Rutherford and Cannon Counties Grants

The Rutherford and Cannon Counties 2024-2025 Grant Application is now available. The application is due on March 21 at 11:59 PM CST.

The Intent to Apply deadline was February 28th. Please read these Applicant Instructions before logging in and beginning your application.

Several supplementary application documents are linked in the Helpful Links section below, including a PDF of the full application.
The full UW Grant Application timeline is below.

February 1 Informational Meeting via Zoom  Click here to view the Zoom recording. Click here to view the slides from the meeting.
February 5  Grant Application opens
February 6 Collaborative Working Session at Chamber Building room 3AB, 2-4 pm
February 28 Deadline to request access to application
March 21 Grant Application closes
Mid-June Award notifications 
July 1 Funding cycle begins

Please contact Ella Weaver, ella.weaver@yourlocaluw.org, with questions.

  • Bold Goals 2030: All requests must align to Bold Goals 2030 as well as at least one strategy and tactic and two to three shared measurements within the bold goal for which you are applying.
  • Collaborative funding and programs that address a gap in services: The United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties seeks collaborative funding applications to encourage collective problem solving to address our community’s most pressing issues. We believe that by addressing problems collaboratively, we can maximize resources and avoid duplication. This funding structure will encourage partnership, engagement, and help accelerate the mission of United Way, while collectively identifying systemic gaps.
     

Q.     When will grant awards be announced?
A.     The announcement for grant awards will be made no later than Friday, June 14, 2024. Notifications will be made by an award letter. 

Q.     Is there a minimum or maximum request that my proposal should reflect?
A.    There is not a minimum or maximum request set by United Way. You are essentially putting in your “bid” for funding for being able to offer a program or service that aligns with United Way’s mission and vision at a price point that is determined by your agency. You will want to consider the time and resources involved, not only in the RFP process, but in meeting the expectations of the grant should funding be awarded – participation in collaborative working sessions, reporting, etc. The average grant awarded in 2023 was $30,000.

Q.     Is my agency’s mission or service focus eligible for this grant?
A.     We welcome proposals that align with any one of our Bold Goals, and specifically the strategies and tactics identified by our community and Vision Councils. In your grant application, you will need to choose one Bold Goal to align with and then may choose multiple strategies and tactics within that Bold Goal area. You will also be asked to describe how your program aligns with and will impact that Bold Goal area. You can review the goals, strategies, and tactics here. 

Q.     Can we submit more than one proposal?
A.     Yes, if you have more than one program or service that aligns with Bold Goals 
area/leading indicators or strategies, you may submit more than one proposal. Please note that these would be separate funding relationships and may involve varying time periods for funding, collaborative working sessions, etc. 

Q.     What types of programs are you looking to fund this year?
A.     All proposals that align with one of our Bold Goals will be accepted. For 2024, we have identified two funding priorities for which proposals will earn bonus points in the scoring rubric – collaborative proposals and proposals that address a gap in services. We will prioritize collaborative funding applications to encourage collective problem solving to address our community’s most pressing issues. We believe that by addressing problems collaboratively, we can maximize resources and avoid duplication. This funding structure will encourage partnership, engagement, and help accelerate the mission of United Way, while collectively identifying systemic gaps.

Q.     What if my agency receives donor designations through a United Way campaign? Is that separate from the grant awards?
A.    Yes, beginning with designations made to UWRCC on July 1, 2019, donor designations will be considered a “separate stream” and not be related to grant awards made through United Way’s Community Impact Fund. For more information about our donor designation policy, please visit this page of our website.