Grants

United Way of Washtenaw County invests in solutions that improve lives. Grants for programs and services that address critical community needs are a key strategy in our work. From childcare to permanent supportive housing, job placement services to meals for seniors, programs funded by United Way are making a difference every day.

OPPORTUNITY FUND

Overview: These grants provide one-time support for programs, projects or initiatives benefiting underserved populations in Washtenaw County-- lower-income populations, communities of color and groups deemed to be marginalized. In addition to the above, programs, projects or initiatives must identify with one or more of the following criteria:
 
  • Meet an emergent, unmet community need or nonprofit capacity need
  • Leverage United Way support as match for additional grant funding
  • Pilot a promising or evidence-based practice
  • Increase the financial stability of individuals and families
  • Prioritizes systematic racial equity*

Eligibility: Local 501(c)(3) non-profit human service organizations,  local governments, higher education institutions and school districts that are located within and serving Washtenaw County. Applicants may apply through a fiscal agent.
Timeline: Grant proposals will be accepted year round on a rolling basis. The first round of funding awards will be made in October 2016.

Apply: Application period for the Opportunity Fund is now closed.

For a complete list of all FY 2016-17 Opportunity Fund grantees, click here.
For a complete list of all FY 2015-16 Opportunity Fund grantees, click here.
For a complete list of all FY 2014-15 Opportunity Fund grantees, click here.

FINANCIAL STABILITY FUND

Overview: A component of United Way’s Financial Stability Initiative, these grants provide one-time support for programs, projects or initiatives that prioritize the following Washtenaw County populations: women, low-income individuals and families; communities of color; historically marginalized groups. Funding is open to both new/pilot or existing programs, projects or initiatives. 
 
Funded programs, projects or initiatives must align with one or more of the following goals of United Way’s Financial Stability Initiative:
  • Advance the economic well-being of low-income working individuals and families.
  • Reduce reliance on predatory financial practices in Washtenaw County neighborhoods.
  • Ensure that low-income working individuals and families are aware of available asset-building resources.
  • Increase opportunities for low-income individuals and communities to increase their economic asset base through education, coaching and practice
Local community organizations, through community conversations, have affirmed the following areas as funding priorities:
  • Job training/skill building
  • Literacy (e.g. digital, language, health)
  • Financial Stability Capacity Building (e.g. Integration of financial services into an agency’s existing social service array)
  • Direct Service Staff Capacity Building  (e.g. Increasing the knowledge and skills of social/case workers to provide financial empowerment services to clients)
  • Public Policy, Advocacy and Community-Mobilizing (e.g. community campaign on predatory lending practices)
Note: A subset of awards will be made to programs, projects or initiatives that primarily or exclusively prioritize services for women as part of United Way’s Women United Initiative. Funding previously invested through Women’s Leadership Initiative Grant Program will now be invested through the Financial Stability Fund.
 
Eligibility: Local 501(c)(3) non-profit human service organizations,  local governments, higher education institutions and school districts that are located within and serving Washtenaw County. Applicants may apply through a fiscal agent.
Timeline: Grant proposals will be accepted until September 30, 2016. Funding award notifications to applicants will be made on or before November 8, 2016.
Apply: Application period for the Financial Stability Fund is now closed.

For a complete list of all FY 2016-17 Financial Stabiltiy Fund grantees, click here.

BASIC NEEDS FUND

Overview: Each year, the Michigan Association of United Ways raises dollars through an income tax check-off campaign. In 2013, over $113,000 was generated by Michiganders across the state.

Locally, United Way of Washtenaw County residents generated $8,020 in basic needs funding, which was the third highest return of all counties in Michigan. We are honored to be the local investor of these funds, because we know that they will support the immediate, most basic needs of individuals, children and families in need.

Eligibility: Local 501(c)(3) non-profit human service organizations,  local governments, higher education institutions and school districts that are located within and serving Washtenaw County. Applicants may apply through a fiscal agent.
Timeline: Grant proposals will be accepted on a rolling basis through January 2017. Funding award determinations will be made on a rolling basis between November 2016 to February 2017.

Apply: Application period for the Basic Needs Fund is now closed.

For a complete list of all FY 2016-17 Basic Needs Fund grantees, click here.
For a complete list of all FY 2015-16 Basic Needs Fund grantees, click here.
For a complete list of all FY 2014-15 Basic Needs Fund grantees, click here.

COORDINATED FUNDING

United Way of Washtenaw County is a proud member of the Washtenaw Coordinated Funders. The Washtenaw Coordinated Funders adopted a funding model with three distinct components (Sector Leaders (formerly Planning & Coordinating Entities), Program Operations Funding & Capacity Building Grants) designed to prevent gaps and avoid redundancies in services while streamlining application and reporting procedures for grantees. This effort involved better sharing of information, closer work with local nonprofits to establish common community goals, and increased cooperation in funding decisions.

The Washtenaw Coordinated Funders seek to better coordinate our funding of human service programs in Washtenaw County around shared priorities. This effort involves better sharing of information among us, closer work with local nonprofits to establish common community goals, and increased cooperation in our funding decisions.

Program Operations Grants are multi-year funding to support essential services within five priority areas: early childhood, school-aged youth, safety net health & nutrition, housing & homelessness, and aging.

Capacity Building Grants support one-time initiatives that strengthen a nonprofit organization and/or the local nonprofit sector as a whole. Annual focus of this fund shifts in response to local capacity building needs.

Sector Leadership Grants support leadership, infrastructure and support to steer issue-specific collaborative efforts among nonprofit agencies.

CONTACT

For more information about our work, contact:
Bridget Healy, Director of Community Impact, 734.677.7209, bhealy@uwwashtenaw.org 
Amanda Reel, Community Impact & Volunteer Center Manager, 734.677.7234, areel@uwwashtenaw.org