Community Grants and Partnerships
GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
Community Grant Fund
The Community Grant Fund invests in programs that align with our mission to reduce poverty in Kent County and our vision to create a thriving community for all. United Way awards Community Impact grants every three years to nonprofit organizations with services within our three focus areas.
United Way doesn’t fund special or annual events, ongoing annual operating funds, endowments, capital campaigns, or donations to individuals.
Note: We only accept grant requests during open application processes. Our next open application process for the 2023–26 grant cycle will begin on September 6, 2022.
Opportunity Initiative
United Way established the Opportunity Initiative to build relationships with small, grassroots nonprofits and prepare them for future fundraising opportunities. The Opportunity Initiative provides a one-year grant opportunity to small organizations that align with United Way’s Issue Areas and have an annual revenue of less than $100,000.
The goal is to address these nonprofits’ unique needs by increasing their knowledge and skills and building their capacity through workshops and networking. Workshops cover a wide range of nonprofit processes including mission statements, financial forecasting, building strong boards of directors, fundraising, and more.
If your nonprofit would like to participate in the Opportunity Initiative, contact Emily Schichtel for more information. Cohort II is currently in progress, and Cohort III will begin in spring 2023.
AREAS OF INVESTMENT
Read our most recent Annual Report for outcomes, nonprofit partners, and other information.
Priority Populations
Heart of West Michigan United Way recognizes low-income families and individuals in Kent County—including those residing in rural parts of the county, people of color, immigrants, refugees, veterans, those with disabilities, older adults, and returning citizens—disproportionally experience poverty and the effects of poverty. Therefore, we focus on funding solutions that effectively serve these priority populations and reduce disparities.
Issue Areas
Family Stability
Housing: Our goal is to fund programs and projects addressing immediate housing crises, as well as those focused on obtaining and maintaining stable, affordable, and safe housing for families and individuals in Kent County.
Food Security: Our goal is to increase food security for Kent County residents. Our focus is supporting programs that increase access to safe, equitable, affordable, and nutritiously diverse food.
Mental/Behavioral Health: Our goal is to fund programs providing Kent County residents with access to high quality mental health services. Our focus is investing in integrated services targeting demographic areas of need, specifically for non-Medicaid recipients only, including care for children, teens, and adults.
Family Crisis: Our goal is to fund programs addressing family violence through investing in prevention, diversion, and both immediate crisis intervention and long-term solutions.
Financial Security
Our goal is to fund projects focused on breaking down barriers in employment, career advancement, and economic stability for Kent County residents.
Youth Education
Our goal is to fund programs, services, and initiatives focused on improving grade-level proficiencies of middle school (5th–8th grade) math and science through STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) programming, including career and college exploration. United Way also invests in solutions that enhance a student’s social-emotional learning as it relates to success in STEM programming.
FOR FUNDED PARTNERS
Reporting for United Way
United Way collects formal reports on program performance twice during the funding year through our online portal, e-CImpact. The mid-year report in mid-January details the nonprofit’s work from July 1–December 31. The final report in mid-July is a cumulative summary of the nonprofit’s work for the entire funding year spanning July 1–June 30.
If you need help with your login or passcode, contact Mandy DeWilde or Carra Oteto for assistance.
We provide several trainings and reporting refreshers throughout the year for any new staff or those who need a reminder on logging in or report contents. Contact Carra Oteto to reserve your spot.
Upcoming refreshers (approx. 45-minute session):
Thursday, June 2 at 2–3 p.m.
Wednesday, June 8 at 10–11 a.m.
United way staff liaisons
If you receive a United Way grant, we’ll assign a Community Impact staff member to you based on your funded issue area. Though you can contact any of us on the team at any time, your designated staff liaison is your go-to person.
Financial Security
Carra Oteto
Community Impact Coordinator
616-752-8606
Email Carra
Housing and Food Security
Emily Schichtel
Community Impact Sr. Manager
616-752-8601
Email Emily
Youth Education, MBH, and Family Crisis
Mandy DeWilde
Sr. Program Data Administrator
of Community Impact
616-752-8622
Email Mandy