United Way for Cortland County Impact Funding

The United Way for Cortland County (UWCC) administers the Impact Funding grant program to improve economic and social mobility for families in Cortland County, New York. The organization’s mission is to unite donors, volunteers, and agencies to address systemic issues and deliver measurable, community-wide outcomes. UWCC aligns its funding strategy with data from the United Way ALICE study and the Thriving United Way framework, focusing on three core areas: Youth Opportunity, Healthy Community, and Financial Security. Programs funded under this initiative aim to support the Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) households, promoting inclusion, diversity, equity, and access (IDEA) in their implementation. The 2025 UWCC grant represents the second half of a transitional funding cycle as the organization shifts to a calendar year model. It provides six months of funding from July to December 2025, with awards distributed monthly. Applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations operating within Cortland County and must align their work with at least one of the three impact areas. The minimum grant request is $2,000, and the maximum per program is $15,000. Each program must be submitted via a separate application, and applicants are not permitted to include attachments. Applications are due by May 23, 2025. Award notifications will be issued by June 13, 2025, and funding disbursements begin on July 1, 2025. Awardees must submit a Funding Progress Report six months after the first disbursement. This report evaluates program performance, measures success metrics, and assesses alignment with ALICE needs and IDEA principles. Failure to submit the evaluation on time may impact future eligibility. Applicants are expected to complete a PDF fillable form that captures comprehensive details about their program, including demographic reach, financial needs, alignment with impact areas, wrap-around service strategy, partnerships, staffing, and a detailed budget narrative. No question on the form should be left blank. Applications must be submitted by email to director@cortlandunitedway.org. Evaluation criteria are broken into four main sections: Program Alignment and Community Need (40 points), Program Management and Accountability (20 points), Partnerships and Local Leadership (15 points), and Budget Narrative and Organizational Need (25 points). The scoring rubric prioritizes alignment with impact areas, interaction with ALICE households, IDEA adherence, robust metrics for success, meaningful community partnerships, and sound financial planning. For assistance, applicants can contact Kristina Thelen at (607) 756-5639 or via email at director@cortlandunitedway.org. Additional resources and definitions for the impact areas can be found online at the United Way links provided in the document.