SMALL GRANTS FOR BLACK-LED NONPROFITS

The Black-Led Nonprofits Small Grants Process is an annual funding opportunity for small, Black-Led organizations. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to support the Black community in Stark and/or Carroll Counties through programs serving families with young children provided by small, Black-Led nonprofits. 

Link to your submitted application
CONTACT US

Black-Led Nonprofit Small Grants Committee members:
Richard Bennett, Vera Burton, Tasha Catron, Will Dent, Janelle Lee, Carrilyn Long, Cleo Lucas, John Ramos, Andrea Ramsey, Diane Robinson, Brenda Stevens, Kyle Stone, and Christian A. Turner.

INFORMAtION SESSIONS

Not able to attend the Information Session? Watch the recording and refer to the Q&A from the session.

Applicants are encouraged to attend two technical assistance sessions. Registration is required. Attendance may be virtual or in-person at United Way.

Black Led Nonprofits Small Grants: Technical Session 1 - Navigating the application May 10, 2023 – In-Person or Virtual

Black Led Nonprofits Small Grants: Technical Session 2- Investment priorities, strategies and metrics selection May 18, 2023 In-Person or Virtual  

If you are attending in-person, please contact [email protected] for more information.

COMMUNITY CHALLENGES

Many Stark and Carroll County residents
face ongoing educational challenges

0%
34% of Stark County third-graders are overweight or obese
0.2
The infant Mortality Rate – the nuber of infants who died within the first year of life per 1,000 births – a higher rate than the statewide average of 6.9 and the national average of 5.96
0X
3.0 Infant Mortality Disparity Ratio – black infants die at three times the rate of white infants, a 6.7 IMR for white infants compared to 20.2 MR for black infants
0%
3% of children brought into custody sighted parental drug use as a factor with heroine and opiates being the most frequent at 17 percent
  • 34 percent of third-graders are overweight or obese (Source: Stark County Community Health Improvement Plan, 2012)
  • 8.2 Infant Mortality Rate – the number of infants who died within their first year of life per 1,000 births – a higher rate than the statewide average of 6.9 and the national average of 5.96 (Source: Stark County THRIVE, 2013)
  • 3.0 Infant Mortality Disparity Ratio – black infants die at three times the rate of white infants, a 6.7 IMR for white infants compared to 20.2 IMR for black infants (Source: Stark County THRIVE, 2014)
  • 3 percent of children brought into custody sighted parental drug use as a factor with heroin and opiates being the most frequent at 17 percent (Source: Stark County Mental Health and Addiction Recovery, 2015)

FUNDING ELIGIBILITY

  1. Be a nonprofit led by either Black CEO/President or Board of Directors comprised of 51%+ Black Members.
  2. Be a health and human service nonprofit that has a two-year history of primarily serving the Black community in Stark and or Carroll County.
  3. As an organization, have less than a combined total of $500,000 in annual revenue or assets.

FUNDING LEVELS

Tier One: To be eligible to apply for $1-5,000, applicant organization must meet United Way Designation Policy. This includes but is not limited to being a health and human services nonprofit with either a 501(c)(3) designation or other nonprofit designation.

  • Civic, religious, educational or arts organizations are not eligible to apply, except for religious organizations that provide direct health or human service programs.
  • Nonprofit organizations without a 501(c)(3) designation may be required to apply under a fiscal agent.

Tier Two: To be eligible to apply for $5,001-10,000, applicant organization must meet United Way Standards for Membership, including but not limited to being a health & human nonprofit organization with 501(c)(3) designation.

FOCUS

Funds will be directed to programs that align with United Way's investment priorities of Access to Health, Childhood Success and Youth Success. Priority will be given to programs that target childhood poverty by serving families living in areas of concentrated poverty, families of color and/or families living under the ALICE threshold.

FUNDING PERIOD

Funding will be from June 15, 2023 through March 31, 2024. Funds may be used to support personnel, program materials, staff training, space rental or other facility costs, program evaluation or other resources. Funds cannot be used for capital expenses or other-than-nominal participant incentives.

APPLICATION EVALUATION & AWARD

Applications will be reviewed and scored by members of the Black-Led Nonprofits Small Grants Committee. Their decisions are final. Applicants will be notified of funding awards by June 15, 2023.

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

All funded programs must provide an annual summary of the impact of the grant including indicators/outcomes, demographics and an essential budget that shows where funds were spent. They must also agree to check-ins every 90 days with members of the Black-Led Nonprofits Small Grants Committee and United Way staff during the grant period.

For more information contact Brenda Stevens, Committee Chairperson at [email protected] or LaFlovia Ginanni, Committee Member at [email protected].