Impact Based Funding
To ensure that our United Way is maximizing the impact that our donors and volunteers are making, we have assessed how to best meet our community’s current needs. We have updated our United Way’s funding model to an Impact Based Funding model.
The Impact Based Funding model is better aligned with current community needs, donor desires, and will allow United Way and our donors to deepen our collective impact in our community. This shift is designed to allow us to collectively solve more of our community’s biggest issues with less duplication, fewer silos and more coordination and impact.
Investments will be made to organizations that demonstrate they can advance the work of our Key Initiatives. In addition, a modest amount of funding will support Community Resiliency through information and referral, local disaster response, or sustainability of past collective impact efforts. Impact Based Funding allows us to more effectively drive community-wide progress on important issues by allocating more funding and staff capacity to these strategies.
A Letter of Intent is required to be considered for a full application.
Eligibility
To be eligible for United Way funding, organizations must be tax-exempt as described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, in good financial standing, and have been operating locally for a minimum of a year. Applicants who do not meet the above requirement may use a fiscal agent that does meet the above requirement. Please review the additional eligibility requirements found within the Impact Based Funding Guide.
Impact based Funding Invesment Areas
Safe and Stable Homes: Housing Stability For All
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Applications for the next funding cycle (07/2027 - 06/2029) will open on 11/4/2026. See the key dates below.
Teen Mental Wellness: Empowering Minds
- Current funding cycle is a three-year grant (07/2026-06/2029). Applications are now closed.
- Important Note: Teen Mental Wellness: Empowering Minds high-school grant opportunity and the Mental Health Improvement Fund grant opportunities have a separate timeline from Impact Based Funding.
Reducing Barriers to Employment and Advancement
- Current funding cycle is a two-year grant (07/2026-06/2028). Applications are now closed.
- We do not anticipate any further funding cycles within this initiative.
- Current funding cycle is a two-year grant (07/2026-06/2028). Applications are now closed.
- We do not anticipate any further funding cycles within this initiative.
- Current funding cycle is a three-year grant (07/2026-06/2029). Applications are now closed.
- Anticipated future applications will open in fall of 2028 for the 07/2029 - 06/2031 funding cycle.
SAFE & stable Homes: Housing stability for all Key Dates
- October 28, 2026 from 3:30 - 4:30 pm: LOI in-person information session (sign up link coming soon)
- October 30, 2026 from 10:00 - 11:00 am: LOI virtual information session (sign up link coming soon)
- November 4, 2026: LOI Opens for 2027-29 Grant Cycle
- December 2, 2026: LOI closes at 11:59pm. Please note: Technical assistance will not be available after 4:30pm.
- January 11, 2027: LOI Decision Notifications Sent
- January 18, 2027: Full Application Opens in e-CImpact
- February 22, 2027: Full Applications Due, Virtual Meeting Scheduling Due
- March 15 – March 31, 2027: Virtual Meetings
- June 1, 2027: Full Application Decision Notification
- July 1, 2027: 2027-29 Grant Cycle Begins & Award Letters Issued
Apply
Safe and Stable Homes: Housing Stability For All applications for the next funding cycle (07/2027 - 06/2029) will open on 11/4/2026.
Impact Based Funding FAQs
What are the eligibility requirements?
In general, to be eligible for United Way funding, organizations must be tax-exempt as described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, in good financial standing, and have been operating locally for a minimum of a year. Applicants who do not meet the above requirement may use a fiscal agent that does meet the above requirement. Please review the additional eligibility requirements found within the Impact Based Funding Guide.
Can my organization submit multiple Letters of Intent?
Yes. Organizations can submit a Letter of Intent for each area in which they are aligned. This includes multiple letters of intent under one investment area for different strategies. Please complete a separate Letter of Intent for each strategy you are applying for.
What are the investment areas available for funding?
Safe & Stable Homes: Housing Stability for All
For more detailed information please review the Impact Based Funding Guide.
If my organization is currently funded by United Way, do we need to complete a letter of intent?
Yes. All organizations interested in funding beginning July 1, 2027, are required to complete a letter of intent to be eligible for funding with two exceptions.
Teen Mental Wellness: Empowering Minds high-school grant opportunity and the Mental Health Improvement Fund grant opportunity have a separate timeline from Impact Based Funding. More information on those opportunities will be available on the Funding Opportunities page in January 2027.
How are decisions made on which organizations move to the application round?
The Impact Based Funding Letter of Intent (LOI) process serves a few purposes, including helping United Way understand the level of interest in the funding opportunities and narrow down the pool of applicants needing to complete a full application.
LOI Review Committees established by United Way staff will review all LOIs to identify projects with the greatest potential for lasting community impact. Scoring rubrics can be found in the LOI Guide. Additionally, factors involved in a decision of whether or not an organization moves on to the application round includes both the individual Letter of Intent score and a comprehensive review of all the organization’s letters of intent (if an organization submits more than one LOI). As a result, high rubric scores do not guarantee an organization will be invited to complete a full application.
recorded Training Sessions
Recorded training sessions will be available when the next letter of intent opens. Please review the Impact Based Funding Guide to learn if your agency qualifies.
Key Initiatives
In partnership with our community, we are creating lasting change in these focus areas.
