Deadline: 12-Feb-21
The Mile High United Way is seeking applications for its 2021-2023 Strategic Investment Grant for Emergency and Basic Needs, which places an emphasis on the essential needs of individuals and families, including rent and utility assistance, childcare support and programs, and access to food.
The goal of this Strategic Investment Grant opportunity is to focus investments on outstanding organizations whose work aligns with overarching strategy to ensure vital emergency and basic needs are met, including access to food, shelter, and childcare. The Strategic Investment Grants are awarded through a competitive and community-driven process.
Emergency and Basic Needs
Using Mile High United Way’s 2-1-1 Help Center data, and reporting from community partners, identified the most pressing needs of residents in the seven-county metro area. To be considered for Emergency and Basic Needs funding, organizations must provide one or more of the following emergency and basic needs programs in services to individuals or families earning below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level:
- Access to food: Requests for access to food remain one of the top needs for callers to 2-1-1 Help Center.
- Access to shelter: Requests for shelter and/or transitional housing is one of the top five requests of 2-1-1 Help Center.
- Childcare: Access to safe, reliable childcare is an essential need for families
- Legal services: Organization should apply for funding if they provide access to civil legal services or legal clinics for low-income individuals and families.
- Rental and/or utility assistance: Rental and/or utility assistance is the top request from callers to 2-1-1 Help Center.
- State identification assistance: State identification documents are necessary for individuals to access benefit supports or even obtain employment.
- Tax preparation: Tax preparation can be very costly, even though a refund or earned income tax credit can benefit low-income families.
- Transportation assistance: Reliable transportation is essential for all of us to get to work, appointments, school, etc.
Funding Information
Emergency and Basic Needs proposals will be considered for annual funding in the following amounts:
- Up to $10,000 for organizations with operating budgets below $250,000.
- Between $25,000 and $75,000 for organizations with operating budgets at or above $250,000.
- Up to $200,000 for organizations applying for Child Care Contribution Credit eligible activities.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for funding, organizations must meet the following criteria:
- Qualify under the IRS Code as a tax-exempt, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and be a legally established public entity in good standing with the Colorado Secretary of State. This includes organizations with fiscal sponsors that meet the 501(c)(3) or public entity eligibility guidelines as outlined.
- Collect basic demographic information on the clients they serve, the services they are providing, and the outcomes they are achieving.
- Be able to aggregate and analyze data to determine program quality and effectiveness, and to inform program improvement.
- Certify that organization complies with the USA Patriot Act.
- Be governed or advised by a volunteer Board and operate in accordance with bylaws.
- Have an annual independent audit for the most recent fiscal year completed by an independent Certified Public Accountant. If the organization’s operating budget is under $1,000,000, a completed annual independent review and certified year-end financials approved by Board Chair and Executive Director may be submitted instead.
- Have accounting and financial reporting standards that are in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
- Provide services in the seven-county Metro Denver area of Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson Counties.
For more information, visit https://unitedwaydenver.org/strategic-investment-grants/