszei, Community Granting Group Member