United Way of Central Maryland’s 2022 Neighborhood Grant is an opportunity for neighborhood-centered organizations with total annual operating budgets of $500,000 or less to receive between $2,500 and $10,000 in funding to carry out neighborhood-centered projects that will be informed by residents and inspire community connection.
Donor Name: United Way of Central Maryland
State: Maryland
Counties: Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County
City: Baltimore City
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline (mm/dd/yyyy): 11/22/2021
Size of the Grant: $2,500 and $10,000
Details:
United Way of Central Maryland promotes equity, creates opportunity, and improves lives. 95 years of service to the people of Greater Baltimore have taught them what it takes to change the region for the better. United Way of Central Maryland is proud to be a source of support, compassion, and hope for people who work hard but still can’t make ends meet. They strengthen families and communities by taking on systemic challenges and increasing access to basic needs – health, housing, economic advancement, education, and more. United Way’s grantmaking supports programs and initiatives in Baltimore City and Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford, and Howard Counties.
Eligible organizations can apply to implement projects that:
- Build Vibrant Neighborhood Spaces,
- Build Socially Connected and Active Neighborhood Residents; and/or
- Build Empowered Local Leaders.
This is the second year of the Neighborhood Grant opportunity, which focuses on amplifying the power of residents. They have come to believe that the true path to real, lasting and systemic change in the neighborhoods is one that is community-led, informed by residents’ deep knowledge of their neighborhood’s assets and needs, and inspired by their desire for a healthier, happier community.
Eligibility Criteria
- United Way of Central Maryland will accept applications from organizations with 501(c)(3) or other nonprofit IRS designations, with a total annual operating budget of $500,000 or less in their current fiscal year. Additionally, United Way will accept applications from nonprofit agencies that are acting as Fiscal Agents for organizations with total annual operating budgets of $500,000 or less.
- Additionally:
- Organizations that received 2021 Neighborhood Grants are eligible to apply in 2022. Moving forward, any organization that receives a Neighborhood Grant for 2 consecutive years, will not be eligible to apply the following year.
- Organizations that currently receive other funding from United Way are also eligible to apply.
- All organizations seeking funding must:
- Provide evidence that they hold a current “Good Standing Certificate of Status” with the State of Maryland Department of Assessments & Taxation.
- Provide a copy (within the last two fiscal years) of one of the following financial documents.
Application Selection Criteria
All eligible applications will be reviewed by United Way’s RUN Advisory Board for the jurisdiction from which the funding was requested. Applications will be evaluated primarily on the degree to which they meet the four main project criteria listed below.
- The extent to which the project is neighborhood-centered, demonstrating that it addresses areas of need and/or builds on current assets within the specific neighborhood to be served.
- The extent to which the project is resident-driven, considering resident-raised issues, or utilizing residents in the implementation of the project.
- The extent to which the project inspires community connection, bringing community members together to accomplish goals, discuss neighborhood priorities or learn about neighborhood resources.
- The extent to which the project is well thought through and shows strong promise of positive impact in the neighborhood identified.
In addition to meeting the criterial established above, successful applicants will:
- Be complete, following all application instructions.
- Demonstrate that the applicant will conduct a project aligned with at least one of the established categories.
Additional Selection Priorities
While not required, priority will be given to applicant organizations that:
- Are led by Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC), or people from marginalized communities / hard to reach populations. Not all selected applicants will fall under these criteria.
- Are projects that serve low-income neighborhoods of color that have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.
For more information, visit 2022 Neighborhood Grant.