How to Apply for Funding

 

All programs and initiatives applying for funding with United Way Kitchener Waterloo and Area must serve our geographic area of Kitchener, Waterloo, Wilmot, Woolwich and/or Wellesley. They must also demonstrate:

  • the need for their service
  • their capacity to respond to that need
  • how they collaborate with and complement existing services
  • how the service aligns with the community priorities and long-term outcomes of United Way KW 

Applications are vetted through a sound process such that all candidates have demonstrated not only a need, but also that their initiatives will have impact in the priority areas in which United Way KW invests.

 

Investment Streams

United Way KW has two main investment streams: ongoing annual investments, which include not-for-profit sector supports and community partnerships, and a variety of one-time grants. 
  

Ongoing Annual Investments 

Ongoing Annual Investments from United Way KW provide multi-year commitments to programs and services. These investments are made to support programs and services that contribute significantly to United Way’s community identified priorities and outcomes and meet specific criteria for receiving ongoing annual investment.

As part of the Ongoing Annual Investments, Not-For Profit Sector Supports provide ongoing annual operating assistance for agencies that provide support to the sector as a whole and don't neatly fit into any one given priority.

As well, funding to community initiatives or collaboratives with whom United Way KW partners is included in this investment stream.

For further information about ongoing annual investments, or to inquire about applying for funding, please contact our Director of Community Development, Nancy Bird at nbird@uwaykw.org or 519-888-6100 ext. 229. 
 

Grants 

United Way KW grants offer one-time funding for specific projects and initiatives. The following grants are available: 

NOTE - Unfortunately, there are no grant dollars available at this time.  Please check back in late March 2012 for further updates.

New Program Grants

These grants are used to steward new programs into ongoing annual funding. Eligibility for these grants is limited to programs that are well aligned with identified priorities and outcomes.

Partnership Grants

These grants support community-wide initiatives and collaborative partnerships.

Organizational Capacity Grants 

These grants are tied to an organizational assessment and stewardship framework to provide support to agencies in identified areas (i.e. strategic planning, board governance training, etc). This funding source also supports community trainings hosted by United Way KW that are made available to community organizations (i.e. program logic and outcomes development, measurement and evaluation, etc).

Community Engagement Grants

These grants support community engagement initiatives and opportunities. They may take the form of sponsorship for particular events or subsidies to allow for broader participation in community. 

Forever Fund Grants

These grants are supported through the United Way KW endowment fund and have specific criteria for investment, as well as a mandatory prevention component.

Newcomer Partnership Grants

A partnership between The Kitchener and Waterloo Community Foundation and United Way Kitchener Waterloo & Area, these grants help build connections between small ethno-cultural associations and mainstream funders. These are small grants and each association must be sponsored by a registered charitable organization. Staff from both agencies will meet several times with these groups to help develop proposals in a way that meets the needs of all parties involved.

Please review our Grant Guidelines for further eligibility information. 

To inquire about applying for funding, please contact our Director of Community Development, Nancy Bird at nbird@uwaykw.org or 519-888-6100 ext. 229.