Important Updates: Grant Cycle Adjustment 

To better serve our communities, our organization has permanently changed our grant cycle, now running from January 1 to December 31 each year. Here’s what you need to know:

2026 Investment Cycle

• Grant application open: October 27th 9th 5:00 pm
• Grant Application Closes: December 5th at 11:59 pm
• Application Review: December/January 
• Award Notification: Mid January
• First Payouts: January 31st, 2026
• Interim Report: July 15th – Required to continue receiving 3rd or 4th quarter payments.
• Final Report: January 15th-- Timely reporting is essential for receiving full funding throughout the year. 
• Grant funding will be released quarterly after being awarded. January 31, April 30, July 31, October 31st. 

For a side by side comparison of changes from previous grant cycles to the new Grant Cycle, please see the comparison sheet below: 

Kick-Off Slide Show

Side by Side Comparison

Grant Eligibility 

1. Program Outcomes and Data-Driven Approach: We are committed to programs that demonstrate measurable impact. Your application should show how your programs and services are improving a population-level outcome.
2. Focus on Community Needs: Our goal is to address the most pressing needs of our community. Your application should demonstrate a clear connection between your program's outcomes and the community needs you're addressing. Applicants must fall within one of our four community impact areas:
   1. Healthy Communities: Improving health and wellbeing for all (i.e. Nutrition and Food Security, Material, Mental, Physical, and Emotional Health Programs). 
   2. Youth Opportunity: Helping young people reach their full potential (i.e. Early Childhood Education, College and Career Readiness, Family Engagement Services). 
   3.  Financial Security: Creating pathways to sustainable economic futures (i.e. Adult Education and Job Training, Houselessness prevention and Affordable Housing). 
   4. Community Resiliency: Addressing immediate needs and building long-term solutions (i.e. Emergency and Disaster Relief Recovery). 
3. 501(c)(3) Status: Eligible applicants must be a human service 501(c)(3) organization that has been operational for a minimum of two years. This ensures that our partnerships are with organizations that have a proven track record of service and impact. ​​

 2026 Grant Amounts and County-Specific Allocations

​To ensure a fair and effective distribution of funds, we have streamlined our grant offerings with three set amounts per county. Each county allocation has been carefully designed to reflect community needs, providing targeted support while maximizing the impact of our available funds.

​Why Set Grant Amounts?
Moving to set grant amounts enables us to distribute funds more efficiently and equitably across all counties. Fixed grant amounts provide a structured and predictable funding base that supports both our organization’s goals and the varying needs of each county’s communities. This consistency also helps applicants better plan their budgets, knowing what funding levels they can potentially secure.
​
To ensure fair and effective distribution of funds, United Way Committees reserve the right to award funding at a lower grant amount if we determine that an application aligns with community needs but funding at the larger amount applied for is no longer available. This approach allows us to support as many impactful initiatives as possible while maintaining alignment with our community-focused mission.

Applicants may apply for one of the following options:

• Benton County: 16 grants available:
  • 3 grants of $10,000
  • 4 grants of $5,000
  • 5 grants of $2,000

• Linn County: 29 grants available
  • 5 grants of $10,000
  • 15 grants of $5,000
  • 10 grants of $2,000

• Lincoln County: 7 grants available
  • 2 grants of $4,000
  • 3 grants of $2,500
  • 2 grants of $2,000

​​New County-Specific Application Portals

To streamline the review process and reduce errors, we’re introducing separate portals for each county. This approach allows staff and volunteers to easily review applications without cross-county mix-ups. Although applicants will need to access multiple portals if applying in more than one county, you may use the same username and password for each. We believe this setup provides the most efficient and accurate way for us to assess and manage each county’s unique needs. 

​New Grant Rubric To assist applicants, we’ve developed detailed rubric. This tool outlines our expectations for each response and question, helping you better understand what we’re looking for in a successful grant proposal.

Scoring Rubric

Benton County Portal

Investment Grant Portal

Linn County Portal

Investment Grant Portal

Lincoln County Portal

Investment Grant Portal

Budget Sheet

UW Budget Sheet

Important Investment Grant 2026 Events and Dates 

Interim Report:
REPORT OPENS: July 1st.
REPORT DUE: August 31st
​*Timely reporting required to continue receiving 3rd or 4th quarter payments.

Benton Interm Report LInk

Linn Interim Report LInk

Lincoln interim REPORT

Final Report:
REPORT OPENS: December 8th
REPORT DUE: January 12th
​*Timely reporting is essential for receiving full funding throughout the year.

Benton Final Report Link

Linn Final Report Link

Lincoln Final Report Link

how are grantees selected

Grant applications are reviewed and selected by United Way’s volunteer Community Impact Committees. Each county has its own committee consisting of individuals with professional and personal lived-experience who are well-attuned to community needs and solutions.
Funding is prioritized to organizations and programs serving children and families that have been historically marginalized because of aspects of their identity, including communities of color, rural communities, ALICE families and families navigating poverty, individuals living with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ communities.
Each annual grant cycle community volunteers with professional and lived-experience assess funding proposals submitted by local organizations and initiatives aligned with our mission and vision. Volunteers determine where and how funds should be invested, and once approved by our Board, United Way grants money to programs shown to have the ability to make an impact toward achieving United Way’s outcomes and goals.

can united way funding be utilized for staff salaries 

United Way funding CANNOT be used for staff salaries. Our goal is to ensure that these funds directly strengthen programs and services that make the greatest impact in the community. By focusing on initiatives that serve individuals and families in need, we aim to maximize the reach and effectiveness of our investments. This approach helps us uphold the mission of creating lasting, meaningful change for the communities we serve.

Can i apply for the same program in different counties 

Yes, your organization can apply for grants in the counties they have operations in. Please remember to create an account in each county portal and apply for each grant separately. 

How much total grant funding does United Way have available for grant-making in the 2025 Investment grant cycle

The amount available to be granted in the 2025] grant cycle is contingent upon the results of the 2024 United Way Campaign.

How will the grant award be disbursed? In one lump sum or installments? 

​Grant awards will be disbursed quarterly as funded partners remain in good standing and meet all agreements and terms of funding.