Basic Needs Community Investment Grant

Great Rivers United Way is accepting applications for its 2026 Basic Needs Fund, a grant program designed to support local nonprofit efforts to meet urgent needs related to food, shelter, and safety. This funding initiative is part of the organization's broader Community Investment Fund and reflects its mission to unite people and resources to improve lives and strengthen communities across western Wisconsin and southeastern Minnesota. The 2026 Basic Needs Grant opportunity is open to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that provide health and human services within the following counties: Buffalo, Crawford, La Crosse, Monroe, Vernon, and Trempealeau in Wisconsin; the city of Black River Falls in Jackson County, Wisconsin; and Houston County in Minnesota. Grants will support programs that directly address the fundamental needs of individuals and families in these regions. Applications will be accepted through the CommunityForce platform between August 15 and September 26, 2025, with awards announced on December 5, 2025. Funded programs will operate from January 1 through December 31, 2026. The Basic Needs Fund emphasizes collaborative, evidence-based, and equity-centered approaches. Priority is given to projects with demonstrated outcomes, innovative solutions, or regional reach, and especially those that serve rural or BIPOC communities. Applicants are encouraged to propose programs that are either proven in their effectiveness or demonstrate a strong potential for impact through new methods. Funding awards range from $5,000 to $40,000, with a maximum total award of $50,000 per organization. Collaborative proposals involving multiple organizations may be eligible for up to $50,000 per partner. Partial awards are common when available funding cannot fully meet all strong applications. To be eligible, applicants must be registered 501(c)(3) entities and either directly deliver or fiscally sponsor programs that provide human services in the eligible counties. They must also demonstrate sound financial management and governance, including the submission of board minutes, audits or reviews, and IRS Form 990. Organizations must align their proposed services with at least one of the three basic needs categories: food, shelter, or safety. Applications must be submitted through CommunityForce, where they will be reviewed by trained community volunteers. The review process includes scoring based on alignment with funding priorities, program effectiveness, budget clarity, and organizational oversight. Final recommendations are made by the Fund Distribution Steering Committee and approved by the GRUW Board of Directors. All grantees are required to submit mid-year and end-of-year reports and participate in community-wide data collection and impact reporting efforts. Applicants may join optional online office hours for Q&A, scheduled on August 22, August 26, September 16, and September 23, 2025. The deadline to apply is 11:59 p.m. on September 26, 2025. Grants will be disbursed monthly from January 15 through December 15, 2026. Questions may be directed to Liz Evans, Community Impact Director, at levans@gruw.org or (608) 796-1400, ext. 105.

Applicants are advised to read all questions before answering, avoid jargon, use CommunityForce formatting tools, and refer to the scoring rubric