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United Way of Berks County Announces Grant Opportunities for Health & Human Service Programs

Aug 07, 2017 • by United Way of Berks County
United Way of Berks County

United Way of Berks County has announced two types of one-time grant opportunities available to local nonprofits providing health and human service programs and/or projects within Berks County.

“United Way is committed to responding to key community needs, and we’re pleased to have this opportunity to invest additional funds in Berks County. The grant opportunities will develop and strengthen partnerships, as well as help support pressing challenges,” says Tammy White, President, United Way of Berks County.

A summary of the grant opportunities follows, with full detail available at United Way’s website at www.uwberks.org. Applications will be accepted beginning August 9, 2017 through 4:00 PM on September 8, 2017. Notice of funding will be conveyed by October 13, 2017.

Venture Grants provide one-time funding to support innovative projects responding to needs of a specific community issue identified each year. For 2017-18, Food Security Programs has been selected as the focus, and all proposed programs for funding should be designed to achieve one or more of the following outcomes: Children and families will have supplemental food for weekends and when school is out of session. Children, adults and families will have access to adequate daily meals and fresh fruits and vegetables. Individuals will have access to knowledge and materials for food gardening and nutrition awareness.

Proposed programs including the following elements are highly desirable:

• Programs engaging youth and parents in education related to food nutrition.

• Programs engaging Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) families. ALICE is the group of individuals who earn more than the poverty level, but not enough to meet the basic level of living. They make too much to qualify for assistance programs but not enough to be financially stable on their own. This focus is important to United Way because, while many families living below the poverty line have access to food assistance programs, many ALICE households do not.

• Programs seeking to serve both city and rural populations, as well as diverse populations (youth, working-age adults, seniors).

• Programs incorporating new/innovative ideas to reach additional populations facing food insecurity with an already effective program.

Detail on Venture Grant eligibility follows:

• Any 501(c)(3)nonprofit organization providing health and human services to Berks County residents may apply.

• Grants must support the delivery of new, expanded or enhanced programs and cannot simply fund existing programs.

• Priority will be given to programs demonstrating meaningful and ongoing engagement with participants over an extended period of time and that provide an opportunity for participants to apply new knowledge or skills to achieve the desired outcome.

• Stand-alone one-time events or large group presentations will not be eligible for consideration.

• A maximum of $25,000 may be requested, with United Way reserving the option to award a lesser amount based on demonstrated need and available resources. The funding period is November 1, 2017 – October 31, 2018.

LIVE UNITED Grants are one-time grants of up to $5,000 provided to grass-roots or community-based organizations with a yearly budget under $250,000 and working on “great ideas”, events and creative projects connecting people through volunteer or community building efforts; mobilizing people and providing opportunities for improved neighborhoods and communities or uniting people as a community, yet celebrating our diversity. These grants are intended for organizations having limited access to traditional funding sources.

• Grant ideas/projects must address one of the issue areas within United Way’s focus areas: Education – school readiness/success and youth development; Income – promoting financial stability, employment/job skills and personal financial management; Health – mental health, health/wellness and self-sufficiency/independent living; Safety Net Services – helping vulnerable populations meet basic needs.

• Proposals may include one-time or ongoing events/projects that present the opportunity to make a big difference in one of the identified target areas using a small amount of funds.

• Prior LIVE UNITED Grant recipients may submit an application; however, funds cannot be used in any way for a previously funded program. These grants cannot be used for individual assistance, debt reduction, fundraising events, attendance at conferences, political events or events for religious purposes.

• This is a one-time grant to be awarded by November 1, 2017. Funds must be spent within a 12 month period after the grant is awarded. A final report will be due at the end of the 12 month period.

Applicants should review the full detail regarding all grant eligibility requirements, as well as the application format, at www.uwberks.org. The information will be featured on the website’s homepage.

Grant proposals will be awarded through a competitive process after review by a panel of community volunteers, with approval by the organization’s Board of Directors.

For technical assistance with the application software, known as e-CImpact, please contact Ethel Kramer at [email protected] or 610.685.4555. For any other grant-related questions, please contact Kristin Gehris at [email protected] or 610.685.4567.

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