Community Investment Grants
Welcome to the Brown County United Way Community Investment page. This page gives a brief introduction to our funding requirements and processes, and our grant management system.
Brown County United Way accepts grant applications in the following investment areas during varying grant cycles. Links to Calls for Proposals will be posted on our main website when there are opportunities to apply.
Program Investment:
· System of Care grants fund programs and initiatives that provide direct services to individuals. These grants are on a 5-year grant cycle; currently in progress, 2019-2024.
· Emergency Response Fund grants provide assistance to proactively respond to the impacts of COVID-19, local flooding, and other public, local crises that may arise. Grants are released on a rolling basis and are dependent on available dollars. Grant awards vary and are based on community needs, United Way focus areas, and the availability of funds. Detailed information on application processes and eligibilities are located on the Emergency Response Fund tab on our main website.
Impact Initiative Investment:
· Neighborhood Partnership Grants fund local organizations, and associations that provide programs, services, or improvements to physical spaces in neighborhoods. These grants are on a 1-year cycle. A call for proposals will be posted on our website when the application process opens.
Eligibility Criteria
Previous grant recipients: New grant applications will not be considered from organizations that are past due in submitting any required grant reports or related, requested information to Brown County United Way.
Geographic areas: United Way awards grants to organizations and programs serving Brown County.
IRS status: All applicants must have tax-exempt status in good standing under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code or be sponsored by a 501(c)(3) organization. An organization must have received its 501(c)(3) ruling letter from the IRS prior to applying for funding.
Priority areas: The organization or proposed program must align with one or more of the following Brown County United Way priority areas: Health, Education, Financial Well-Being, and Community Connectivity.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Policy: Brown County United Way strives for an inclusive community where all individuals can meet their basic needs and have equal opportunity to live to their fullest potential. It is our policy to support organizations, projects, initiatives, and programs that do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, or any other legally protected characteristics. Beginning in 2022, every organization is required to submit its DEI or nondiscrimination policy during the application phase.
Form 990: All applicants must be in good standing with the IRS regarding their Form 990 filing requirements. A copy of the organization’s most recent Form 990 must be submitted as part of the grant application.
Audit: Requirements vary based on annual revenue amounts.
Additional Information
Review Process: Brown County United Way staff, community volunteers engaged in our investment process, and the board of directors have the opportunity to review all grant applications. You may be contacted if a virtual site visit, meeting, or phone conference is needed to discuss the application in more detail.
Revision or Change of Scope: It is the applicant’s duty to advise Brown County United Way should circumstances arise which would change or affect any aspect of the grant proposal.
Notification: Applicants will receive an email notification of the funding decision. Grant awards will be announced to the public.
Evaluation Requirements: Beginning in 2022, all grant partners are required to submit a grant report through their agency portal on the e-CImpact Agency Site on or before the due date associated with the grant.
E-CImpact Gateway
e-CImpact is Brown County United Way’s online system for managing its community investment process. This is a secure, protected site that holds all documentation for agencies, volunteers, and United Way staff.
Through e-CImpact, organizations submit applications and provide reports and accountability documents. Community volunteers who participate on Brown County United Way’s review teams also have electronic access to organization and program information to assist in their decision-making.
To access the site, please select the destination below that applies to you and log in. If you are a new user click the appropriate link below and there will be a place to create a new account from the launch page.
If you are a Brown County United Way GRANT PARTNER, click here to access e-CImpact
If you are a BOARD MEMBER, COMMUNITY INVESTMENT COMMITTEE MEMBER, or COUNCIL VOLUNTEER, click here to access e-CImpact.