Granite United Way Volunteers Announce Second Round of Responsive Funding

 

Aligning with its Strategic Plan, Granite United Way offers nonprofits an opportunity to access responsive funding three times per year with grants ranging from $1,000 - $10,000 each cycle. 

 

“Granite United Way volunteers truly leverage our unique ability to adapt to the changing needs of our community. Their thoughtful review of applications during our second round of responsive grant funding provided a deep insight on the immediate issues our nonprofit partners are facing,” said Nichole Martin Reimer, President and CEO of Granite United Way. “This streamlined opportunity allows the nonprofits across our regions to request up to $10,000 for critical needs. In addition to strategic investments earlier this year, we were able to immediately distribute over $322,000 to address those needs.”

 

In February, certified 501(c)3 organizations, or organizations with a fiscal sponsor, had a second opportunity to 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. 

 

 

• Local Community Impact Committee (CIC) members evaluated all applications and made funding recommendations to Granite United Way’s Board of Directors

• Over $322,000 to be distributed to local nonprofits

• Grant requests ranged from $1,000 - $10,000

• Nearly 29% of the organizations who applied received partial or full funding

 

Local Community Impact Committee volunteers are seeing critical needs across our community.

 

“Our committee had a chance to review the proposals and see where the available funds could go the furthest. This round of applicants demonstrated increased need for youth services, and we knew that was an area our investment could make a significant impact. We are committed to evaluating this process to provide our community with what it needs,” Justin Slattery, Granite United Way Board Member and CIC Member.

 

 

“Our volunteer Community Impact Committee members worked together to review these requests. We found ourselves leaning toward tangible, immediate impact for our nonprofits. We wanted to address issues like housing, food insecurity and youth needs. By offering the opportunity to apply for funding multiple times a year our nonprofit partners have increased flexibility in their requests.” Betsey Rhynhart, Vice President of Population Health at Concord Hospital and Granite United Way Board Member.

 

“Our team of volunteers asked ourselves how we could help the most people at this time. Having the opportunity to address immediate needs in our community has made a real impact, investing in services that help those who are unhoused, addressing food insecurity to those providing youth resources where the next generation are able to build critical leadership skills,” Tamara Roberge, Northern Region CIC Member.

 

“We were impressed with the quality of the grant proposals from our nonprofit partners, including several who had never applied for United Way funding before. Our Community Impact Committee was able to support some key priority areas and vulnerable populations being impacted by the current environment.” Tim Soucy, Granite United Way Board Member and Southern Region CIC Chair.

 

“It is rewarding to be part of this committee with the opportunity to make an impact in our community. This is a productive and collaborative process where we were able to really define some of the most immediate needs about community is facing.”  Anne M. Goodrich, Executive Director, Maynard House and CIC Member.

 

“This second round of grant funding gave us a real-time assessment of the some of the most critical needs across the North Country. Our Community Impact Committee volunteers had deep discussions about the impact our funding could make. There were applicants who were asking for very specific needs so we knew our funding would make a real impact,” Rusty Talbot, Founder of North Country Climbing Center and CIC & Granite United Way Board Member. 

 

“The move to providing nonprofits with immediate resources was the best way we could help address needs right now. Our region’s volunteers were able to focus on funding housing and food insecurity as well as an increased need in youth services. We saw that need and were able to put investments towards that,” Colby Gamester, Granite United Way Board Member and CIC Member.