Community Impact Grant Portal Now Open: Investing Donor Dollars with Purpose
When you make a gift to United Way of Northern New York, you’re doing more than making a donation. You’re placing your trust in a longstanding organization committed to investing your gift through a robust, transparent, and community-driven process.
Every gift, no matter the amount, represents an expression of trust that United Way will steward those dollars wisely and invest them where they can make the greatest difference.
That responsibility is one we take seriously.
We are pleased to announce that the 2027 Community Impact Grant application portal is officially open, marking the beginning of another community-driven process to invest donor dollars in programs that strengthen lives across Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence Counties.
Our grantmaking process reflects our commitment to responsible stewardship by incorporating multiple levels of review and meaningful community leadership before funding decisions are made. Organizations seeking Community Impact Grant funding are asked to demonstrate not only the need for their programs, but also how they will measure success, collaborate with community partners, responsibly manage resources, and advance meaningful outcomes for the people they serve.
Once applications are submitted, trained community volunteers representing diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives carefully review and evaluate each eligible proposal using a standardized scoring process designed to ensure fairness and consistency. Volunteers then meet in review teams to share perspectives, consider emerging community needs and trends, and reach consensus on funding recommendations. Those recommendations are presented to the United Way Board of Directors for final approval.
This community-driven approach is one of the defining characteristics of United Way’s grantmaking process. It reflects our belief that the best funding decisions are informed by the people who know our communities best.
It means the priorities that shape our investments are informed not by one voice, but by many. It ensures that funding decisions reflect the collective wisdom of community members who understand local needs and share a commitment to creating lasting impact.
For our nonprofit partners, this process provides a fair, transparent, and objective opportunity to compete for funding. For our donors, it provides something equally important: confidence. Confidence that every dollar entrusted to United Way is invested with care. Confidence that funding decisions are informed by measurable outcomes, responsible stewardship, and the insight of local volunteers who understand our communities. And confidence that their generosity is creating lasting change across Northern New York.
Applications for 2027 Community Impact Grants will be accepted through Tuesday, September 1, 2026. The opening of the application period marks the first step in a months-long process that will ultimately guide how donor investments are distributed to strengthen lives throughout Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence Counties in 2027.
Organizations interested in applying are encouraged to begin the process early and carefully review the eligibility requirements, funding priorities, application materials, and updated Final Report before preparing their submission.
Complete information, including access to the application portal, is available here:
At United Way of Northern New York, we believe our responsibility extends beyond raising funds. We are entrusted with investing those resources wisely, transparently, and in partnership with the communities we serve.
Together, we are not simply funding programs. We are investing in a stronger Northern New York.