United Way of Virginia’s Eastern Shore Funds

United Way of Virginia’s Eastern Shore (UWVES) is a local affiliate of the United Way network, a nonprofit organization committed to improving lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities. UWVES supports programs that advance the health, education, and financial stability of individuals and families in Accomack and Northampton Counties, located on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Each year, it provides direct funding to local nonprofits through a competitive application process, aiming to address critical community needs and drive positive, measurable change. The 2026 United Way of Virginia’s Eastern Shore funding opportunity invites proposals from nonprofit organizations serving the Eastern Shore that fall within its designated impact areas: Arts, Education, Financial Stability, or Health. Applicants must clearly document the specific community needs their proposed project addresses, present measurable objectives, and provide compelling evidence of how their initiative fills a gap or offers a more effective service than existing efforts. Projects should avoid redundancy with current services and demonstrate strategic alignment with community needs. Organizations must meet specific eligibility criteria to apply. Applicants must be incorporated as nonprofit voluntary organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, and be registered with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) for charitable solicitation. A locally representative, volunteer-based Board of Directors that meets at least twice annually is required. In addition, applicants must practice non-discrimination in employment, board recruitment, and service delivery. Only agencies serving populations in the Eastern Shore region are eligible. The application process includes submission of a completed PDF application via email to [email protected] by the deadline of Thursday, February 19, 2026. Required components include the organization’s basic information, program details, funding request, and attachments such as a recent IRS Form 990, program budget, board member list, financial statements, and proof of VDACS registration. Applicants must also complete a narrative explaining the purpose of the program, the number of people it will serve, how the funds will be used, and the measurable outcomes to be tracked. Returning grantees must also submit a post-funding report detailing the impact of prior awards. UWVES prioritizes funding for initiatives that clearly demonstrate impact on improving educational outcomes, family financial stability, and community health and wellbeing. Evaluation of applications considers the extent of community benefit, substantiated need, and the applicant’s organizational capacity. Programs should articulate how success will be measured and include optional materials such as testimonials, stories, or photos to illustrate outcomes. Grantees are expected to publicly acknowledge UWVES support and comply with reporting requirements. This program does not operate on a rolling basis and does not appear to be recurring. Therefore, applicants are encouraged to submit their materials early and ensure all documentation is complete to facilitate review by the committee. All eligible applications must be collated according to the official checklist, which includes 10 copies for committee members.