Apply for funding

On October 8, 2021, United Way of Greater Stark County will open the application process for July 2022 - June 2023 funding.

United Way, with recommendations from its volunteer-citizen panels, will fund programs that best align with our investment priorities in Youth Success, Childhood Success and Access to Health. We will prioritize programs that address childhood poverty by serving families living in areas of concentrated poverty, families of color and/or families living under the A.L.I.C.E. threshold.

Funding will be determined through a competitive process. The timeline for that process is as below.

 

APPLICATION PROCESS

TIMELINE & REGISTRATION

Training session is optional and will be held virtually. Registration is required and capacity is limited.
  • 10/08/2021: OPEN - Letter of Intent available | Link HERE
  • 10/08/2021: 9AM virtual training session on Letter of Intent & software  |  Video available HERE
  • 10/15/2021: 9AM virtual training session on agency review for new agency applicants only  |  Video available HERE
  • 10/30/2021: DEADLINE - Letter of Intent due
  • 11/19/2021: OPEN - Eligible programs invited to submit Request for Proposal
  • 12/01/2021: 9AM virtual training session on navigating grant application software  |  View recording HERE
  • 12/08/2021: 9AM virtual training session on Request for Proposal content  |  View recording HERE
  • 12/19/2021: DEADLINE - Request for Proposal due
  • 3/31/2022: Notification - Programs notified of funding award
All questions and answers from each training session will be added to this page when sessions are completed. To ensure a fair funding process, we cannot meet individually with organizations.
Image

IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS

APPLICATION PROCESS DESCRIPTION

Step One - Letter of Intent: The application for funding process begins with the Letter of Intent (LOI).  The LOI is designed as a preparation and screening tool and is open to all organizations incorporated as a non-profit organization by the state of Ohio who have tax- status under IRS code 501(c) 3. Programs must serve Stark and/or Carroll County Ohio residents.

In addition to a concise program description, the LOI should convey how the program aligns with UWGSC investment priorities, what community need is addressed by the program and how UWGSC funds will be used to operate the program. 

Letters of Intent will be evaluated by a council of volunteer-citizen reviewers (United Community Impact Council). Their recommendations are forwarded to the volunteer leadership of the Community Impact division of United Way (Community Investment Committee), which consists of subject-matter experts, community leaders and the council chair/vice chair.  These volunteer leaders make final recommendations for programs to be invited to continue in the application process by submitting a full Request for Proposal.

Step Two - Request for Proposal: The Request for Proposal (RFP) is issued by invitation to organizations that succeed in the LOI process. The RFP provides detailed content including the program’s use of best practices/evidence-based models, goals and objectives, operations, partner roles, and budget.

Proposal evaluations are conducted by volunteer-citizen reviewers (United Community Impact Council) using a standardized rubric. If additional clarification is needed, applicants may be asked to provide a brief virtual presentation to reviewers. Reviewers’ recommendations are forwarded to the volunteer leadership of the Community Impact division of United Way (Community Investment Committee) for consideration.  These volunteer leaders make funding recommendations to the Board of Directors. Based on available funding, the Board of Directors makes all final funding determinations.

New agencies – those not funded for the 2020-2021 year - who are invited to submit an RFP must also successfully complete an Agency Review process. New organizations that complete an LOI will receive instructions on how to complete an Agency Review. The Agency Review process is a biennial assessment of the health and stability of an agency. Volunteers with expertise in administration and/or finance review pertinent agency documentation and conduct interviews with applicants. Agencies funded for 2020-2021 completed Agency Reviews earlier this year.

ECONOMIC MOBILITY PRIORITY FUNDING

Applications supporting the Economic Mobility priority will not be a part of this funding process. United Way will work with employees and employers to identify gaps and needs in the workplace and recruit agencies to leverage solutions and services for filling these gaps. We plan to consider funding opportunities for gaps in services, in a separate process sometime in the future. Learn more.

Image

BASIC HOUSING NEEDS FUNDING

Meeting the emergency and basic housing needs of community members remains of great concern to UWGSC. Funding has been set aside to support currently funded providers of those programs, i.e. homeless and domestic violence shelters, utility assistance and mortgage/rent payment. No applications for Basic Housing Needs will be accepted as those programs will not need to compete for funding during this process. Available funding for Basic Housing Needs is contingent upon the annual fundraising campaign.