United Way of Trinidad and Tobago Community Fund Grants 2023/24

Deadline: 13-Oct-23

The United Way of Trinidad & Tobago (UWTT) is inviting registered Not for Profit (NPO) partners to submit applications for the 2023/24 grant funding cycle.

UWTT is a social impact organisation striving to bring people together to amplify the collective ability to protect vulnerable communities. They align their work to their national Vision 2030 Theme: Put People First.

Priority Action Areas

• The COVID-19 crisis is hitting the vulnerable populations the hardest and peeling the veneer off the inequities that exist in the education and health sectors, and by community and for women.  Much of the development gains achieved over the last years are at risk of being severely eroded or lost.
• A renewed focus on inequity is critical. UWTT is committed to align the work on COVID-19 response to longer term recovery in 4 Priority Action Areas with UWTT playing the role of backbone for Collective Working in the 4 Priority Action Areas of Education, Family Wellbeing and Equity.
  • Education
    • Building Bridges to Success in Primary Schools
      • The UWTT Building Bridges from Learning to Success Programme works is the flagship Impact initiative started in 2019.
      • They work with selected Primary Schools, over 3-5 years, with a special focus to support 4 to 8 years old students to build strong foundational skills.
      • The approach is synergistic – harmonising efforts of parents, teachers, school and community leaders. Aligned to the Programme, the Support for the New Norm Project was designed and implementation launched in 2020 to ensure that schools are ready for restarting in person schooling.
  • Equity
    • Supporting Children Community Residences
      • Children Homes provide a safe haven for socially displaced children.
      • Since 2004, $18 million or 30% of the Community Fund Grants have been prioritised to help ensure that these children’s education, health, and emotional needs are met.
      • To protect the rights of the children, they no longer publish photos of them on the media platforms.  They thank all the supporters who give regularly to UWTT so that they can provide continuous support to these homes.
  • Family Wellbeing
    • COVID Response and Recovery Programme
      • UWTT Covid-19 Response and Recovery Programme was launched in April 2020 to support Families identified to be most in need-by working with NGO partners and Building Bridges Schools Communities. Phase 2 was launched in May 2021 with the return of restrictions.  To date, UWTT has disbursed 2,224 grants, benefitting 10,911 persons.
      • Families are using these grants to purchase groceries, essential items and pay utility bills such as electricity and internet to ensure their children can continue remote school.
  • Disaster Resilience
    • The UWTT Flood Risk Management Fund was established in 2018 to support the response and recovery of communities affected by one of the worst floods experienced in T&T. Funds were allocated to immediate response needs in partnership with FEEL, renovation works at Bridge of Hope Children’s Home and for development of a Flood Risk Management Public Information Awareness Campaign.
  • Collective Working
    • National Day of Caring
      • The National Day of Caring (NDOC) is the annual UWTT collective working volunteer Event in which volunteers, supported by their employers, give generously of their time to a Project of their choosing.  All Projects are implemented on the same day in May which amplifies the joy of volunteerism so that they can all feel that reward of giving back.
    • CSOs for Good Governance
      • The Civil Society Organisations for Good Governance (CSOs4GG) Project, funded by the European Union, was implemented by a consortium of 7 leading (CSOs), led by UWTT.  The Goal of the Project was to build the capacity of CSO networks to effectively contribute to national governance through the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Trinidad and Tobago, both through individual and collective action.

Funding Information

• Successful grant applicants will be granted a maximum of TT$ 50,000.00 for their project.

Criteria

• Each application will require as supporting documents to the Grant Application:
  • Submission of the most recent audited financial statements (2019 being the oldest statement to be considered)
  • Independently reviewed management accounts will be accepted for CSOs whose revenue is equal or less than $500,000
  • Up to date Annual Return (2020 being the oldest return to be considered)
  • All documents will be required for the application to be considered complete

Ineligible

• Not eligible for funding in this funding cycle, UWTT will not support the following:
  • Construction projects
  • Travel costs or scholarships to support educational opportunities or study for individuals
  • Projects that are inherently political in nature or that contain the appearance of partisanship/support to an individual or single party in electoral campaigns
  • Activities that are in support of political parties
  • Sponsorship for an event or Cash prizes for a competition
  • Direct funding of religious organisations or private schools

For more information, visit UWTT.