Impact Grants

Impact Grants is sponsored by United Way of the River Cities. Impact Grants are two-year grants for programs that focus on youth opportunity, financial stability, and healthy communities.

Community Impact Grants - United Way of NNY 2027 COMMUNITY IMPACT GRANTS United Way of Northern New York (UWNNY) brings people, organizations, and resources together to address the region’s most pressing challenges. Through the Community Impact Fund, UWNNY partners with community-based human service organizations to invest in collaborative, outcome-driven programs that improve lives across Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence Counties.

Programs must align with one or more of our three priority areas: Social Determinants of Health (e.g., access to nutrition, housing, transportation, literacy, and healthcare) Child / Youth Success (e.g., academic support, mentoring, youth development) Economic Stability (e.g., job skills training, financial literacy, employment support) We are seeking proposals from community-based human service organizations that are collaborative, outcome-driven, and committed to improving quality of life across the North Country.

Applications are open to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations providing human service programming that: Serve residents of Jefferson, Lewis, and/or St. Lawrence Counties Have been in operation for at least three years Are governed by a board of directors Employ at least one paid staff member (minimum 1.

0 FTE) Maintain a meaningful local presence within the UWNNY service area, including at least one paid staff member and one governing board member who reside in Jefferson, Lewis, or St. Lawrence Counties. Please note: Applications that do not meet the eligibility requirements will not advance to Community Review.

Approximately $225,000 in Community Impact funding is expected to be available, contingent upon the success of the 2026–2027 United Way campaign. Average grant award: Approximately $11,000 Grant period: January 1–December 31, 2027 United Way funding may not be used for: Programs that exclude individuals based on race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, or disability.

Applications must be submitted through the UWNNY Community Impact Grant Portal . Before beginning an application, we strongly encourage applicants to review the resources below to confirm eligibility, understand the review process, and prepare responses in advance. Grant portal opens: July 20, 2026 Application deadline: September 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.

m. Late or incomplete applications cannot be accepted. Click here to review the Request for Proposals.

🔗 Access the grant portal here: https://unitedwaynnycommunityreview. communityforce. com/Login.

aspx Important Documents for Applicants Before beginning your application, we encourage you to review the following resources: Request for Proposals (RFP) Learn about eligibility requirements, funding priorities, partnership expectations, and the grant review process. Review every application question in advance so you can prepare responses and gather required documentation before signing into the online grant portal.

Community Impact Grant Evaluation Tool See exactly how volunteer Community Review Panel members evaluate grant proposals. Understanding the scoring criteria can help you prepare a stronger application. Successful applicants will be required to submit a year-end report at the conclusion of the grant period.

Reviewing the report in advance provides a clear understanding of the outcomes and information grantees will be expected to document. Meet Our 2026 Community Impact Partners Curious to see the organizations and programs currently supported through United Way’s Community Impact Fund?

Explore our 2026 Community Impact Partners page to learn more about the nonprofit organizations, UWNNY initiatives, and school partnerships working together to strengthen communities across Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence Counties. Where Community Impact Funding Comes From Community Impact grants are made possible through the generosity of thousands of individuals and businesses who support United Way of Northern New York each year.

Contributions from workplace campaigns, corporate partners, and individual donors are combined into a single Community Impact Fund that invests in programs addressing our region’s most pressing needs. We are grateful to every donor who makes these grants possible and to the nonprofit partners who turn those investments into measurable community impact. 💼 Want to bring a United Way campaign to your workplace?

It’s an easy way to support your community, strengthen your Corporate Social Responsibility efforts, and boost team morale. 📧 Email us or call 315-788-5631 to get started!