Deadline: 3-Dec-21
The United Way of the Coastal Empire (UWCE) is inviting eligible Georgia nonprofits serving Bryan, Chatham, Effingham, and Liberty counties to submit Letters of Inquiry (LOIs) for entry into its 2022/23 Community Fund grant process.
LOIs should specifically explain how the proposed program provides safety net services to the most vulnerable individuals in their community, or provides a pathway for upward mobility.
Focus Areas
- Safety Net Programs provide for basic human needs related to food, shelter, health and safety, and/or disaster response.
- Upward Mobility Programs should prioritize community needs in the following areas:
- Quality, Affordable Childcare: Programs providing access to childcare services for underserved communities and working families. Examples include but are not limited to programs that provide safe and affordable childcare services during working hours, expand access to the number of Quality Rated childcare facilities in the community, and/or that develop the social, emotional and intellectual skills of children under the age of five.
- Ready & Resilient Workforce: Programs helping individuals and youth gain the knowledge, skills and support to enter, remain and advance in the workplace. Examples include but are not limited to skill certification and job placement programs for adults, after-school, mentorship and career exploration programs for youth, and/or programs designed to help differently-abled individuals thrive in the workplace.
- Financially Empowered Families: Programs helping families to gain the knowledge, skills and support to improve their financial position and to overcome barriers to long-term financial security. Examples include but are not limited to programs that improve financial literacy, support savings and intergenerational wealth creation, and/or create conditions that allow families to become economically self-reliant.
- Safe & Stable Housing: Programs that expand access to safe and secure habitation within low-wealth communities. Examples include programs that expand the availability of affordable housing units within the community, maintain the stock of existing homes through repair assistance programs for the elderly or disabled and/or homelessness prevention programs.
Eligibility Criteria
- Organizational Requirements
- The organization is an incorporated, nonprofit, human service organization under the laws of the state of Georgia and has tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service code and a current fundraising registration with the State of Georgia’s Office of the Secretary of State.
- The organization has a Board of Directors that is an active, representative voluntary governing body with regular meetings and is responsible for developing its mission, determining its strategic direction, and providing oversight.
- The organization has bylaws that state the purpose of the organization, make provisions for the size of the Board of Directors, and provide rules for selection, tenure, number of officers and committees, financial and legal procedures, conflicts of interest, and quorum requirements.
- The Board of Directors is responsible for ensuring that sufficient funds are available for the organization to meet its objectives.
- The Board of Directors and staff agree to support United Way of the Coastal Empire’s mission statement, participate in the annual charitable-giving campaign, government relations, and communications activities, as requested.
- The organization is in compliance with the USA PATRIOT Act and other state and federal anti-terrorism laws.
- Program Requirements
- The organization has a history of providing services in Bryan, Chatham, Effingham, and/or Liberty counties for a minimum of three years.
- Services are provided free of discrimination based on race, national origin, religious belief, military and veteran status, disability, age, gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation.
- The organization’s services align to one or more of United Way of the Coastal Empire’s priority impact areas:
- Safety Net Programs that provide for basic human needs related to food, shelter, health, and safety, and/or disaster response.
- Upward Mobility Programs that create pathways of upward mobility within the community. Priority areas related to upward mobility include Quality, Affordable Childcare; Ready & Resilient Workforce; Financially Empowered Families; or Safe & Stable Housing programs.
- The organization has the capacity and mechanisms in place to provide regular reporting of measurable, qualitative, and quantitative outcomes.
- The organization demonstrates reasonable efficiency of program management and adequacy of resources, both in materials and in personnel (voluntary and paid) to sustain a quality level of service.
- Financial Requirements
- The organization can submit at time of application, or when requested, a current, annual audit prepared by an independent certified public accountant in compliance with generally accepted auditing standards as applied to nonprofit organizations. A financial review from an independent certified public accountant will be accepted if annual organizational revenues are between $100,000 and $249,999 and the requested UWCE funding amount is less than $25,000.
- The organization has proof of adequate liability insurance coverage and will indemnify United Way of the Coastal Empire, its volunteers, and staff from any and all liability for any damage or injury caused to an employee, client, patron, agency, visitor, or guest of the organization.
- The Board of Directors inspects and approves the annual audit, or review, as well as IRS Form 990.
- The organization maintains a balanced budget or has an agreed upon plan for meeting all deficits.
For more information, visit https://uwce.org/nonprofithq/#1636138428984-f2799f30-1f7d