United Way Oxford accepting applications for its next round of funding
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The United Way Oxford is now accepting applications for its next round of funding while looking for potential partners to help move its “Community Impact Agenda” forward.
Last year, the organization released investment strategies in each of its “focus areas”: From Poverty to Possibility; Strong Communities, and All That Kids Can Be.
As part of this ongoing focus, the United Way Oxford will be only accepting funding applications from organizations that work within these areas of “human social services,” executive director Kelly Gilson said.
“(Groups that) concentrate their efforts on helping to make life better for people here in Oxford County and, if they are looking to enhance or grow a project that they’re currently running, or looking to start a new program,” she said. “Those are the applications that we’re looking to receive.”
Gilson added the United Way hopes to receive applications from across the county, either from single organizations for program funding, or groups of organizations for collaborative funding.
The United Way will be accepting these statements of interest until Oct. 7, which is the first phase of their funding process and allows its Community Impact Councils to review an applicant’s intent and determine those that meet the criteria for a full application.
This new process was launched last year and, according to a press release allows the United Way to invest strategically and with greater flexibility to target specific areas of need or to evolve as the needs of the community change.
With this new process, applicants will also be able to commit to one-, two- or three-year funding terms.
“Depending on what they’re applying for, it might really be something that they need a little bit of funding for a short period of time,” Gilson said. “But for others, it might be something that’s a more significant project that requires … a longer period of time. So organizations can apply for one-, two- or three-year funding, whatever they believe will best meet their needs.”
Community investment committee chair Cheryl Micacchi said community conversations have defined the United Way’s investment strategies.
“We can focus our efforts on the programs and initiatives that we believe are the strongest and best positioned to create change,” Micacchi said. “By allowing for one-, two- or three-year funding options, we can provide stability for organizations or collaborations to concentrate on the work at hand.”
The United Way is continuing to have funding commitments through March 2019, but there is also available funding that will begin in April 2017.
For a statement of interest application, along with supporting reference material, visit www.unitedwayoxford.ca for more information.