WVFF Creates New Funding Mechanism For Opioid Settlement Money 

The organization responsible for managing most of West Virginia’s opioid settlement funds is adjusting its approach to distribution.  

At its first quarterly meeting of the year, the West Virginia First Foundation Board of Directors approved a new funding mechanism. The foundation was set up as a representative system to distribute nearly $1 billion in opioid settlement money over 10 years.    

Anthony Woods, the foundation’s chief financial officer, announced the Regional Contingency Allocation Program (RECAP) as a new funding model to provide each of the state’s six regions flexibility to respond to community opportunities that may not fit in the typical grant cycle. 

“The tip behind us is to give you guys, the board members, a practical tool to respond to community opportunities that might not fit within those larger grant cycles, but we’re still going to maintain appropriate oversight and accountability through the foundation’s existing administrative processes,” Woods said. “This approach is designed to support timely, regionally informed investments that can address immediate needs and strength and local impact across the state.” 

More than $34 million has been awarded through the foundation since 2024. On Thursday, the board learned that the foundation has paid close to $22 million of grants to date, with an additional $12.5 million pending. Jeff Sandy, board treasurer, also said that at the end of February, the foundation has a total liquidity of more than $370 million. 

The next grant cycle, the Community Catalyst Grant, is scheduled to open June 1.   

The board also announced the selection of West Virginia University (WVU) to conduct a comprehensive, statewide needs assessment that will help guide the strategic and equitable allocation of opioid settlement funds. Named the West Virginia Wayfinder, the effort will be a collaborative effort led by the West Virginia University Health Affairs Institute, in partnership with the Institute for Policy Research and Public Affairs, and Data Driven WV. 

“This was one of the original mandates that we were tasked with accomplishing, that of creating an interoperable network,” Jonathan Board, foundation executive officer, said. “The fact that we are moving forward with this process in roughly the first 18 months or so of operation is really extraordinary.” 

The next regular meeting of the Foundation’s Board of Directors is scheduled for June 18 but is subject to change.