Community Impact Grants

The Community Impact Grant application for 2023-24 funding is now Closed.
No further applications will be taken.
 
For a full list of current program investments, CLICK HERE.

Statement of Purpose:  

Community Impact Grants are the main way United Way of Southwest Minnesota invests donations back into our communities. United Way fights for the health, education and financial stability of every person in every community. LIVE UNITED. In southwest Minnesota, we focus on health, education, financial stability, hunger and safety & well-being. Programs awarded funding work to improve the lives of local people in Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Yellow Medicine and portions of Cottonwood, Lac qui Parle, Nobles and Redwood counties in Minnesota.  Trained community volunteers work together to score submitted grant proposals, conduct interviews of applicants, review program goals and anticipated results and then make recommendations to the United Way of Southwest Minnesota Board of Directors for final approval.

Please review the following information PRIOR to accessing our grant application as this is vital information you will need to know regarding our grant process.

Anyone interested in applying for grant funding for 2023-24 must attend a free UWSWMN grant workshop in order to be eligible to submit a grant application.  Pre-registration is required for grant workshops (unitedway@unitedwayswmn.org).  The grant workshops, to be held at the United Way Southwest Minnesota office, located at 800 E Main Street, Marshall, MN, will include information on the following:

  • Application guidelines and requirements
  • Information on our grant application including tips and hints
  • Overview of our grant review process
  • Overview of our Partnership Agreement
  • Time for Q & A

Spring 2023 Grant Workshop Dates Are:

Thursday, March 2, 2023, at 9:30am - 10:30am

Friday, March 10, 2023, at 2:00pm - 3:00pm

VALUABLE INFORMATION TO REVIEW PRIOR TO APPLYING FOR A COMMUNITY IMPACT GRANT

As indicated above, programs applying for a Community Impact Grant must meet specific guidelines, eligibility requirements, operating guidelines, etc. in order to be considered for funding.  It is strongly recommended that anyone considering applying for a Community Impact Grant review the following information in detail prior to starting their grant application to ensure that they qualify and meet all requirements.  Applications that do not meet our requirements will not be reviewed for funding.

1.  COMMUNITY IMPACT GUIDELINES.  This includes a statement of purpose; eligibility requirements; and basic operating guidelines.
2.  SERVICE AREA.  Funds awarded by UWSWMN can only be used to fund programs that serve individuals living in our service area.
3. COMMUNITY IMPACT PRIORITIES.  Funds awarded by UWSWMN can only be used to fund programs that fit within at least one of the UWSWMN Community Impact Priority areas. Also includes a list of what we typically DO NOT fund.
4.  SAMPLE FORMAT FOR UPLOADS:

5.  2023 TIMETABLE.  Includes dates for:  workshops; in-person panel reviews; notification of funding; deadline for acceptance of grant (if awarded); etc.
6.  SCORING MATRIX.  A panel of volunteers will review each submitted application that meets all guidelines and will score it based on the areas noted in this matrix.  They will then meet with representative(s) of the program and score the application based on the information gleaned from the meeting.
7.  SAMPLE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT.  NOTE:  The details of this agreement are subject to change prior to signing.  Any program that is awarded funding will be required to sign this agreement and adhere to its contents.   
8.  LIST OF PROGRAMS RECEIVING FUNDING IN 2022-23.

Funding will generally not be awarded for:

  • Marketing efforts
  • Event or fundraising promotions
  • Capital campaigns or expenditures (i.e., land, building, real estate, vehicles, building upkeep or repair)
  • Funding for organizations that intend to distribute funds at their own discretion
  • Debt reduction or program shortfall from earlier years
  • Endowment funding
  • Political campaigns or lobbying efforts
  • Activities that support a specific religious purpose
  • Professional development or training
  • Programs that operate in a discriminatory manner
  • Program work outside the UWSWMN service area
  • Programs not demonstrating a strong local need
  • Direct individual support
  • Volunteer recruitment and recognition

Additionally, UWSWMN funding will typically not be awarded if UWSWMN is the sole funding source for a program. 

COMMUNITY IMPACT GRANT APPLICATION