Community Investment Allocation

Geographic Scope: Pontotoc County and zip codes 74849 and 74872. For multi-county agencies, services must be provided in these areas only.

Funding Priorities: Ada Regional United Way funds specific programs (not general operations) in three priority areas:

Health

• Description: Improving people's health
• Priority Outcomes:
  • Community members have access to basic and preventative health services
  • Youth and adults are healthy and avoid risky behaviors
  • Seniors and people with disabilities maximize their self-sufficiency

Education

• Description: Helping children and youth achieve their potential
• Priority Outcomes:
  • Children enter school developmentally on track in terms of literacy and social, emotional, and intellectual skills
  • Young people graduate from high school
  • Youth develop life and work skills to help them make a successful transition from high school to adulthood

Financial Stability

• Description: Helping families become financially stable and independent while ensuring that basic needs are met
• Priority Outcomes:
  • Families have support for basic needs, including shelter and food
  • Youth and adults develop financial literacy skills
  • Lower-income families move toward financial stability
  • Community members have resources to overcome disasters and emotional or financial crises

Eligibility:

• Health or human service agencies whose principal objective is to improve conditions necessary to achieve fundamental physical, social and/or psychological well-being
• Agencies with other principal objectives may be funded if the health or human service impact is clear
• Agencies must have or create an account in the application system

Funding Amount: Allocations vary; United Way is unlikely to fund the full cost of any program and expects agencies to have other funding sources

What They Fund: Specific programs or services for which impact can be clearly identified

What They Don't Fund: General agency operations

Timeline:

• Application deadline: March 31, 2027 at 11:59 pm
• Presentations: Mid to late April
• Board funding decisions: May
• Notification: Late May
• First allocation payments (if 2026 goal met): January 2026

Note: Neither past support from United Way nor an invitation to apply guarantees funding

Evaluation Criteria:

• Community Need: Consistency with ARUW mission and funding priorities; significance of community need
• Impact: Meaningful linkage between community needs, program activities, and outcomes; meaningful volume of services; United Way funding makes a difference
• Ability and Evaluation: Agency reputation; adequate staff and resources; sound program plan; clear goals and objectives; measurable outcomes; demonstrated ability to deliver and measure outcomes
• Financial Management: Clear and accurate financial presentation; balanced budget; diverse funding sources; reasonable overhead expenses
• Track Record: Agency demonstrates year-round commitment to partnership with Ada Regional United Way

Application Process

Account Requirements:

• All applicants must have or create an account to complete and submit their application
• Keep username and password for saving drafts, future applications, and agency reporting
• Login options:
  • LOGIN HERE (if you already have a username and password)
  • CREATE AN ACCOUNT (new users — email confirmation will be sent)
  • RESET YOUR PASSWORD (if email previously used)
  • LOGOUT (after saving draft or submitting)

Application Submission:

1. Complete the application in the online system — do not leave any blanks; enter N/A if not applicable
2. Incomplete applications will NOT be accepted
3. Submit by 11:59 pm on the deadline date — late submissions will NOT be accepted
4. Save drafts as you work

Required Attachments:
All of the following must be submitted with the application:

1. Agreement Between Ada Regional United Way and Agency — must be initialed and signed by the agency's Board President and Executive Director
2. Board of Directors Roster — may upload in any format that works best
3. Renewal Certificate of Registration as a Charitable Organization — from the State of Oklahoma (https://www.sos.ok.gov/charity/Default.aspx under 'File Online')
4. Most Recent Audit — within the last 2 years
5. Most Recent IRS Form 990 — or eligible tax document within the last 2 years
6. IRS Form 501(c)3 — if not already submitted and on file with ARUW
7. Annual Report — for the most recently completed fiscal year; must include at minimum:
   • Board of Directors
   • Name of Executive Director
   • Summation of programs
8. Program Budget — attach where prompted for each program

Special Considerations:

• Agencies not currently receiving funding from Ada Regional United Way must submit all requested attachments and should contact the United Way office before applying to determine if additional documents are appropriate
• Multi-county agencies: Budget should reflect only services provided in Pontotoc County and zip codes 74572, 74531, 74534, 74842, 74843, 74844, 74820, 74821, 74825, 74827, 74849, 74865, 74867, 74871, 74872
• Agencies applying for more than one program must complete the Application Form and Program Budget Form for each program
• Budget year can be calendar or fiscal year — whichever makes sense for the agency; figures must tie to supporting financial documentation (990, audit, internal statements)

Application Content:

• Focus on the specific program for which you are seeking funding, not the agency as a whole
• Provide details on Outcome and Impact of the program
• Be specific about measurable outcomes, even if your agency is small with limited resources (professional program evaluations are not required)
• Develop outcome measures and indicators (United Way can provide advice)

Presentation Requirement:
After application review, applicants will be contacted to schedule a mandatory 30-minute presentation and Q&A session before the Community Investment Committee (mid to late April). The Community Investment Committee may also make optional site visits to applicants.

Reporting for Previously Funded Agencies:

• All previously funded agencies are required to submit quarterly reports

Additional Notes:

• The Oklahoma State and Combined Federal Campaign applications are separate from this process and will be provided under separate cover
• Member agencies are encouraged but not required to participate in State and Federal Combined Campaigns
• For questions, contact Oriana McElwee at 580.332.2313 or request a meeting before the submission date