Apply for funding
Applications were received in January 2024. Funding notifications
will be announced by March 31, 2024.
Considerations for funding
- Early childhood education and home visiting
- Parent/caregiver skills training
- Mentoring or after school programs including social emotional component
- School or community-based violence prevention
Funding eligibility
To be eligible to apply for funding, organizations must be incorporated as a nonprofit organization by the state of Ohio and have tax-status under IRS code 501(c)3.* They must have served Stark and/or Carroll County residents for at least two years.
Applicants must meet our 12 Organization Requirements. Consideration will be given to tax-exempt private agencies and government entities that align directly with United Way Investment Priorities. Please contact us to request consideration before creating an application.
Use of funds
Information sessions
Information sessions are optional and will be held virtually. Registration is required and capacity is limited.
11/1/2023: 8:30 AM - Virtual grant application webinar.
11/1/2023: 4:00 PM - Virtual grant application webinar.
11/7/2023: 8:30 AM - Virtual grant application webinar.
11/7/2023: 4:00 PM - Virtual grant application webinar.
Video is available HERE. Passcode: i&DBR2t5
11/10/2023: 10:00 AM - Virtual presentation by Richie Harper on childhood poverty by census tract.
Video is available HERE. Passcode: #2042StartsToday
Click here for the childhood poverty map by Census Tract
11/14/2023: 4:00 PM - Virtual presentation by the Health Policy Institute of Ohio on the strategies to address Adverse Childhood Experiences.
Video is available HERE. Passcode: z7%cDVtj
Presentation slides are available HERE.
Questions and answers from webinars or other inquiries can be found HERE and in our software for all applicants’ review. To ensure a fair funding process, we cannot meet individually with organizations.
Timeline
11/1/2023 - Letter of Intent available online | Link to online application can be found HERE
11/28/2023: DEADLINE - Letter of Intent due
12/15/2023 - Eligible programs will be invited to submit Request for Proposal
1/5/2024- Request for Proposal opens
1/30/2024 - DEADLINE - Request for Proposal due
3/31/2024 - Notification - Programs notified of application outcome and funding award
Key documents & links
INVESTMENT PRIORITY SUMMARY DOCUMENT
APPLICATION SOFTWARE LINK
Access our application software. Use organization code 37091F or bookmark the link.
ORGANIZATION REQUIREMENTS
All organizations that are invited to submit a full Request for Proposal will be subject to an Agency Review prior to the funding cycle to assure that all the requirements are met.
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 the UWGSC investment priority, 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 United Way. 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 for consideration. These volunteer leaders make funding recommendations to the Board of Directors which makes all final funding determinations.
New agencies – those not funded within the last two years – may be subject to an Agency Review. The Agency Review process is a biennial assessment of the health and stability of an agency. Volunteers with expertise in finance or administration review pertinent agency documentation and conduct interviews with applicants.
Secondary priority (basic needs)
United Way’s Secondary Priority: To improve the household stability of parents/caregivers of young children by providing immediate economic supports.
Meeting the emergency and basic needs of community members remains of great concern to United Way. Current basic needs funded partners will continue to receive funding through March 2025. These programs provide homeless and domestic violence shelters, utility assistance, mortgage/rent payment, food, health care, and safety.
Thus, no applications for our secondary priority (basic needs) will be accepted during this application process. Instead, applications will be available in fall 2024 for funding to begin in April 2025. Available funding for our Secondary Priority is contingent upon the annual fundraising campaign.
Additional resources
CANDID LEARNING
Candid offers FREE live and on-demand training. Candid's programs cover best practices in fundraising, as well as the hard and soft skills required to be an effective advocate and leader of your organization or cause. Listen, hear, or read advice from funders and nonprofit experts. Candid provides information and guidance to support confident decision making and excellence in social sector operations.
STARK LIBRARY - GRANT TOOLS
The Stark Library offers FREE support to individuals and organizations, and access to an online grants data source. If you represent a non-profit organization, you can find the funders to help you make a difference! Easily search for opportunities to win more grants.
2023 STARK COUNTY COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT - INDICATORS OF HEALTH, SOCIAL, AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS
The community assessment is an analysis of data related to the needs of our community. Included topics are Health, Families, Households, & Neighborhoods, Economics and Environmental. This publication is a collaboration between Stark Community Foundation, United Way of Greater Stark County and the Center for Community Solutions.
ACES BY NATIONAL EXPERT JUDGE MICHAEL HOWARD
ACE stands for Adverse Childhood Experiences. They are potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood. Together, childhood poverty and ACEs are linked to worse outcomes in nearly every aspect of life from physical, mental and behavioral health to educational attainment to job opportunities and success, as well as reduced quality of life and lifelong earning potential. Please note you will be required to enter a passcode to watch the presentation. The passcode is: B=30%k4V