GEARING UP FOR GOOD: We need your help evaluating funding proposals.
Every three years, United Way invites nonprofit agencies across our five-county region to submit proposals for a multi-year grant opportunity. We need your help reviewing proposals and making funding decisions. We’ve developed a transparent process that funds outstanding agencies making a big impact in the communities they serve.
How our process is different. While many funders rely solely on internal staff or a small committee, we engage more than 100 donors and community members in the decision-making process. This “big tent” approach brings diverse perspectives to the table and creates a network of informed, engaged leaders who understand the challenges nonprofits face. We offer three years of funding to our agency partners, allowing us to provide real financial stability, cultivate deep relationships, and build program capacity, so that agencies are as effective as they can be.
Step one: letters of intent. The process begins with an eligibility prescreen to confirm nonprofit status and service area. Agencies then submit a Letter of Intent (LOI), which includes a brief overview of their mission, services and alignment with United Way’s priorities. Agencies not invited to submit a full proposal are encouraged to reach out to the Community Impact team for feedback.
Step two: full proposals. Agencies with strongest LOIs are invited to submit a full proposal, including audited financials, budgets, Form 990s and projected outcomes. We’ve streamlined this process to reduce administrative burden while still gathering the data we need to make informed decisions. Our Community Impact team offers office hours and one-on-one support to help agencies strengthen their proposals.
Step three: thoughtful review. Once proposals are in, each application undergoes an initial review by Community Impact staff, followed by evaluation from a diverse group of volunteer reviewers — donors, board members, subject matter experts and community leaders. Reviewers collaborate and are trained to use a scoring rubric and provide comments, which are averaged and compiled for each proposal. Every application is reviewed by five to seven evaluators, who meet to discuss scores and advocate for strong proposals.
Beyond the check: ongoing partnership. Every agency United Way funds is considered a partner. Community Impact staff are in touch often, conducting mid-year check-ins either virtually or on-site to discuss barriers and opportunities. These conversations often lead to additional resources, such as technology grants or volunteer engagement. Every partner agency also submits an end-of-year report detailing outcomes and progress toward goals.
If concerns arise, we act, asking clarifying questions because we know that 50,000 donors trust us to steward their contributions effectively. Agencies not funded are offered feedback sessions to help them strengthen future applications and, in some cases, receive invitations to apply for targeted grants.
The hardest part: funding gaps. The biggest challenge is that there are always more outstanding proposals than there are resources. In our last cycle, we received 136 highly competitive proposals totaling $11.4 million, but we had only $7.5 million to award. Every unfunded proposal represents unmet needs. We’re working to close this gap through initiatives like our $40 million 100th anniversary endowment Fund for Transformation and Resilience.
As we gear up for the next RFP cycle, we invite you to join us as volunteer reviewers. Training begins soon. You’ll receive an email or a call about how to sign up. With your help, United Way will continue to verify, collaborate and invest in excellence so that every dollar makes a difference.