Investment Funding: Proposal Requirements

RISE UNITED

Investment Funding: Proposal Requirements

APPLY BY CLICKING THIS LINK

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Organizations must meet the following eligibility guidelines and have available for review:

  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policy/non-discrimination policies
  • Liability Insurance
  • Organization’s most recent 990
  • Organization’s most recent audit or financial report
  • Organization’s 501(c)3 IRS Confirmation letter

In addition, organizations must be able to document that the agency:

  • Is governed by a voluntary board of directors consisting of members from the general community.
  • Is committing some of its own resources to the program.
  • Will conduct a workplace campaign to benefit United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley.

A program will be considered for funding if it meets the following criteria:

  • The primary applicant organization must be a 501(c)3 organization.  If you do not know the status of your organization, or are not currently qualified, please contact Grimilda Ocasio-Santiago at 330.746.8494 or [email protected]
  • The program must align with United Way’s results framework.  Applicants will be required to track and report on all measures within the selected outcome strategy.
  • The applicant must attend at least one mandatory training session at the United Way office.

ALL NEW POTENTIAL PARTNER AGENCIES

Any agencies with programs not currently receiving funding who wish to apply must submit a Letter of Intent or LOI.  The details for the LOI can be found on the United Way website. Current programs funded by the United Way are NOT required to submit an LOI.  The Letter of Intent must be submitted no later than October 31, 2023 to Grimilda Ocasio-Santiago, Director of Community Impact via email: [email protected].

The Letter of Intent must not exceed 2 pages and should include:

  • Agency Contact Information
  • Organization Description
  • Statement of Need
  • Proposed Program
  • Other Funding Sources

For all accepted new agencies and current partner agencies, Grant Applications will be open via E-C Impact, an online system, on November 1, 2023 and will close on January 31, 2024.  Applications will not be accepted after the deadline.

Current and new applicants may seek technical assistance on the use of E-C Impact beginning November 1, 2023. Please note: Applicants are required to attend one of the scheduled information sessions. United Way suggests reviewing the investment plan and logging into E-C Impact prior to attending a session.

Training Session                October 24, 2023 9AM

Training Session                November 14, 2023 9AM

Training Session                  December 14, 2023 9AM

APPLICATION REVIEW PROCESS

All applications meeting eligibility criteria, and submitted by the deadline will be evaluated on a 100-point scale. The proposed program, and its ability to address an identified United Way community goal in an effective manner will be evaluated by teams of community volunteers, partners and United Way staff.  The United Way Community Impact Committee will make an allocation recommendation. The United Way Board of Directors will review the recommendation and approve all final investment decisions.

2024-2026 APPLICATION FORM

United Way is seeking effective programming that aligns with this investment plan to create meaningful collective impact in our community. The online application is comprised of the following sections:

· General Agency Information

· Basic Program Information

· Client Characteristics

· Program Budget

Responses to each of these four (4) areas are scored for content and quality, to a maximum of 100 points.

It is expected that grantees will:
– Comply with all reporting requirements & deadlines – forms will be provided.
– If requested, speak regarding partnership at a business on behalf of UWYMV.
– Agree to co-brand with United Way and/or Women United.
– Participate/cooperate with United Way Outreach activities as appropriate.
– Notify UWYMV of any significant program or budget changes when they occur.    

PROGRAM AWARDS

· Award Notification: Notice of a program award will be given in May, 2024.  Funds will be allocated beginning on July 1, 2024.

· Reporting Schedule: Reports will be due annually (July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024) to United Way via E-C Impact. For example, January 2023 reports will cover the periods of July 1, 2022-December 31, 2022 and July 2023 reports will cover periods of January 1, 2023-June 30, 2023.

· Awarded programs will receive a two-year contract from July 1, 2024-June 30, 2026. If program demonstrates sustainability and results after the first program year, grant awardees will receive their second-year contract renewal for July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026.

· Contingency of Funds: Every program year throughout the 2024-2026 allocation cycle will be contingent on program performance, demonstrated results and continued availability of funds. United Way reserves the right, at any time, to adjust or withdraw contract dollars if agreed-upon program delivery or results do not meet contract requirements.

All programs requesting funding must align with one of the Education or Emergency Services Goals and Strategies listed below.

The United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley continue to support the wonderful work you are doing in our community by providing funding to your organization’s programs annually.
As we approach the funding cycle for 2024-2026 we have updated our RFP process and narrowed our focus areas for both education and emergency. Please review our redefined focus areas and be sure that programs your agency is applying for fits within our United Way’s scope.

We have redefined our focus areas as follows:

EDUCATION

Our United Way focuses on programs that serve children from birth through 8th grade. We want children to start kindergarten with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive, more schools to connect parents and students to resources and tools to help them learn and grow, as well as summer programs that enable students to continue learning. 

PILLAR 1

Early Learning- Children enter school ready to succeed.

  • Improve access to quality early learning opportunities for children ages 0-5.
  • Provide resources and support to families that strengthen positive interactions and attain the skills and knowledge to promote early learning at home.

PILLAR 2

Youth Success-Supports children from kindergarten through 8th grade

  • Provide quality and engagement in school, out of school, and summer opportunities for students Kindegarten-8th grade that reinforce and enhance academic and social/emotional learning
  • Prepare students to make the successful transition from elementary to middle school and middle school to high school.
  • Increase access to support services for students and their families.

PILLAR 3

Family Stability-Help individuals and families build strong, stable foundations by supporting programs that help meet their basic needs and improve their quality of life

  • Provide individuals and families with tools and resources to become financially secure and self-sufficient.
  • Increase access to quality and affordable liaisons to assist with navigating programs.

EMERGENCY

Our United Way focuses on funding programs that serve our community’s most vulnerable population. Our agencies provide programs that allow our community members to access resources to allow them to overcome barriers by providing food, clothing, shelter, emergency and crisis intervention services. This includes increasing food access to individuals and families, clothing assistance, emergency shelter assistance, and disaster response and relief.

PILLAR 1:

  • Affordable Housing- utility assistance, mortgage assistance, rental assistance, emergency shelter, home weatherization, down payment assistance, and disaster response and relief.

PILLAR 2:

  • Food Insecurity- Diminish food insecurity and promote healthy food access to everyone in our community. This includes programs that promote warm meals, grocery vouchers, pantry access, healthy meal plans, healthy food access, and fresh food access.

PILLAR 3:

  • Financial stability- Create temporary and permanent solutions for individuals with financial burdens by connecting them to agency programs that assist with credit debt solutions, budgeting, tenant rights, bankruptcy, eviction, as well as programs that create access to essential household needs.

Our new process is designed to create an easier process for new and existing agencies to apply for funding. Below please find a general layout of how the application process will be.