Community Investment Grant

The United Way of Wayne County Community Investment Grant is a locally administered funding opportunity designed to support nonprofit organizations that provide impactful services to residents of Wayne County, North Carolina. Established as part of United Way of Wayne County broader mission to unite resources and improve lives, this grant reflects the organization long standing commitment to fostering strong, healthy, and financially stable communities. Founded in 1925, United Way of Wayne County operates as a community convener and catalyst, investing in programs that address pressing local challenges while encouraging collaboration across government, business, and nonprofit sectors. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to support programs that align with four key impact areas: Education, Basic Needs, Financial Stability, and Health and Wellness. These focus areas are intended to address critical community needs such as academic success, housing and food security, economic mobility, and access to healthcare services. Funding is awarded to nonprofit organizations that can demonstrate measurable outcomes and a strong alignment with these priority areas. Programs must be structured, evidence based, and capable of producing trackable results that contribute to long term community improvement. The grant provides funding for a one year period beginning January 1, 2027, and ending December 31, 2027. Two types of funding are available: Impact Grants and Community Partner Grants. Impact Grants are reimbursement based and are generally awarded to organizations that are new to United Way funding or have not previously received a grant. These require bi annual reporting. Community Partner Grants are awarded to organizations with a proven track record of success with United Way and require annual reporting. Funds are disbursed differently depending on the grant type, with Community Partners receiving quarterly advance payments and Impact Partners receiving reimbursement payments. Eligibility for the grant is open to nonprofit organizations serving Wayne County, though priority is given to agencies with demonstrated program quality and measurable outcomes. Applicants must meet several requirements, including operating programs for at least three years, complying with financial and administrative standards, maintaining structured programming with defined outcomes, and registering with both 2-1-1 and NCCARE360. Attendance at a mandatory agency orientation session is required in order to access the prequalification application. Additional requirements include demonstrating alignment with United Way impact goals and ensuring that requested funding does not exceed 30 percent of the program total budget. The application process involves multiple stages. Organizations must first attend a mandatory virtual orientation session. Following this, they must complete a prequalification application, which opens on August 17, 2026 and closes on August 27, 2026. Only those who successfully pass the prequalification stage are invited to submit a full grant application through the e-CImpact system. The full application period runs from September 9, 2026 through October 15, 2026. After submission, applicants may be required to participate in site visits or presentations between November 4 and November 13, 2026 as part of the evaluation process. Applications are reviewed by the Community Investment Committee, a group of trained community volunteers who assess proposals based on alignment with impact areas, organizational capacity, measurable outcomes, and financial considerations. Funding recommendations are submitted to the United Way Board of Directors, which makes final decisions. Applicants are notified of funding decisions in December 2026, and successful organizations begin receiving funding in January 2027. All funding is contingent upon the availability of campaign funds raised by United Way. Throughout the grant period, funded organizations are expected to comply with reporting requirements and maintain communication with United Way. Impact Partners must submit midyear and year end reports, while Community Partners submit annual reports. Additional responsibilities include participating in site visits, maintaining compliance with funding agreements, and demonstrating continued program effectiveness. Questions or assistance related to the application process can be directed to United Way of Wayne County staff, with contact information provided in the official Notice of Funding Opportunity document.

Ensure strong alignment with impact areas demonstrate measurable outcomes and submit complete applications as no corrections will be requested