Our United Way’s grant proposal process is intended to provide United Way volunteers with a means of equitably assessing the needs, services, and capacity of agencies and programs that vary in size, scope, and mission. United Way volunteers and staff have jointly designed this form to meet donors’ expectations that their United Way contributions are being carefully invested in local agencies that are effective and efficient in providing services to meet identified needs in our community.

United Way staff is ready to assist with your grant proposal. Please direct comments and requests for assistance to 920.563.8880.

Requirements for United Way Partner Agency Consideration

To be considered for partner agency status, an agency must:

1. Maintain tax-exempt status under Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code and other applicable state and local regulations.
2. Account to the general public through publication of an annual report or other appropriate means.
3. Agree to comply with applicable United Way of Jefferson & North Walworth Counties’ agency agreement.
4. Provide health and/or human care service(s) to the residents of Jefferson & North Walworth Counties.
5. Show that service(s) are not primarily for the benefit of any church or synagogue, or for sectarian religious purposes.
6. Show that service(s) are not political in nature.
7. Demonstrate that service(s) are made available to all in the target population regardless of ability to pay.
8. Submit a completed grant proposal via our United Way’s web-based process e-CImpact

General Requirements

Our United Way recognizes that the health and human service needs of its service area change over time. In its role as a steward of voluntary contributions from the community, United Way is committed to establishing minimal standards for partner agencies. In keeping with its policy of helping to support needed health and human services to the community, the United Way will annually review the agencies requesting a grant.

Approval will be based on a number of factors: United Way resources; how closely the agency and program(s) are able to meet the critical health and/or human service needs of the community as determined by United Way; what other organizations provide similar programs (since duplication of services is strongly discouraged); and the financial viability of the organization.

Community Matters

Our United Way will conduct periodic assessments of the critical human service needs of our community and award grants, in part, on the assessment. To read the latest report click here to be linked to our Community Needs page.

Working Together Matters

Collaboration among service providers at all levels is a key element of the grant review process. Our United Way strongly discourages the duplication of programs and/or services.

Results Matter

Agencies must be effective at meeting the priority needs of our community as outlined in our United Way’s Community Needs Report. Furthermore, our United Way subscribes to an Outcome Measurement and Logic Model approach in measuring the effectiveness of agency programs and services. The ability of agencies to illustrate the changed lives of people is a key component of the grant process.

Volunteerism Matters

Recommendations for agency and/or program funding will be developed by grant review teams composed of volunteers from across the service area of our United Way. The grant review teams will be asked to function as “prudent buyers” of an agency’s proposed programs and/or services. Grant review teams will rely upon findings contained in our United Way’s Community Needs Report; the intended outcomes each program/service of a submitting agency; the agency’s financial need; the agency’s service to residents of Fort Atkinson, Helenville, Jefferson, Lake Mills, Palmyra, Sullivan and Whitewater; the quality of services provided by an agency; and other United Way criteria as outlined in the grant proposal package. Our United Way’s board of directors will take final action on our volunteer’s grant recommendations.

Stewardship Matters

Our donors highly value the attributes of integrity, trustworthiness, and transparency and so too does our United Way.

Agencies wishing to apply for a United Way grant need to review the Community Needs Report and to determine if the agency’s programs and/or services will meet an identified community need. If the agency determines a United Way grant is appropriate, then the following documents will need to be completed and submitted to United Way in accordance to established guidelines.

• 2009 Grant Proposal Form – Cover Sheet
• 2009 Grant Application Form – Narrative
• Outcome Measurement Tip Sheet
• Form A: Program Outcomes Logic Model Worksheet
• Form B: Program Outcomes Logic Model Worksheet – Report on Prior Year