Creating Synergy for a Stronger Future Grant

The Creating Synergy for a Stronger Future Grant, offered by the United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes, is designed to strengthen nonprofit organizations by supporting their capacity-building initiatives. This grant targets improvements in organizational health, vitality, and sustainability, particularly for nonprofits that operate within the six-county region of Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Wayne, and Wyoming counties in New York. Backed by the United Way’s Community Impact Fund in partnership with ESL Charitable Foundation and the New York Council of Nonprofits, the grant seeks to enhance internal operations, culture, and strategic growth of regional nonprofits. The grant supports activities that address critical organizational needs, including but not limited to employee transitions and succession planning, strategic hiring practices, retention and staff wellness initiatives, leadership and board development, and efforts to build inclusive and equitable workplace cultures. Funding may also be used for projects that improve technological efficiency, automate processes, or enable strategic collaborations like mergers or formal affiliations between organizations. Each eligible organization may apply for up to three separate projects, each with a maximum funding request of $50,000. Applications must include detailed plans for implementation, sustainability, and evaluation metrics. Eligibility is limited to health and human service nonprofits that have maintained 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and are registered with or exempt from registration with the New York State Charities Bureau as of January 1, 2024. Organizations must be compliant with all IRS and NYS Charities Bureau requirements and agree to the terms in the United Way Partnership Agreement. This includes a commitment to submit final reports and provide expenditure verification upon request. Fiscal sponsors and for-profit entities are not eligible to apply. Applications are submitted through the e-CImpact grants portal, and organizations not currently registered must request access before applying. The application window for the current cycle opened on July 1, 2025, and closes at noon on August 12, 2025. Late submissions will not be accepted. An optional virtual information session was held on June 24, 2025, with a recording available via the grant portal. Questions related to the process may be submitted via email until August 5, 2025, but requests for feedback on application content will not be addressed. All submitted applications are evaluated based on alignment with grant priorities, clarity and completeness, needs assessment, feasibility, expected results, and budget appropriateness. Notifications of funding decisions will be issued by November 19, 2025. Approved grant funds will be disbursed on or before December 31, 2025, contingent on the completion of the Partnership Agreement. All funds must be used by December 31, 2026, and a final report is due by January 25, 2027. Inquiries about the grant process may be directed to the Office of Community Impact at ciadmin@uwrochester.org. Responses are provided within 48 business hours. The grant opportunity recurs biannually, with the next cycle anticipated to open in 2026, during the first and third calendar quarters.

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