United Way of Metropolitan Dallas

How to apply for United Way grants

United Way of Metropolitan Dallas brings together the people and organizations who have the passion, expertise and resources to help achieve the United 2020 community goals by 2020. As part of that effort, United Way invites nonprofit organizations to learn more about applying to receive United Way grants, which include multiyear Community Impact Grants in the areas of Education, Income and Health, and annual Basic Needs Grants.

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COMMUNITY IMPACT GRANTS

Overview

To change lives in North Texas forever, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas invests donors' gifts in the highest quality programs that make measurable progress toward the United 2020 community goals:

  • Education — prepare 60 percent of high school graduates to succeed in education after high school
  • Income — move 250,000 more people out of poverty permanently
  • Health — improve community health through expanded access, preventive care and healthy behaviors

United Way invites 501(c)3 organizations doing outstanding work in these areas to consider applying for United Way Community Impact Grants. Nonprofits apply for funding for programs that align with the United 2020 strategies and their applications are reviewed by United Way staff and volunteers. Ultimately, United Way volunteers make all funding decisions in this competitive process.

Multiyear funding

Achieving the United 2020 goals requires substantial, longer-term investments in the most exceptional programs in Education, Income and Health. As a result, United Way Community Impact Grants will be three-year grants. Any program that does not receive a 2013-2016 Community Impact Grant must wait until 2015 to reapply for a Community Impact Grant. For more information about why United Way is implementing this multiyear process, please read our Frequently Asked Questions >

Request for proposals

The United Way of Metropolitan Dallas request for 2013-2016 Community Impact Grant proposals is now closed.

BASIC NEEDS GRANTS

Overview

In addition to focusing on long-term, sustainable change in the areas of Education, Income and Health, United Way volunteers continue to invest in programs that address basic needs in the community.

United Way awards Basic Needs Grants annually, using a process separate from the Community Impact Grants process. Awarding Basic Needs Grants annually best helps the North Texas community provide emergency or short-term services to help those in crisis. United Way volunteers review Basic Needs Grant proposals, visit applicants’ sites and make funding decisions in this competitive process.

Note that 501(c)3 organizations interested in applying for Basic Needs Grants are required to submit Stewardship packets in advance of their grant proposals (see Deadlines) and should plan to take advantage of the Training Opportunities.

Please contact Karen Liu Pang if you have any questions pertaining to Basic Needs at kliu@unitedwaydallas.org or 214.978.0030.

Request for proposals

The United Way of Metropolitan Dallas request for Basic Needs Grant proposals is now closed.

Deadlines

Stewardship packets due September 14
Any Service Provider that plans to apply for either a Community Impact Grant or Basic Needs Grant must submit one Stewardship packet. Complete Stewardship packets (both hard copy and online through e-C Impact) were due to United Way by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, September 14, 2012. Late submissions will not be accepted.

If you have any questions about Stewardship, please contact Ashley Brundage, Senior Director, Community Impact Grants, at 214-978-0023 or abrundage@unitedwaydallas.org.

Proposals due November 5
To be considered complete and on time, Community Impact Grant and Basic Needs Grant proposals had to be submitted electronically (online through e-C Impact) by 4:00 p.m. on Monday, November 5, 2012. Additionally, hard copies were due to United Way by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, November 9, 2012.

Training opportunities

United Way of Metropolitan Dallas offers several types of assistance to applicants throughout the application period (August 22 – November 5, 2012) to assist with both Community Impact Grant and Basic Needs Grant proposals:

  • One-on-one assistance — Nonprofits can discuss their applications and have their questions answered by calling, e-mailing or setting up an appointment to meet with a Community Impact staff person.
  • Stewardship & RFP training — To learn about all aspects of the requests for proposals, Stewardship, the application process and the review process at a high level, training sessions were held twice a day on August 29 and 30, 2012. The training presentation is now available on e-C Impact.
  • Application workshops — Receive more detailed help with outcomes and metrics, logic models and/or site visits. Workshops were held on September 25 and 27, 2012.
  • Application draft review — Service providers can submit draft versions of their grant proposals for the Community Impact staff to review and provide feedback. The deadline to submit drafts was 4:00 p.m. on October 1, 2012 and were reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis. A draft review does not guarantee that a grant will be awarded at the conclusion of the Community Impact Grants process.

Applying online through e-C Impact

In order to apply for Community Impact Grants and Basic Needs Grants from United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, you must have an account on e-C Impact, the online grant application software United Way uses. Please review the instructions for creating an e-C Impact account (PDF) if you are new to the Community Impact Grants process. 

If you are a returning United Way service provider, please log into e-C Impact to begin your application. If you have forgotten your password, there is a link available there to request it. If you have forgotten your log in or have any additional questions regarding e-c impact, please contact Gene Putnam at 214.978.0028 or gputnam@unitedwaydallas.org.

Contact information

Please call, email or set up an appointment to meet with one of the Community Impact team members listed below in order to discuss your application, ask questions about Stewardship, discuss any issues or concerns, have your draft grant proposal or Stewardship documents reviewed, or answer any questions you might have.