Funding

Accessing Financial Support

Navigating funding opportunities shouldn’t be a barrier to strengthening rural health. The Washington State Office of Rural Health (WA-SORH) curates and summarizes a wide range of federal, state, and private funding programs to help rural communities quickly identify resources that may support their work.

Our goal is simple: make it easier for rural health partners to find the opportunities that matter most.

What You’ll Find Here

• Concise summaries of current funding programs relevant to rural health
• Links to official program pages, applications, and guidance
• Resources for planning, grant writing, and project development

These summaries are provided by WA-SORH for ease of access and initial exploration. They are not exhaustive and may not reflect the most recent updates from funders.

Stay Connected With Funders

Funding programs evolve, deadlines shift, requirements change, and new details emerge. For the most complete, accurate, and up‑to‑date information, we strongly encourage you to contact the funding organization directly or visit the official program website.

Supporting Rural Communities

Whether you’re representing a clinic, hospital, EMS agency, public health department, Tribal Health Program, or community‑based organization, we’re here to help you navigate the landscape of rural health funding. Explore the opportunities, reach out with questions, and let us know how we can support your efforts to improve health in rural Washington. 

Be cautious of for-profit, subscription-based grant seeking services. Federal and state grant opportunities may be found at no cost on public websites. Foundation Directory resources may be accessed at no cost through Funding Information Network locations at public libraries, academic libraries, and other partner locations.

Funding Opportunities

State

CLOSED - Rural Health Innovation Micro Funding Program (PDF) aims to support Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) by addressing their specific needs and enhancing their capabilities for rural communities. The focus of funding is to improve quality of care, operational processes, and targeted community health improvement efforts. This involves leveraging existing data to pinpoint areas for enhancement, devising improvement strategies, and executing projects with measurable outcomes. Additionally, population health proposals require analyzing local health data to identify key health drivers, selecting projects aimed at enhancing community health outcomes, and fostering collaboration with community partners. Awards range from $5,000 to $10,000 per awarded proposal. The goal is to empower rural facilities to develop and apply skills that elevate their health care delivery standards and ultimately improve the health of their populations.

---

Washington Community Economic Revitalization Board Prospective Development Program
Financing in the form of grants and loans for local governments and federally recognized Indian Tribes in rural areas of Washington. Funding may be used for public infrastructure that supports private business growth and expansion.

Geographic coverage: Washington
Application deadline: Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
Sponsor: Washington State Department of Commerce

---

Washington Emergency Broadband Loan Program
Loans to repair, replace, rehabilitate, improve, and/or reconstruct critical broadband infrastructure in Washington that was damaged by a natural disaster or unforeseen events.

Geographic coverage: Washington
Application deadline: Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
Sponsor: Washington State Department of Commerce

---

Washington J-1 Visa Waiver Program
Offers a J-1 Visa waiver to foreign physicians who commit to serving for 3 years in an approved area of Washington, allowing them to remain in the United States.
Geographic coverage: Washington
Application deadline: The 2027 Application Cycle will open on October 1, 2026
Sponsors: Washington State Department of Health, Washington State Office of Rural Health

---

Sexual Assault Set-Aside STOP Grant Program

This grant is for victim services that meaningfully address the needs of individuals age 11
and older that have experienced sexual assault.

Geographic coverage: Washington
Application deadline: November 2, 2026
Sponsors: Washington State Department of Commerce

---

Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Capacity Grant Program

These HEAL capacity grants are intended to support community organizations whose capacity building efforts are aligned with, and will advance the goals of the Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act.

Geographic coverage: Washington
Application deadline: Nov 13, 2026
Sponsors: Front and Centered

---

Federal

VA Pilot Program for Graduate Medical Education and Residency

Reimbursement funding to establish new residency programs by facilities operated by Indian Health Service (IHS), Indian Tribes, tribal organizations, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), Department of War (DoW), and other healthcare facilities located in areas designated as underserved by VA, including rural and frontier areas.

Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Nov 30, 2026
Sponsors: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

---

SEARCH - Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households

Funding for financially distressed rural communities of 2,500 or less people to assist with feasibility studies, design assistance, and technical assistance on water and waste disposal projects.

Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
Sponsor: U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA Rural Development

---

USDA Community Facilities Guaranteed Loan Program

Loans from eligible private lenders, guaranteed by USDA, to help build essential community facilities in rural areas.

Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
Sponsor: U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA Rural Development

---

On-Farm Labor Housing Loans

Financing to develop or rehabilitate affordable rental housing for very-low to moderate income domestic, migrant, and seasonal farm laborers.

Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. Territories
Application deadline: Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
Sponsors: U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA Rural Housing Service

---

Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) Training and Mentoring
Provides medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) training for clinicians in high-need communities. Clinicians who complete the training may be priority applicants for some National Health Service Corps loan repayment programs.

Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. territories
Application deadline: Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
Sponsors: Bureau of Health Workforce, Health Resources and Services Administration, National Health Service Corps, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

 

---

Private

Emergency Medicine Foundation Pilot Research Grant

Funding for pilot projects that impact emergency care research and are intended for a broad audience, including clinical, translational, and basic science researchers. One of the program priorities is research focused on rural and underserved areas.

Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Dec 10, 2026
Sponsor: Emergency Medicine Foundation

---

Rural Grocery Specialist Program

A training for resource professionals to better support rural grocers through business transition. The Rural Grocery Initiative works to support healthy food options, jobs, local tax base, and attraction/retention of residents in rural communities.

Geographic coverage: National
Application deadline: Jan 11, 2027
Sponsor: Rural Grocery Initiative

---

Virtual Living Room - Using Technology to Address the Critical Healthcare Needs of Veterans in Rural Areas

A grant program that combines rural technology, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs resources, and local support to provide solutions to improve healthcare access for veterans in rural areas.

Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application deadline: Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
Sponsors: Foundation for Rural Service, NTCA: The Rural Broadband Association, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

---

AgWest Farm Credit Rural Community Grant Program
Grants for nonprofit organizations working to improve economic and social well-being of rural communities in Alaska, Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington.

Geographic coverage: Rural communities in Alaska, Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington
Application deadline: Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
Sponsor: AgWest Farm Credit

---

American Connection Corps
A 1-year fellowship program that trains and mobilizes leaders to work in rural and emerging communities to coordinate broadband development and digital inclusion.

Geographic coverage: Available in 29 states.
Application deadline: Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
Sponsors: AmeriCorps, Lead for America

---

Community Facility Loans
Loans to help develop and improve essential community facilities in the rural West.

Geographic coverage: Available in 13 western states and the Pacific Islands. See program website for details.
Application deadline: Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
Sponsor: Rural Community Assistance Corporation

---

RCAC Infrastructure Loans
Loans to finance water and waste facility projects in the rural West, including the early funds small rural communities need to determine project feasibility and to pay pre-development costs prior to receiving state and federal funding.

Geographic coverage: Available in 13 western states and the Pacific Islands. See program website for details.
Application deadline: Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
Sponsor: Rural Community Assistance Corporation

---

Wildhorse Foundation Rapid Response Grants
Grants to Tribes and national, regional, or local Native American organizations that serve individuals in the Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla Tribes of Oregon and Washington. Funds may be used for small needs that surface throughout the year to support programs in the areas of public health, public safety, environmental protection, and gambling addiction, among others.

Geographic coverage: Parts of Washington and all of Oregon
Application deadline: Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
Sponsor: Wildhorse Foundation

---

Resources for Planning, Grant Writing, and Project Development

• Applying for Grants to Support Rural Health Projects provides guidance, resources, and FAQs provided by the Rural Health Information Hub.
• Guide to Working with Rural Philanthropy (PDF) sharing strategies rural organizations can use to build and sustain partnerships that invest in rural health. 

More Sources of Rural Project Funding

Grants.gov – Serves as a comprehensive website with information about finding and applying for all federal grant programs, including funding from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, USDA Rural Development, and other federal agencies that provide opportunities related to rural health. Users can subscribe to receive real-time updates on funding opportunities of interest. Users can also find and subscribe to forecasted opportunities to plan ahead for preparing applications.

---

Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) – Maintains a site specifically for rural health organizations, including a page for agency-specific funding opportunities. Rural service providers are encouraged to sign up for FORHP's weekly e-newsletter, which contains information about other rural-specific funding opportunities. Request to be added to the e-newsletter.

---

Federal Register – Provides access to information about federal benefits and opportunities for funding. There will be information overlap with funding sources provided on Grants.gov.

---

SAMHSA Tribal Funding Opportunities – Grants from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration specifically for Tribes and Tribal organizations.

---

Candid, formerly called The Foundation Center is a nonprofit organization that provides information, resources, and training related to working with philanthropic organizations.

---

Federal Funding Programs Managed by the State Office of Rural Health

Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility (FLEX) Program

Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility (FLEX) EMS

Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program