Community Impact Grants

The Community Impact Grant application for the 2025-26 funding cycle.

For a complete list of current program investments, CLICK HERE.

Statement of Purpose:

The United Way of Southwest Minnesota invests donations into our communities primarily through Community Impact Grants. We focus on four key areas: Youth Opportunity, Healthy Communities, Financial Security, and Community Resilience. Programs that receive funding are carefully selected based on their significant impact on the lives of residents in Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Yellow Medicine, and parts of Cottonwood, Lac qui Parle, Nobles, and Redwood counties in Minnesota.

Our community volunteer panels work diligently to score submitted grant proposals, interview applicants, review program goals and anticipated results and then make recommendations to the United Way of Southwest Minnesota Board of Directors for final approval.

To be eligible for a Community Impact Grant, your program must meet specific guidelines, eligibility requirements, and operating guidelines. Ensure you thoroughly review this information before applying, as incomplete applications will not be considered for funding.

UWSWMN grant workshops for 2024-25 funding are available now on the dates below. First-time applicants must attend the workshops to be eligible for grant submission. The workshops will be held at 800 E Main Street, Marshall, MN. Pre-register at unitedway@unitedwayswmn.org.

The grant workshops will cover the following:

New Priority Areas
New Final Report Deadline.
Eligibility Criteria
Application Guidelines
Review process
Partnership Agreement
Q&A

Spring 2025 Grant Workshop Dates Are:

Thursday, March 6, 2025, at 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Friday, March 14, 2025, at 9:30 am - 10:30 am

Pre-register at: unitedway@unitedwayswmn.org

SAMPLE FORMAT FOR UPLOADS:

Funding will generally not be awarded for:

Marketing efforts
Event or fundraising promotions
Capital campaigns or expenditures (i.e., land, building, real estate, vehicles, equipment, 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
Staff positions.

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

Login instructions

Watch a short instructional video on creating an account and saving drafts.

All applicants are required to have or create an account to complete and submit their applications. Keep your username and password handy to "save a draft" and return to complete your submission. This username and password will continue to be used for agency reporting and future applications.

LOGIN HERE (If you already have a username and password)
CREATE AN ACCOUNT (New users only - Recommend using your Agency Name as your User Name - watch for an email to set your password, check spam)
RESET YOUR PASSWORD (if your email has been used previously, you can reset your password)
LOGOUT (Be sure to log out once you have saved your draft or submitted your application)

Incomplete applications will not be accepted d. Don't leave any blanks; enter N/A if not applicable.

Be sure to click "SAVE DRAFT" frequently. Return and work on the application as time permits. When you are finished, be sure to click "SUBMIT." You will not be able to access the completed submission, but you will be sent a copy.