Community Investment Funding Program 2026-2028

Geographic Scope: Cherokee, Spartanburg, and Union counties in South Carolina

Focus Areas (Community Impact Agenda priorities):

• Education
• Economic Mobility
• Health
• Basic Needs
• Safe Environments

Eligible Applicants:

• Nonprofit organizations (501c3)
• Faith-based organizations (with restrictions)

What They Fund:

• Nonprofit programs with impact in priority areas
• Any expenses related to operating the program, including salaries
• Programs in Cherokee, Spartanburg, and Union counties

What They Don't Fund:

• Programs that require clients to participate in religious activities to receive services (for faith-based organizations)
• United Way cannot cover 100% of program costs or be the sole funding source

Funding Levels:

• Spartanburg County: Minimum $15,000 per program per year; Maximum $25,000 for Basic Needs and Safe Environments; No maximum for Economic Mobility, Education, or Health
• Cherokee and Union Counties: No minimum or maximum

Award Duration: 12 months (January - December), with 3-year funding contracts (2026-2028)

Reporting Requirements:

• Annual Progress Reports due in fall of each year
• At least one site visit during the 3-year period

Contact Information:

• Phone: 864.582.7556
• Toll Free: 1.866.345.3086
• Mailing Address: P.O. Box 5624, Spartanburg, SC 29304

Application Process

Timeline:

• February 2025: Informational agency sessions (virtual via Zoom)
  • Tuesday, February 18, 2:00-3:30 PM
  • Thursday, February 20, 10:00-11:30 AM
  • Recordings available if unable to attend
• March-April 2025: Letters of Intent (LOI)
  • LOIs accepted starting March 3, 2025
  • Deadline: 5:00 PM, March 28, 2025
  • Submit via United Way of the Piedmont grant portal
  • Agencies notified of status in early May 2025
• June 2025: Full Applications
  • Agencies that submitted LOI and were invited to continue submit complete applications
• July-September 2025: Site Visits
  • Agencies with submitted applications have scheduled site visits
• September-December 2025: Q&A Sessions and Funding Decisions
  • Funding decisions made by end of December 2025

Letter of Intent Requirements

Must be submitted online through grant portal and include:

1. Organization Information
   • EIN
   • Organization history
   • Mission statement
   • Leadership information
2. Program Details
   • Program Name
   • County
   • Priority Area
   • Intended result
   • Estimated funding request amount
   • Brief overview of mission/objective of program
3. Organizational Information
   • Overall organizational budget
   • Organization Self-Assessment about organizational health
   • Patriot Act Compliance Form

Application Considerations

• Separate submissions required: Organizations must submit separate Letters of Intent and applications for different programs seeking funding
• Multiple programs: Organizations can submit applications for multiple programs in the same or different priority areas; each is evaluated separately
• Faith-based organizations: Can be funded, but funds cannot require clients to participate in religious activities; any religious components must be completely voluntary