UWCM: Neighborhood Grant

United Way of Central Maryland

United Way of Central Maryland promotes equity, creates opportunity, and improves lives. United Way’s grantmaking supports programs and initiatives in Baltimore City and Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford, and Howard Counties.

Neighborhood Grant

The 2024 Neighborhood Grant is an opportunity for organizations with total annual operating budgets of $500,000 or less to receive $2,500 to $10,000 in funding to carry out community-centered projects that are resident-driven, connect community members and create impact in Central Maryland. Eligible organizations can apply to implement projects that:

• Inspire Community Connections
• Empower Local Leaders
• Build Vibrant Neighborhoods

Eligibility

_ You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's [website]().

Application Details

United Way of Central Maryland (United Way)’s Neighborhood Grant is an opportunity for
neighborhood-centered organizations with total annual operating budgets of $500,000 or less
in their current Fiscal Year to receive between $2,500 to $10,000 in funding to carry out
community-centered projects that are resident-driven, connect community members and
create impact. Eligible organizations can apply to implement projects that:

• ❖ Inspire Community Connections
• ❖ Empower Local Leaders
• ❖ Build Vibrant Neighborhoods
• Community Partners selected through this application process will receive funding for the

period of January 1, 2025 – October 31, 2025. Applications must be submitted through our
online grant application portal, CommunityForce. The application portal as well as all
application materials can be accessed through our Grants & Funding Opportunities page.
Application Deadline
EST.
Application Support
2025 Neighborhood Grant Information Session: Monday, October 14, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. –
11:15 a.m. via Zoom. Agencies wishing to apply are strongly encouraged to attend this
session.
Registration for the session can be accessed through our Grants & Funding Opportunities page.
United Way promotes equity, creates opportunity, and improves lives.
for the better.
work hard but still can’t make ends meet.
on systemic challenges and increasing access to basic needs—health, housing, employment,
education, and more.
United Way’s grantmaking supports programs and initiatives in Baltimore City and Anne
Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford, and Howard Counties. This is done with the guidance of
public agencies, service providers, and businesses in each of these jurisdictions.
Neighborhood Grants provide United Way and our RUN Advisory Boards an opportunity to
invest in, build relationships with and support the smaller non-profits that underpin our
community.
United Way of Central Maryland’s 2025 Neighborhood Grant Request for Proposals
2

This is the fifth year of United Way’s Neighborhood Grant opportunity – which focuses on
amplifying the power of residents.
depth knowledge of their neighborhood’s existing assets and needs, and inspired by their
desire for a healthier, happier community. Last year, United Way awarded 83 Neighborhood
Grants totaling $784,754.
United Way will accept applications from organizations with 501(c)(3) or other nonprofit IRS
designations, with a total annual operating budget of $500,000 or less in their current fiscal
year. United Way will also accept applications from organizations that do not have nonprofit
status but are utilizing a Fiscal Agent/Sponsor that does.
Additionally:

• • Any organization that has received a Neighborhood Grant for 2 consecutive years is not
• eligible to apply the following year.
• • Organizations that currently receive other funding from United Way are also eligible to
• apply.
• All organizations seeking funding must:
• • Provide evidence that they hold a current “Good Standing Certificate of Status” with the
• State of Maryland Department of Assessments & Taxation.
• • Provide Determination Letter from the IRS.
• • Provide a copy (within the last two fiscal years) of one of the following financial
• documents, based on your annual gross income from charitable contributions from that

year. Organizations using a fiscal agent/sponsor must provide this required financial
document for their fiscal agent/sponsor.
Internal Financial Statement
$300,000 or less (two of three documents - Form990, Profit/Loss
Statement, Organizational Budget)
United Way of Central Maryland’s 2025 Neighborhood Grant Request for Proposals
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Organizations may submit a maximum of one application. Multiple applications submitted by
an agency will not be reviewed.
EST.
Only complete applications will be considered for funding.
United Way will not provide funding to organizations that discriminate with regard to race,
color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity / expression, age,
ancestry, marital status or disability. In addition, applications requesting support for the
following will not be considered:

• • Religious activities (religious organizations may apply for funding for non-sectarian
• activities)
• • Lobbying activities
• • Individuals applying on their own behalf
• Compensation (salary and/or stipend) to individuals under the age of 14. Please note

that organizations compensating individuals 14-17 years old must do so within
Maryland State Labor Department guidelines.
The 2025 Neighborhood Grant timeline is outlined in the chart below.
Grant Application Open Thursday, October 3, 2024
Grant Information Session Monday, October 14, 2024, 10:00 - 11:15 a.m.
Final FAQs Updated on the UWCM website Wednesday, October 23, 2024
EST
Grant Period January 1, 2025 - October 31, 2025
United Way of Central Maryland’s 2025 Neighborhood Grant Request for Proposals
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Projects should primarily fit into one of the three categories listed below. With these three
broad project categories, United Way hopes to allow flexibility for neighborhood organizations
to tackle the projects that can have an impact in their specific community.
few examples for each category, but other projects are welcome.
Although we ask applicants to identify a primary project category, projects may address more
than one category.

1. Inspire Community Connections – this category focuses on increasing/sustaining social

connection between residents for more than one day/event, building/strengthening a sense
of community within your neighborhood. Examples:

• • Building/sustaining connections among residents for mental health and information-
• sharing purposes.
• • Establishing regular activities that bring residents together (exercise or social clubs,
• classes, shared hobbies, etc.)
• • Community planning and community building aimed at improving the neighborhood
• and/or meeting the needs of its residents.

1. Empower Local Leaders – this category focuses on identifying and providing resources to

local leaders (or potential local leaders, including youth) and addressing community issues
through leadership empowerment. Examples:

• • Seminars or skill-building trainings for leaders or organizations with the intention of
• benefiting the community from the knowledge gained at the seminar/training.
• • Implementation of best practices that build empowered leaders or organizations and
• that will have an impact on the community through that implementation.
• • Facilitation of multi-organizational partnerships and convenings that will underpin
• the community safety net in your neighborhood.

1. Build Vibrant Neighborhoods – this category focuses on the increased usability, safety, or

enhancement of neighborhood spaces. Examples:

• • Community Garden Planning/Planting.
• • Community Cleaning Initiatives.
• • Community Enhancement/Green Space Initiatives.
• • Community Safety Initiatives.
• United Way of Central Maryland’s 2025 Neighborhood Grant Request for Proposals
• 5

All eligible applications will be reviewed by United Way’s RUN Advisory Board for the
jurisdiction from which the funding was requested. Applications will be evaluated primarily on
the degree to which they meet the four main project criteria listed below.

1. The extent to which the project is community/neighborhood-centered, demonstrating

that it addresses areas of need and/or builds on current assets within the specific
community to be served.

1. The extent to which the project is resident-driven, considering resident-raised issues

and/or utilizing residents in planning and implementation of the project.

1. The extent to which the project engages community members and creates

connections.

1. The extent to which the project is well thought through and shows promise of positive

impact in the neighborhood identified.
In addition to meeting the criteria established above, successful applicants will:

• ✓ Be complete, following all application instructions.
• ✓ Demonstrate that the applicant will conduct a project aligned with at least one of the
• established categories.
• Additional Selection Priorities
• While not required, priority will be given to applicant organizations that are led by Black,
• Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC).
• United Way strongly recommends that applicants create and upload a short video describing

your community and your project. Videos must be no longer than 90 seconds in length and can
be shot using a smart phone. Guidance for creating an effective video and uploading it in the
application will be posted with other Neighborhood Grant materials on United Way’s website.
Please note: while a video submission is not required, organizations that do provide a video are
missing an opportunity to help United Way and our Neighborhood Grant review team better
connect to and understand your organization, community, and proposed project.
Questions about the application’s content (eligibility, requirements, etc.) may be submitted up
until Friday, October 18, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. Please submit questions via e-mail to
grantquestions@uwcm.org, with the subject line RFP Question. Answers to all questions will
be posted on our grant portal on Wednesday, October 23, 2024.
Submit any technical questions and technical assistance requests specific to the Application
Portal via e-mail to grantquestions@uwcm.org, with the subject line RFP Technical
Assistance. We will make every attempt to answer these questions up to the submission
deadline.
United Way of Central Maryland’s 2025 Neighborhood Grant Request for Proposals

Executive Director/CEO Name, Title, Contact Info

• Does the organization's Executive Director/CEO identify as a Woman or

Gender-nonconforming? (Yes/No)

• Does the organization's Executive Director/CEO identify as Black,

Indigenous or a Person of Color? (Yes/No)
Organization’s Total Annual Operating Budget in its Current Fiscal Year
Organization’s Mission and Vision Statement
Is your organization utilizing a Fiscal Agent/Sponsor for this application? Yes/No
If yes, provide the information below for your Fiscal Agent/Sponsor.
Executive Director/CEO Name, Title, Contact Info
Applicants are required to provide, via upload, the documents outlined below.
 Financial Document(s) (within the last 2 Fiscal Years)
 Current Good Standing Certificate of Status (within your current Fiscal Year)
 Annual Operating Budget (for your fiscal year)
Please note:

• • For details on specific document requirements, please see Eligibility section on page 3
• of this RFP.
• • For applicants using a Fiscal Agent, the Fiscal Agent should provide these documents.
• United Way of Central Maryland’s 2025 Neighborhood Grant Request for Proposals
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Project Address
Central Maryland jurisdiction in which project will take place
Neighborhood/Community impacted by project
The primary focus of the project (select one): 1. Inspire Community
Connections, 2. Empower Local Leaders, 3. Build Vibrant Neighborhoods
In addition to the primary focus above, please indicate which, if any, of the
following social impact pillars the project aligns with. Please note, that your
answer to this question will have no bearing on grant decisions. Select one.
• None of the above

1. Purpose of Grant Request (70 words max)

Please briefly summarize the purpose of your grant request.
serve. (300 words max)
Please share the following:

• • Your organization’s history and mission.
• • Your work, including specific examples of resident-driven initiatives/projects that
• have had a positive impact within your community.
• • Information about your staff members and Board of Directors, including the
• relevant skills/experiences they bring to your work and the extent to which they
• reflect the community you serve.

Please help us learn about the neighborhood/community you are proposing to serve by
sharing the following:

• • Who makes up your neighborhood/community?
• • What makes it unique (people, landscape, history, other)?
• • What are the challenges/obstacles facing your neighborhood/community?
• United Way of Central Maryland’s 2025 Neighborhood Grant Request for Proposals
• 8
• What are its strengths and where are there opportunities to build on those

strengths with a Neighborhood Grant?

1. Tell us about your project. (500 words max)

Please describe the project that you are proposing to implement and how it will achieve the
grant objectives to: 1) Inspire Community Connections, 2) Empower Local Leaders; and/or

1. Build Vibrant Neighborhoods.

Please include:

• • The primary goal(s) of the project
• • A description of how the project:
• o Is community-focused - building on existing strengths/assets, while
• addressing needs within the community
• o Is resident-driven - utilizing members of the community in the project’s
• development and implementation
• o Engages community members and creates connections
• o Shows promise of positive impact
• • A brief timeline for the project within the grant period of January 1, 2025, and
• October 31, 2025, including any important stages or implementation dates.

1. Tell us how your project will benefit your community. (300 words max)

Please describe how you expect the community and its residents/members to benefit
from the project and how you will measure success.

1. How many community members do you expect to engage in project planning?
2. How many community members do you expect to engage in project implementation?
3. How many community members do you estimate will be served by / benefit from the

project?
Visual Submission
United Way strongly recommends that applicants create and upload a short video
describing your community and your project. Videos must be no longer than 90 seconds in
length and can be shot using a smart phone. Guidance for creating an effective video will
be posted with other Neighborhood Grant materials on United Way’s website. To submit,
upload your Video to YouTube (be sure it is marked “unlisted”) and then include the
application.
Marketing
How did you hear about this grant opportunity?
United Way of Central Maryland’s 2025 Neighborhood Grant Request for Proposals
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Please provide amounts for each line item below if you are requesting funds within that
category. Add brief descriptions when indicated.
Salaries and Benefits
Stipends (please see restrictions outlined under Ineligible Activities on page 4)
Total Funding Request
Does this funding request allow for the full implementation of your
Neighborhood Project? (Yes/No)

• If not, what is the total cost of your neighborhood project?
• What additional sources of funding do you have in hand and/or are

you pursuing to enable you to fully execute your project?
United Way of Central Maryland’s 2025 Neighborhood Grant Request for Proposals

United Way of Central Maryland (United Way)’s Neighborhood Grant is an opportunity for
neighborhood-centered organizations with total annual operating budgets of $500,000 or less
in their current Fiscal Year to receive between $2,500 to $10,000 in funding to carry out
community-centered projects that are resident-driven, connect community members and
create impact. Eligible organizations can apply to implement projects that:
❖ Inspire Community Connections
❖ Empower Local Leaders
❖ Build Vibrant Neighborhoods
Community Partners selected through this application process will receive funding for the
period of January 1, 2025 – October 31, 2025. Applications must be submitted through our
online grant application portal, CommunityForce. The application portal as well as all
application materials can be accessed through our Grants & Funding Opportunities page.
Application Deadline
The deadline for application submission is Monday, November 4, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. EST.
Application Support
2025 Neighborhood Grant Information Session: Monday, October 14, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. –
11:15 a.m. via Zoom. Agencies wishing to apply are strongly encouraged to attend this
session.
Registration for the session can be accessed through our Grants & Funding Opportunities page.
United Way promotes equity, creates opportunity, and improves lives. Our nearly 100 years of
service to the people of Greater Baltimore have taught us what it takes to change our region
for the better. We are proud to be a source of support, compassion, and hope for people who
work hard but still can’t make ends meet.