The United Way Annual Grant - Clearwater County

The United Way Annual Grant for Clearwater County is administered by the United Way of Bemidji Area, a well-established nonprofit organization focused on mobilizing community resources to advance education, financial stability, and health in the region. This grant cycle is specifically funded through contributions raised during the 2025 Campaign for the Community in Clearwater County. The program offers localized financial support to nonprofits operating within Clearwater County and delivering services in alignment with United Way’s priority areas: Youth Opportunity, Financial Security, and Healthy Community. The funding is designed to support active, needs-based programming that addresses community-identified issues within these strategic impact areas. The grant provides awards ranging from $500 to $2,500, depending on the number of qualified applicants and available funds. While these awards are modest, they can be impactful for grassroots or small to mid-sized organizations addressing urgent local needs. The funds are disbursed on a semi-annual basis—August and November—for the 2026 cycle, though this cadence may shift in future years to either semi-annual or quarterly distributions depending on the award size. Funding may not be used for capital improvements or “brick and mortar” projects, and specific prohibitions include athletic and political organizations, deficit coverage, individuals, and for-profit entities. To qualify, applicants must be incorporated nonprofit organizations with verified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and actively providing the services for which they are requesting funding. Additionally, the applicant organization must be in compliance with the State of Minnesota's charitable regulations and maintain a presence in Clearwater County, either through a local chapter or by directly serving residents of the area. Discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, age, disability, or religion is explicitly prohibited, and all funded agencies must have a non-discrimination policy in place. Strong financial and program management is required, evidenced by regular board meetings, rotating volunteer leadership, and adherence to accepted accounting principles, including annual audits or board-approved financial statements. Applicants are required to submit a comprehensive application package by 4:00 p.m. on April 10, 2026, via email to [email protected]. The package must include a completed cover sheet, a proposal of no more than three pages, an ALICE Information Sheet, current organization and program budgets specific to Clearwater County, a signed Agency Partnership Agreement, the latest state charitable registration confirmation (or exemption justification), a copy of 501(c)(3) documentation, organizational by-laws, the most recent audit or board-approved financials, and the latest IRS Form 990 (or exemption reason if not filed). Each document must be attached as a separate file in the email submission. Grant recipients will be notified of funding decisions by June 30, 2026. Though a completed application does not guarantee funding, all submitted applications will be evaluated based on alignment with United Way’s priority impact areas, clarity of community need, effectiveness of the proposed solution, organizational capacity, and financial stewardship. The review process is conducted with a focus on transparency and community representation, involving local leadership who understand the unique challenges facing Clearwater County. This grant program is recurring on an annual basis, with future deadlines and cycles expected to align with community campaign calendars. Applicants should note that submission mechanics and documentation requirements may evolve in future years. For questions, United Way can be contacted at (218) 444-8929 or [email protected]. The grant cycle is structured to enable early notification and timely disbursement, supporting agency planning and program implementation across the funding period.