Community Investment Fund

The United Way of Oxford-Lafayette County (UWOLC) invites proposals for its Fiscal Year 2025-2026 funding cycle, focusing on investments that generate long-lasting impact in the Lafayette-Oxford-University (LOU) community. UWOLC supports programs and coalitions that address essential areas such as health, education, financial stability, and basic needs. These funding areas align with both national United Way objectives and localized community needs identified through periodic assessments. The organization emphasizes a balance between systemic, preventive interventions and safety net services that meet immediate necessities like food, shelter, and emergency relief. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, as well as certain public entities such as schools, universities, and libraries that operate programs aligned with UWOLC's funding priorities. For-profit entities are ineligible. Programs seeking support must be specific to Lafayette County and cannot involve general operational support. Awarded funds can be used for program-specific expenses including staffing, materials, travel, and relevant overhead, though capital expenditures like bricks and mortar projects are excluded. All awardees must measure outcomes using at least two indicators, as outlined in the required Outcome Measurement Plan. The application process follows a two-step structure. All agency applicants must first submit a Primary Fiscal Agent Pre-Application, which includes financial documentation and organizational compliance forms, by March 3, 2025. This pre-application is not required for coalitions where UWOLC is the primary fiscal agent. Following this step, a separate Program Grant Application must be submitted for each funding request by April 1, 2025. Community coalitions must also submit a specific Community Coalition Grant Application by the same date, especially when seeking funds for certification or operational costs. UWOLC hosted a Zoom-based Application Workshop on February 12, 2025, to guide prospective applicants through the process, including best practices for crafting strong applications and preparing effective outcome measurement plans. Evaluation is conducted by four advisory committees aligned with the focus areas. Recommendations from these committees, along with financial reviews, inform final funding decisions made by UWOLC’s Board of Directors. Notifications of award decisions will be issued by June 16, 2025, and all awardees must sign and return a formal Agreement of Responsibilities by June 30, 2025. The performance period for funded programs runs from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. Funding will be distributed quarterly, contingent upon the timely submission of required mid-year and end-of-year reports that detail program outcomes, local beneficiary data, and expenditures. Reports are due by January 31, 2026, and July 31, 2026, respectively. Recipients are prohibited from soliciting donations from local employee groups or conducting campaigns for designated UWOLC contributions.

Attend the application workshop and ensure clarity and completeness in the outcome measurement plan.