Annual Investment Process - Community Impact Fund
IMPORTANT INFO BELOW – PLEASE READ CAREFULLY…
Accessing the Application
To access the application please click HERE If you are currently funded by United Way HPE, please use your login and password. If you are applying for the first time, please create an account.
- Program Funding – (minimum funding request of $5,000)
United Way HPE has long funded programs delivered by not-for-profit charitable organizations in the community that move the needle on pressing social issues and conditions. This funding enhances an organization’s ability to implement a specific program that has measurable impact through proven outcomes, data and statistics.
Timeline
- Applications open – October 15, 2024
- Training Session – October 23, 2024
- Applications due – November 29, 2024
- Citizen Review – January & February 2025
- Interviews and written follow up Q&A with applicant agencies – February 2025
- United Way HPE Board Approval of funding – February 18, 2025
- Funding decisions emailed – end of February 2025
Funding will be for a one-year term.
Background
United Way Hastings & Prince Edward (HPE) is a highly successful and trusted fundraising organization that strives also to achieve meaningful, long-term improvements to the quality of life in our communities. In an effort to continue to help make fundamental changes to community conditions while continuing to provide support through annual fundraising campaigns, United Way HPE has three priority areas; Helping kids be all they can be, Moving from poverty to possibility and Building strong communities.
Each of these priorities is part of a larger strategy known as Community Impact (CI). Community Impact can be defined as making fundamental changes to community conditions, which includes, but is not limited to allocating funds through the annual fundraising campaign. Ultimately, it is about people and organizations coming together to create lasting measurable change.
The CI strategy HERE will be achieved by identifying the root causes of key local issues, developing strategies to address them, bringing together the funding and resources needed to get the job done, and finally, measuring the results.
Eligible Organizations
Every application organization must complete a Pre-Qualification as part of the online application to ensure compliance with criteria. Basic eligibility for United Way Hastings & Prince Edward includes, but is not limited to, the following.
- The agency must align with United Way Hastings & Prince Edward Community Impact Strategy and,
- The organization provides services to residents of Hastings County and/or Prince Edward County and,
- A volunteer Board of Directors governs the agency and,
- The agency provides audited annual financial statements (or a review engagement) and,
- The agency is sustainable, stable, and strong and,
- The organization complies with the Ontario Human Rights Code in its service delivery, employment practices and volunteer board leadership and,
- The organization aligns with United Way Hastings & Prince Edwards mission, vision and values statements and with UWHPE’s guiding principles and,
- The organization must be a qualified donee under Canada Revenue Agency – (To learn what a qualified donee is click HERE)
United Way Hastings & Prince Edward does NOT fund:
- For-profit organizations
- Programs that include the advancement of religion in the delivery of United Way funded programs or services
- Organizations that do not comply with the Ontario Human Rights Code in its service delivery,
employment practices and volunteer board leadership. Organizations must not
weaken or limit the ability to exercise rights legally protected in Canada. - Organizations that are primarily political in nature
- Foundations, unions, professional associations or organizations that are primarily fundraisers
- The arts
- Medical research
- Costs for major capital equipment or expenses that relate to the construction of new buildings, renovations to existing buildings or the purchase of office equipment or furniture that does not have a direct relation to program delivery
- Hospitals or medical treatment programs
- Educational institutions and organizations, including school boards, schools, universities, colleges and parent-teacher associations
Please review the Community Impact Fund Investment Guidelines HERE for further information regarding eligibility and investment criteria.
Applications must address one of United Way HPE’s three priority pillars:
- Helping kids be all they can be,
- Moving people from poverty to possibility,
- Build strong & healthy communities
United Way HPE has identified specific long and short term outcomes within each pillar. Successful programs must directly address the long term outcome and one of the short term outcomes and provide directly related strategies that impact the outcomes. Please review the detailed Guidance Letters for each pillar HERE
Process
All applications that are completed and submitted on time will be reviewed by United Way HPE staff before being forwarded to a citizen review committee. Citizen Review teams (community volunteers), guided by United Way HPE staff and using standard review tools will:
- Review and evaluate submissions, and
- Make funding recommendations to the Board of Directors of United Way HPE
United Way HPE Board of Directors has final approval of all funding decisions and reserves the right to reject any proposals. For a detailed timeline of the process, please see the Community Impact Fund Investment Guidelines.
Completing the Application
A detailed agency training manual that will guide agencies through the application process can be accessed HERE The application is only available through the e-CIMPACT system. A training session will be held in the fall, please check back here for the schedule once finalized.
Training Schedule
United Way HPE hosted a training session on Wednesday, October 23rd, 2024. This session reviewed the Community Impact Strategy and priority focus areas. The session provided agencies an opportunity to ask questions about the funding application process and a brief introduction and orientation to the e-CIMPACT software system.
For the 2024 Application Training recording please watch here – 2024 Application Training Video
For inquiries, please email klalonde@unitedwayhpe.ca
