Funding Information Meeting

United Way will be awarding approximately $300,000 to local non-profits in the first quarter of 2017. This is a unique opportunity. The funds are a result of United Way collecting a high rate of donor pledges in 2015 and implementing operational efficiencies. We cannot guarantee that another out-of-cycle funding opportunity will happen again in the future but are pleased to provide this opportunity to increase impact across our communities.

This optional meeting will cover the following:

    Funding Application and Review Process
    Application Elegibility Requirements
    Application Submission Instructions
    Funding Decision Process
    General Questions

FUNDING PARAMETERS

1. FOCUS AREAS:  501(c)3 organizations that support education, health, safety and/or self-sufficiency needs within Benton and Franklin Counties may apply for funding in the following areas:
   
   1. Emerging service needs: This supports opportunities to address new and emerging needs for services. These funds are not intended to support current services except where client demand has significantly altered such services. Grants for emerging service needs will be two years in duration. Per program, there is a minimum total of $10,000 and a maximum total of $80,000 over the two years. For example, Year 1 may be a request of $50,000 and Year 2 may be a request of $30,000. Funds will be disbursed on a quarterly basis to successful awardees.
   2. Capacity building: Opportunities to expand service capacity through the purchase of equipment, vehicles or similar items. Grants will be awarded for a single purchase, on a reimbursement basis, with a minimum of $2,500 and a maximum of $35,000. For example, a request for service delivery vehicle may be made for $32,500 but reimbursed to a successful awardee at the actual purchase cost of $31,080.
2. REQUIREMENTS
   
   1. Cash match: Applicants must demonstrate a funding match of 25% the requested amount. Examples of match sources include cash, loans from financial institutions, or grants from organizations other than United Way. Non-cash matches (e.g., unrealized revenue or in-kind support) are not acceptable funding sources for this match.
   2. Sustainability: Applicants must demonstrate sustainability of the investment. Requests for emerging service needs grants must demonstrate how the proposed services will be sustained after Year 2. Requests for capacity building grants must demonstrate how the additional capacity supports the ongoing viability of the agency.
   3. Mission alignment: Applicants must align proposed outcomes with United Way’s investment philosophy of delivering quality, cost-effective support in areas of demonstrated need to improve people’s lives in our local community. United Way’s Community Solutions investments are prioritized to impact targeted outcomes in the areas of education, health, safety, and self-sufficiency. Funding awards will be distributed across these four areas. Applicants must self-select a single outcome area where their proposal makes the greatest impact. Proposals will be reviewed and compared only against competing proposals in their selected outcome area.
   4. Sound non-profit status:  The application outlines additional requirements that substantiate the status of the applying organization. These include whether the organization annually complies with the U.S. Patriot Act, demonstrates financial accountability (a financial audit or financial review), and has filed the IRS Form 990.

AWARD SCHEDULE

The schedule below provides time for quality responses and review but is accelerated from that used during the biennial funding cycle; this enables funds to be placed with non-profits by the end of January 2017.

AGENCIES APPLY:

Application available on November 1, 2016 (click here to apply)

Application information meeting November 7, 2016

Application deadline December 2, 2016

REVIEW:

United Way staff screen applications for minimum qualifications December 5-6, 2016

Review Team orientation December 7, 2016

Review Team evaluates applications December 7, 2016 - January 6, 2017

Review Team ranks applications and recommends distribution of funds January 10, 2017

Community Solutions Committee reviews recommended distribution and develops recommendation for the board January 10, 2017

APPROVAL:

Executive Committee acts on funding recommendation January 25, 2017

United Way Board acts on funding recommendation January 31, 2017

AWARD:

Funded and unfunded applications are notified February 1, 2017

Funded partners provide a signed funding agreement February 10, 2017 by 4:00 p.m.