Deadline: 20-Jan-23
The United Way of Peterborough & District (UWP) is now inviting proposals for its 2023 Innovation Funding.
Innovation Fund Areas of Focus
- In 2022, UWP embarked on a strategic process to define the priorities and identify actions they can take to address them. The vision is that everyone in the community has the opportunity to reach their full potential, but they are learning that various groups face different barriers accessing this opportunity, including the programs and services intended to support them. UWP is inviting applicants to describe how their project will recognize, support, and celebrate equity-deserving groups in the community if that is aligned with the intended outcomes of the project. In the future, they will be formally prioritizing these initiatives by adding criteria to the funding review process to score the ways that projects are designed to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and/or reconciliation.
- The strategic reflection process reconfirmed the current focus areas: Poverty to Possibility and Strong Communities. For this year’s Innovation Funding they are seeking innovative approaches, pilot projects or research initiatives that will deepen the community understanding of one or both of these focus areas:
- Poverty to Possibility
- Poverty is the result of multiple, complex, and often overlapping social issues. Individuals experiencing poverty may be challenged to meet their basic needs, live independently, and engage in community activities. As a community, high or disproportionate levels of poverty can impact people’s sense of belonging, their feeling of safety, and their ability to access needed resources. Project areas of focus related to this priority include addressing Basic Needs and growing Life Skills.
- Strong Communities
- Strong communities provide the environment necessary for individuals to achieve their goals and create lasting change in their lives. Strong communities are built on individual and collective assets such as coping strategies and social connections. Developing these assets can help to nurture vibrant communities where every individual has the opportunity to experience personal safety and wellbeing. Project areas of focus related to this priority include providing Community Supports to build a sense of belonging and improve well-being.
- Poverty to Possibility
Funding Information
- This request for proposals is for one-time funding up to $75,000 to support projects taking place between April 1, 2023 and September 30, 2024.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applications are strongly encouraged from multi-sector/agency collaboratives and will be given priority consideration over single agency applications
- The lead agency for the application is/will:
- Provincially Incorporated, registered charity
- Operate, and/or provide direct service, within the City and/or County of Peterborough
- Have been in operation for a minimum of two (2) years
- Undertake an annual financial audit and demonstrate sound financial management practices
- Conduct an outcomes-based evaluation of the results of the project
- Priority will be given to programs which demonstrate how the lessons learned through the innovation projects can be incorporated into existing organizational programs and structures
- Funding requests that seek to support an existing initiative will not be considered
- Funding is open to organizations currently funded or not funded by United Way Peterborough & District
- Eligibility consideration for future rounds of Innovation Funding
- Priority will be given to applications that demonstrate a strong connection to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and/or reconciliation progress in the community. Examples of this could include:
- Organizations self-identifying as being led by members of equity-deserving groups
- Demonstrating that input from people with lived experience has been incorporated in the design and/or implementation plans for the project
- Outlining accessibility plans to reduce barriers to participation for the intended clients
- Developing a project that addresses specific needs of a particular equity-deserving group
- Conducting an evaluation/research project to better understand the needs of equity-deserving groups in the community
For more information, visit UWP.