Granite United Way Opens Responsive Funding Opportunity
Granite United Way is launching its responsive grant funding process. Requests for Qualifications (RFQ) went live on September 23, 2024.
Aligning with its Strategic Plan, Granite United Way will now be offering nonprofits an opportunity to access responsive funding three times per year with grants ranging from $1,000 - $10,000 each cycle.
“We’ve met with partners during the past year and their needs are different and often more immediate. Our volunteer leadership moved to change to an innovative and responsive funding model that will enable these partners to address immediate challenges. Our partners will have three opportunities each year to share those needs with our local, volunteer decision-makers,” said Patrick Tufts, President and CEO of Granite United Way. “We were intentional in this adjustment to better meet the needs of our partners and our community.”
Certified 501(c)3 organizations, or organizations with a fiscal sponsor, can apply for qualification status and apply for funding in all 7 of the regions Granite United Way serves. General grant funding is intended to support programs that enable individuals and communities to Learn, Earn and Be Healthy.
During its most recent funding cycle, Granite United Way funded 137 nonprofit organizations, 22 were new grassroots partners supporting underserved populations. Establishing a more equitable funding model continues to be a key component of the overall funding strategy.
“We are inspired by many of the partners we connected with over the past two years, learning about the changing needs of our community,” said Nichole Reimer, Chief Engagement Officer at Granite United Way. “United Ways were built to adjust to community needs and convene diverse voices to drive impact across our footprint.”
Local nonprofits are encouraged by this new funding model.
“Funding is a challenge. To reach out to individual donors, to reach out to foundations, it takes time and a lot of effort - it takes a lot to maintain an organization of 8 or 10 people. It helps when a grant application process is simple and straightforward. Granite United Way is doing that right now and understands the challenges somebody like our organization faces,” said Rick Minard, the Executive Director of Building Community in New Hampshire. “Granite United Way helps us connect with other people, get in front of business leaders, get in front of employees at those companies.”
“Granite United Way has been a dedicated funding partner of The Family Place for many years, and we really appreciate their hands-on approach to supporting our work,” says Stephanie Slayton, Executive Director of The Family Place. “As they adapt to the changing funding landscape, they’ve done a good job of keeping non-profit partners in the loop and explaining their process. We’re excited for new opportunities to partner through the updated and simplified granting system.”
"The change in the RFP process allows us to plan our programming better knowing funding decisions almost immediately," said Peter Christnacht, Executive Director at Copper Cannon. "As both the Development Director and the Executive Director, streamlining the application process and knowing whether it has been approved quickly is a huge help."
The timeline for the first RFP:
September 23, 2024: Registration and Request for Qualification (RFQ) opens with portal located here.
October 15, 2024: Request for Proposals (RFP) for the first of three funding cycles opens.
November 8, 2024: Request for Proposals closes.
Decisions by local Community Impact Committees (CICs) will be rendered in December and grant will be paid in full following approval.
Granite United Way will be offering technical assistance to organizations throughout the process. Nonprofits with questions or seeking technical assistance are encouraged to contact the lead in their region:
Central Region: Scoop Welch at scoop.welch@graniteuw.org
Greater Seacoast Region: Kerry Folkins at kerry.folkins@graniteuw.org
Merrimack County Region: Scoop Welch at scoop.welch@graniteuw.org
North Country Region: Nanci Carney at nanci.carney@graniteuw.org
Northern NH Region: Laura Boucher at laura.boucher@graniteuw.org
Southern Region: KR Epstein at kr.epstein@graniteuw.org
Upper Valley Region: Katie Berndsen at katie.berndsen@graniteuw.org