Community Impact Grants invest local dollars into our communities by supporting programs that address targeted issues identified by United Way of Greater New Bedford. Grants are competitive with an open application process. This year, United Way of Greater New Bedford will focus its support on the impact areas of Healthy Community and Youth Opportunities. Grants to support the Financial Security impact area will be by invitation only.
Interested non-profit organizations are asked to complete a Letter of Intent (LOI). Successful applicants will be invited to complete a Request for Proposal (RFP). An all-volunteer committee will review and score these proposals, interview new applicants, and make funding recommendations. Organizations receiving grants are accountable for responsible use of the funds and must file mid-year and final reports measuring their service impact.
Our Community Impact Areas include:
Healthy Community: Improving health and wellbeing for all.
- Nutrition & food security
- Mental health
- Maternal & child health
- Substance misuse
Youth Opportunity: Helping young people realize their full potential.
- Early education and childcare
- In- school, after- school & summer learning
- Literacy development
Financial Security: Creating a stronger financial future for every generation.
- Financial education and coaching
- Public benefits access
- Homelessness prevention & affordable housing
Grant Criteria
- Non-profits and public entities are eligible to apply for funding for one program or service.
- Only one application per organization, some exceptions may apply.
- Proposals representing partnerships or collaborations are welcome. A clear backbone or lead fiscal agent must be identified and be responsible for monitoring and reporting on outcomes.
- Applicants may apply for up to one year of funding.
- If your organization is currently receiving Community Impact grant funding, you are eligible to submit a new application if you have completed your mid-year grant report.
Scope of Application
- Nonprofits and public entities in Greater New Bedford are often in need of resources to continue, maintain, or expand their high-quality programs and services through operational support of programs.
- Operational support of programs includes funding to support staff salaries, associated benefits and taxes, supplies and materials of programs, and other direct and indirect costs as reasonable for the success of the program or service.
- UWGNB is seeking to support the most impactful existing programs and services in UWGNB’s impact areas of Healthy Community, Youth Opportunity, and Financial Security. See the Impact Areas section for more information about the targeted outcomes UWGNB is interested in funding.
- Proposals must directly align with UWGNB’s impact areas and must have the existing infrastructure to track specific program success and measurement aligned to impact outcomes (see below).
Grant Amount
- Maximum: $25,000, minimum: $10,000
Eligibility
- Non-profits and public entities are eligible to apply for one program or service. Only one application per organization.
- Proposals may come from collaborations and networks as well as standalone organizations. Collaborations are required to clearly identify a fiscal agent and an organizational lead responsible for reporting on outcomes.
- Proposed programs or service must benefit UWGNB’s service area of the city of New Bedford and the surrounding towns of Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Freetown, Marion, Mattapoisett, Rochester, and Wareham.
Requirements
- Completed Letter of Intent
- Completed Request for Proposal that meets criteria (by invitation)
- Participation in interview and/ or site visit, if required
Review Criteria
- Program Alignment with UWGNB impact areas. Applicants must aim to address at least one of the identified indicators in UWGNB’s Health Community, Youth Opportunity, or Financial Security (by invitation) impact areas.
- Applicants must properly project how many beneficiaries will achieve selected program indicator(s) and be equipped to report on their success in achieving their projected outcomes at the end of the grant period.
- Quality of Program. Based on the projected number of beneficiaries achieving program indicator(s) and other supporting evidence, the applicant makes a clear case for the effectiveness of the program.
- Partner credibility, leadership, and staff time: The applicant is credible and is willing to allot the appropriate amount of staff time (including leadership time) to achieve the application’s goals.
- Evaluation & Program Improvement: The applicant has a plan to evaluate their program or service and use that information to continuously improve the program or service.
- Budget: The budget is reasonable given the potential impact of the project. UWGNB funding is used appropriately and is an integral part of the budget.
- Program or Service Sustainability: The program or service has a track record of success in receiving grant funding. The funding for the program or service is diverse enough that sustainability of the program or service is not in question.
- Financial Health of Organization: The applicant has a healthy financial position as assessed through their organizational budget, audit, and financial statements.
How to Apply
Applications for 2025-2026 funding cycle has closed and grantees have been notified. Check back in early 2026 for information to apply for next year.
Reporting
Grantees are expected to submit a midyear and final report to UWGNB.
Reports will include:
- Demographic information about program participants: age, race, ethnicity, gender, income range, and service area.
- Any notable successes or stories in the program with a picture, if applicable
- Performance of the program or service as it relates to the selected indicators that the applicant projected (see below for additional detail)
- Any setbacks or challenges over the course of the grant period; opportunities to improve the program or service
- Other program outcomes, as specified by the applicant
- Plans to improve the program based on its prior year’s performance
- Detailed spending report & narrative
Program Name: Operating Support
Award Amount: $10,000
The BGC improves the development of children, ages 7 to 18, through specialized programming delivered by highly trained staff, athletic coaches and instructors. Their STEAM and athletic programs, combined with expanding health, wellness and nutrition services, fuel the overall health of more than 900 underserved New Bedford youth annually.
Program Name: Tutoring Program for Students Impacted by Homelessness & Poverty
Award Amount: $25,000
Caritas Communities' mission-driven goal is to provide well-maintained, safe homes where low-income people can live with dignity. Once housed, we help our residents preserve their tenancy and achieve stability, employability, health and well-being and social belonging.
Program Name: The Caring Network
Award Amount: $20,000
Caring Network provides free psycho-educational groups to children who have witnessed/experienced violence in their home, school or community. Groups help children, ages 4-14, learn about emotions, coping strategies, conflict resolution, self-esteem and safety. Group participation helps reduce feelings of isolation and understanding abuse is not their fault.
Program Name: Healing & Resiliency Program (HARP)
Award Amount: $25,000
The CAC of Bristol County provides a coordinated response throughout the county, to disclosures and allegations of child sexual abuse, severe physical abuse, commercial sexual exploitation/child trafficking, and witness to violence. We help children and families heal from trauma and we educate the community about prevention.
Program Name: Money Management Program
Award Amount: $25,000
Coastline's Money Management Program (MMP), serving 23 communities in Bristol County and three in Plymouth County, offers financial assistance through two main components: Bill Payer and Representative Payee.
Program Name: C4C College Mentors for New Bedford K-12 Students
Award Amount: $10,000
Coaching4Change (C4C) empowers college students to ignite change for the next generation. C4C hires college students for paid internships to serve as mentors, tutors, and role models in under-resourced communities. College Mentors provide critical support to understaffed schools and struggling students through in-school and summer programming.
Program Name: VITA- Free Tax Preparation
Award Amount: $25,000
CEDC will continue to provide the VITA (Volunteers in Tax Assistance) program. VITA brings tangible benefits to support financial stability for working families and low-income elders.
Program Name: Academic Excellence Program
Award Amount: $10,000
Dennison Center increases the educational attainment and personal development of at-risk adolescents and families by offering education, recreation, and intervention programs in a safe setting.
Program Name: New Bedford Equity Now: Sexual and Reproductive Health Clinic
Award Amount: $20,000
Health Imperatives provides culturally sensitive, confidential, and high-quality sexual and reproductive health services for 200 new low-income un-or under insured, vulnerable women and provides substance use disorder harm reduction, prevention and treatment services through our Sexual and Reproductive Health Services program in New Bedford.
Program Name: Recovery Support in Greater New Bedford
Award Amount: $20,000
Herren Project is a national nonprofit providing free treatment, recovery, and prevention resources for substance use disorder. They offer scholarships for recovery housing and peer recovery coaching, family support groups, and school-based prevention programs. This grant will support individual recovery services—including housing and coaching—in the Greater New Bedford area.
Program Name: Multi-lingual Basic Needs
Award Amount: $20,000
Case Managers provide a multitude of services to the immigrant and non-English speaking community of Greater New Bedford.
Program Name: Tutoring Program for Students Impacted by Homelessness & Poverty
Award Amount: $10,000
Early Intervention is a home-based program that provides services for children 0-3 who have a disability, developmental delay, or are at risk of delay. Services may include educational, nutritional, nursing, specialized therapies (occupational, physical, and speech), or help with sensory/feeding needs, to name a few.
Program Name: Student Mental Health and Wellness Services
Award Amount: $15,000
Nativity Prep is committed to providing counseling services to its students through a service agreement with North Star Learning Centers, Inc. These services include one-on-one counseling, support, and advocacy. Additionally, professional orientation and guidance is provided to teaching faculty and staff to support the mental health needs of students.
Program Name: Supporting Students for Academic and Life Success
Award Amount: $15,000
OSS added a full-time school counselor in 2022 to support student well-being and academic success with an emphasis on social-emotional and communication skills that align with the School's standard for social interaction. The current school counselor provides individual and group counseling and collaborates with teachers and parents.
Program Name: PACE YouthBuild
Award Amount: $25,000
The Blueprint to Financial Literacy is in it's 6th year and teaches our PACE YouthBuild members financial literacy skills, financial capability awareness, has members open traditional bank account and encourages a 20% weekly savings of their stipend to build financial stability. The grant provides a saving match, up to $1,000 upon graduation. Through helping our young people establish a baseline financial literacy, we begin to develop financial capability and the ability for financial stability in adulthood.
Program Name: Tutoring Program for Students Impacted by Homelessness & Poverty
Award Amount: $10,000
The "Tutoring Program for New Bedford Students Impacted by Homelessness and Poverty" is an after-school education support program that addresses student education equity and mitigates challenges to learning by empowering New Bedford youth to gain academic and social-emotional skills and access opportunities and resources to reach their school potential.
Program Name: Elevate LGBTQ+ Youth
Award Amount: $20,000
Elevate LGBTQ+ Youth provides comprehensive support for youth, families, and young adults. Our program aims to assist individuals in their personal journeys and family dynamics, ensuring they receive the necessary support to maintain relationships overall wellness and potentially prevent homelessness through a holistic approach.
Program Name: New Beginning Moms Do Care
Award Amount: $10,000
Program Name: New Bedford Women's Graduate Program
Award Amount: $20,000
Program Name: Roadmap to Financial Stability through Support and Education
Award Amount: $15,000
Turning Point is a social service agency that provides supportive services to individuals and families who are facing various life challenges and are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless Turning Point offers housing assistance, assistance with heat/utility bills, emergency food/clothing, baby items, employment information, financial literacy and referrals.
Program Name: Afterschool Learning Experiences
Award Amount: $10,000
At Y.O.U., youth ages 9-14 participate in afterschool programs that focus on both improving health and well-being through healthy eating and physical exercise, while helping young people realize their full potential through youth-led, hands-on, experiential learning.
Program Name: Mental Health & Family Engagement Project
Award Amount: $25,000
YWKids Program will initiate a Mental Health & Family Engagement Project designed to address the emotional well-being of participating children/youth while simultaneously strengthening the Psychological Health of their caregivers. Services will be provided by a Master's level Mental Health Clinician who'll work on challenges interfering with development.