What are United Way of Southern Kentucky’s funding platforms?

Community Impact harnesses the power of the entire community to create significant, sustainable improvements; it requires many community partners working together to solve complex, systemic problems. United Way of Southern Kentucky adopted a Community Impact funding model that began implementation in 2016.

Over the course of 14 months, through community conversations and research, four broad categories were identified, creating the funding platforms for United Way of Southern Kentucky: Education, Income, Health and Safety Net.  At the root of it all, it was clear that Education, Income, Health and Safety Net services are interconnected. The foundation of a quality education that leads to sustainable employment is critical to providing necessary income.  Without enough income, basic needs can't be met - rent, food, child care, transportation costs – for an individual, a couple or a family. Good health keeps children on track at school and adults productive at work. It is only with the combination of quality education, sustainable income, good health and basic needs that families are able to stay out of a vicious cycle that starts with one crisis, one less paycheck, or one unexpected expense.

Within the 4 categories defined above, seven priority areas each with defined key strategies have been set. United Way of Southern Kentucky works with community representatives to closely evaluate proposals and provide funding for these priorities:

Education: Kindergarten Readiness; College & Career Readiness
Income:  Workforce Development
Health: Access to Affordable Health Care; Safe Home & Community
Safety Net: Transportation; Access to Basic Needs


Who is eligible to apply for funding?

UWSK seeks proposals to implement its Community Impact priority areas and strategies in Education, Income, Health and Safety Net. Organizations that are federally tax exempt, nonprofit, and currently providing, or could successfully implement, quality programs in alignment with one or more of these strategies are encouraged to apply for UWSK funding.

Programs that provide services within a best practices framework, that are collaborative and integrated into the fabric of other community education, income, health and safety net efforts, that consider the goals, needs and aspirations of the communities they serve, and that are innovative are programs that UWSK seeks to support.  Collaborative programs are highly encouraged.   Funds are available on an annual basis to support programs for one year.

Are there requirements for receiving United Way funding?

In addition to achieving impact in one of the priority areas/strategies, UWSK has several operational requirements that must be agreed to in writing and met over the duration of the grant period by organizations receiving our support. These requirements are described on the last two pages of the LOI Application. If your organization cannot agree to meet these requirements, you will not be eligible to apply for funding from United Way.
 
How do we apply for funding?

Applicants must submit a Letter of Intent by:  4pm on Friday, October 1, 2021. Organizations seeking funding for multiple programs must submit a Letter of Intent for each program. For the purposes of the Letter of Intent submission, a regional program providing those program services in multiple counties requires only one Letter of Intent submission. However, a separate program from that regional agency would require a second Letter of Intent.

Your Letter of Intent will be reviewed by a UWSK regional committee. Proposals that demonstrate meaningful impact in one of the priority areas/strategies will be invited to submit a full Community Impact Grant Application.


May our agency apply for funding in more than one Impact Area?

Yes, organizations may apply in multiple areas.

Important Dates:

Warren County                                                                       Partner Counties

December 2021 & January 2022 – Training for                  December 2021 & January 2022 – Training

organizations applying for funding.                                      for organizations in partner counties.

12:00 Noon, January 28, 2022 – Community                      12:00 Noon, March 11, 2022 – Community

Impact Grant applications due from Warren                        Impact Grant applications due from partner

County organizations.                                                             county organizations.

March 2022– April 2022 – Agency evaluations                   April 2022 – May 2022 – Agency evaluations

May 27, 2022 – Funding notification                                     May 27, 2022 – Funding notification

July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023 – Funding cycle                     July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023 – Funding cycle