Community Impact Grants

Community Impact Grants is sponsored by United Way of Northern Shenandoah Valley. United Way of Northern Shenandoah Valley invests in Community Impact Grants to improve lives, strengthen nonprofits, and expand stability across their region, including healthcare. In 2025, over $535,000 was invested in programs addressing health, housing, and crisis care.

United is the Way. Stability is the Goal. Instability Hurts.

Stability Heals. 2026 Impact Grants Timeline We’re excited to begin preparing for the next Impact Grants cycle. Details about the 2026 Impact Grants cycle will be shared after the May 15 final report deadline , once all partner reports have been collected and reviewed.

This important step gives UWNSV the opportunity to celebrate the work of our funded partners, verify impact data, and complete our annual Impact Investment Report . By completing this review first, we can ensure the next grant cycle is informed by real outcomes, community needs, and the resources available to invest back into our region. We look forward to sharing more once the reporting and review process is complete.

Nearly 4 in 10 households in the Northern Shenandoah Valley cannot afford the basics: housing, food, childcare, transportation, and healthcare. And instability does not stop at one family’s doorstep. It ripples across classrooms, workplaces, clinics, and neighborhoods.

We all feel the cost. We live in the communities we serve, working alongside local leaders and residents. Together, we use local data and lived experience to design solutions tailor-made for the challenges right here in the Northern Shenandoah Valley.

It is all rooted in United Way values and proven strategies, but never a one-size-fits-all approach. Every dollar you give stays local, drives measurable results, and fuels change where it matters most — in your own community. Our Response: Building Stability United Way NSV invests in more than quick fixes.

We create long-term stability: $535,000 invested through Community Impact Grants , endowed funds, and supplemental awards, strengthening 50+ nonprofit partners across the region raised during the 2024-2025 campaign season. Nearly 1,000 volunteers at 80+ sites during 2024’s Day of Caring , completing painting, repairs, garden builds, and cleanups.

This saved agencies thousands of dollars and strengthened community infrastructure, with even greater impact expected in 2025. 211 and other community initiatives connecting families to critical resources before crisis becomes catastrophe. $50,000 transferred annually to nonprofit partners through designated funds received during workplace giving campaigns.

Impact: Together, these efforts reached 11,000+ households and 27,628 individuals — nearly one in ten people in our region. United is the way we create lasting change. United Way brings communities together to turn instability into stability, to find strength, and to share hope.

It is the way we rally in hard times, meet urgent needs, and give families the chance to rise, rebuild, and create a better future. United is the way to fuel this work and expand what is possible. But we cannot do it alone.

Contribute to increasing community stability today. Impact Grants: Investing in Community Stability United is the Way. Funding Stability, Fueling change.

In 2025, thousands of families gained access to food, housing, and healthcare because United Way NSV invested $535,000 in Community Impact Grants, endowed funds, and supplemental awards. These investments improve lives, strengthen nonprofits, and expand stability across our region. Our Priorities: Impact for People We fund programs and partnerships that create lasting change: Education → Children succeed in school and beyond.

Financial stability → Families avoid eviction, debt, and crisis. Health access → Neighbors receive care regardless of income or ZIP code. Community resilience → Families gain stability through food, housing, and other basic needs support.

Collaboration → Shared solutions emerge that no one sector could achieve alone. How Local Giving Fuels Transformation & Progress United is the Way Community Giving Builds Stronger Futures. Every dollar fuels trusted nonprofits, collaborative solutions, and volunteer energy — multiplying impact far beyond a single program.

35% invested in Winchester, Frederick, Clarke, and multi-regional nonprofits → 3,800 households served 25% invested in Shenandoah County → 2,700 households served 25% invested in Page County → 2,800 households served 15% invested in Warren County → 1,700 households served Impact: Together, these investments reached 11,000+ households and 27,628 individuals — nearly one in ten people in our region. United is the way.

Stability is the goal. Your gift fuels food, shelter, education, health, financial stability, and resilience across Winchester, Frederick, Clarke, Shenandoah, Warren, and Page counties. Instability has a cost for all of us.

Your gift expands stability across our region. United is the Way We Invest With Purpose At United Way NSV, every dollar entrusted to us is invested with care, transparency, and accountability. We ensure that community resources go where they will have the greatest impact by following a rigorous grantmaking process grounded in our values.

More than 40 local volunteers, representing diverse backgrounds and expertise, dedicate over 600 hours annually to reviewing proposals, outcomes, and budgets. This ensures that funding decisions are shaped by the very community they serve. These volunteers make allocation recommendations that go to our Board of Directors for approval.

Fair and Objective Scoring Each application is assessed using a standardized rubric that measures program strength, alignment with community needs, and ability to deliver measurable outcomes. This objective process levels the playing field for nonprofits of all sizes. We prioritize investments that remove barriers and close gaps , ensuring funding reaches families and communities most affected by instability.

Balancing Today’s Needs and Tomorrow’s Solutions Funding decisions weigh urgent basic needs, such as food, shelter, and healthcare, alongside long-term strategies that build education, financial stability, and resilience.

We evaluate not only the strength of individual applications but also how the entire portfolio of funded programs works together to meet needs across Winchester, Frederick, Clarke, Shenandoah, Warren, and Page counties. The result: funding decisions that are fair, community-driven, and designed to create measurable, lasting impact.

United Way NSV is Scaling Local Impact with Our 2025-26 Awardees & Partners Lifting Up 2025-26 Awardees This July, United Way NSV awarded 2025-26 Community Impact Grants to organizations across our region. Before going public, we worked closely with each awardee to ensure agreements were signed and first disbursements were received, setting the stage for a strong start.

Now, we are proud to share that awardees have been formally announced during Day of Caring on September 19, 2025 . This public celebration not only lifts up the incredible work of our nonprofit partners, but also highlights the generosity of thousands of donors who make these investments possible. The 2025-26 Funding Cycle The 2025 funding cycle was about more than applications and awards.

It was about what it takes to hold a community together. This year, 50 organizations applied for more than $802,000 in funding requests , reflecting both the scale of need and the creativity of our nonprofit partners.

After a deep community review, 43 organizations were awarded $435,000 in Community Impact Grants , while an additional $100,000 was invested with key awardees and new partners to strengthen health, housing, and crisis care, especially in rural areas where gaps persist.

In total, more than $535,000 was invested across the Northern Shenandoah Valley , reaching thousands of households and fueling the work of 50+ organizations united to spark change.

To ensure fairness across communities, investments were distributed regionally: City of Winchester – Housing stability, food access, youth enrichment Frederick County – Housing, crisis response, and family support Clarke County – Food security and youth development Warren County – Health clinics, shelter, and family resilience Shenandoah County – Rural health, education, and crisis care Page County – Domestic violence prevention, housing, and community care United is the way we ensure that no community is left behind.

In addition to the 43 Community Impact Grant recipients, United Way NSV invested additional foundation funding into both established and new partnerships, including Love to NIC, Shenandoah Alliance for Shelter, AIDS Response Network, and Access Independence . These investments helped strengthen health, housing, and crisis care, particularly in rural areas where structural gaps persist.

It is also important to note that organizations such as CCAP and others are partnering with peers on joint grants . While not always listed individually, their work remains an essential part of this network. Taken together, these collaborations mean that well over 50 organizations are benefiting from the community’s investment.

The 2025 Community Impact cycle reflects a deliberate choice: to invest in impact, collaboration, and equity across geography . These grants are not simply checks written. They are investments in resilience, compassion, and community strength — proof that United is the Way we Spark Change.

2025-26 Funded Partners (Alphabetical) American Red Cross of the Greater Shenandoah Valley Blue Ridge CASA for Children Blue Ridge Habitat for Humanity Blue Ridge Legal Services, Inc. Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington, Inc. Christ Church Cares Food Pantry Community Care and Learning Center Council on Domestic Violence for Page County, Inc. Family Promise Northern Shenandoah County Family Promise Northern Shenandoah Valley, Inc. Healthy Families Shenandoah County Laurel Ridge Community College Educational Foundation Literacy Volunteers Winchester Area Mountain Vista Governor's School Foundation Page One of Page County Inc. Peter Bullough Foundation Shenandoah Alliance for Shelter Shenandoah Community Health Clinic Shenandoah Valley Local Ministries The Salvation Army Front Royal Winchester Area Temporary Transitional Shelter (WATTS) ✅ Total: 46 funded partners, representing well over 50 organizations when joint collaborations are included.

Building Change Together: Information for Current Awardees Information for Current Grant Recipients Funds must be used only for the purposes described in your approved 2025 grant proposal. Any changes to program scope or expenditures require prior written approval from United Way NSV. The grant period runs July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026 .

Grants under $5,000 – Paid in full on or about July 1, 2025 $5,000–$10,000 – Two equal payments (July 1 and January 15) Over $10,000 – Four quarterly payments (July 1, October 1, January 15, April 1) 4.

Reporting Requirements Mid-Year Report (due December 31, 2025): Program summary and impact to date Number served, demographics, and key outcomes At least one beneficiary testimonial Financial summary (awarded, spent, remaining funds) Supporting documentation (receipts, invoices, etc.) Confirmation that at least 40% of funds have been spent or committed Final Report (required if reapplying for 2026 funding): Follows the same format as the mid-year report including financial summary (awarded, spent, remaining funds) & supporting documentation (receipts, invoices, etc.) Must confirm 90% of funds expended or allocated by May 15, 2026 Submitted with the 2026 application (when announced) 5.

Participation & Recognition Attend at least two HUB meetings during the grant year Participation in Day of Caring and workplace giving campaigns is encouraged Acknowledge UWNSV in all relevant promotional or public materials 6. Recordkeeping & Review Grantees must maintain all relevant financial and program records and provide them to UWNSV upon request.

Honoring Past Recipients Who Sparked Community Change In March 2024, community volunteers from Winchester, Frederick, Clarke, Shenandoah, Page, and Warren Counties reviewed 45 applications and recommended funding priorities for programs in education, healthcare, and financial stability. Thanks to the generosity of thousands of donors, 36 agencies received $400,000 in United Way funding.

Agencies submit quarterly outcome reports to track results and impact. Nearly $40,000 in donor designations was distributed separately. United Way NSV invested $525,000 in Community Impact Grants supporting 46 agencies.

Twenty-six agencies in the northern region (Winchester, Frederick, Clarke) received $312,800, and 20 agencies in the southern region (Shenandoah, Page, Warren) received $212,200. Almost $40,000 in donor designations was distributed separately. United Way NSV awarded $540,000 to 36 programs across education, financial stability, and health.

Northern region agencies received $379,050; southern region agencies received $160,950. Donor designations added nearly $150,000 in support. United Way NSV invested $505,047 in 36 programs , a 10% increase from the prior year.

Northern region agencies received $346,422; southern region agencies received $158,625. Donor designations contributed nearly $174,000 in support. United Way NSV supported 34 programs across the Valley, with requests totaling more than $780,000.

Over 50 volunteers participated in the review process, ensuring funds focused on priority needs. More than $100,000 in donor designations was distributed separately.