2024-2025 Community Impact Small Grant

The Middlesex United Way is offering a new Community Impact Small Grant opportunity. This grant aims to fund programs and event sponsorships within Middlesex County, Connecticut, focusing on established Impact Areas. These areas include Racial Equity & Inclusion, Education, Financial Stability, Housing, Wellness, and Youth Development, aligning directly with the United Way's mission to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities. The grant provides funding for new organizations, fostering innovation and expanding the reach of critical community services. The target beneficiaries for this grant are the constituents of Middlesex County, specifically residents in the towns of Chester, Clinton, Cromwell, Deep River, Durham, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Killingworth, Middlefield, Middletown, Old Saybrook, Portland, and Westbrook. The impact goals are broad, aiming to address systemic issues through initiatives in the aforementioned Impact Areas. By supporting programs in these areas, Middlesex United Way seeks to create a more equitable, educated, financially stable, well-housed, healthy, and youth-empowered community. The grant prioritizes new organizations that are 501(c)(3) entities or have a fiscal sponsor with 501(c)(3) status. This focus on new organizations suggests a strategic priority to diversify its grantee portfolio and support emerging efforts that align with its mission. The funding range of $100 to $1,000 indicates a focus on smaller-scale initiatives or seed funding, allowing for a broader distribution of resources and supporting a greater number of innovative projects within the county. The expected outcomes and measurable results are tied to the effectiveness of the funded programs in addressing the established Impact Areas. While specific metrics are not detailed in the grant description, the expectation is that these small grants will contribute to positive changes in racial equity, educational attainment, financial well-being, housing stability, overall wellness, and youth development within Middlesex County. The United Way's theory of change appears to be rooted in a belief that strategic investments in these key areas, particularly through new and emerging organizations, will lead to sustainable community-wide improvements and address critical social challenges.