2024 Animal Services Responsive Grant Program

The United Way of Central Louisiana (UWCL) is offering 2024 Venture grants, designed to support smaller and rural nonprofits. This grant program directly aligns with UWCL's overarching mission to empower community members by improving access to education, health, and financial empowerment. The Venture grants specifically cater to organizations with an operating budget of less than $250,000, ensuring that crucial support reaches grassroots initiatives that might otherwise struggle to secure funding. The target beneficiaries for these Venture grants are the residents within UWCL's eight-parish service area, which includes Avoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia, Grant, LaSalle, Rapides, Vernon, and Winn Parishes in Louisiana. The grants aim to improve the lives of individuals in these communities through projects focused on education, health, and financial empowerment. By investing in these key areas, UWCL seeks to foster stronger, more self-sufficient communities. The priorities and focuses of the Venture grants are clearly defined: supporting smaller, rural nonprofits with specific needs. The grant limit of $1,000 per request emphasizes a micro-grant approach, allowing for a broader distribution of funds to numerous organizations tackling local challenges. This strategy reflects UWCL's commitment to addressing diverse community needs across its service region, with an emphasis on tangible, localized impact. Expected outcomes include enhanced access to educational resources, improved health outcomes, and increased financial stability for individuals within the targeted parishes. Measurable results would likely be tied to the specific projects funded by the grants, such as the number of individuals participating in educational programs, health screenings conducted, or individuals receiving financial literacy training. The foundation's strategic priorities are rooted in the belief that by addressing these fundamental pillars of well-being, they can create lasting positive change. Their theory of change posits that by empowering local nonprofits with limited funding, they can catalyze significant improvements in the lives of community members, thereby strengthening the entire region.