Community Investment Grants

Community Investment Grants are Heart of Maine United Way’s primary vehicle for funding programs that meet our community goals.  HoMEUW funds programs that demonstrate positive changes in the lives of 1 in 4 individuals in Eastern Maine.

Highlights of our funding

  • Every three years, HoMEUW distributes allocations from the Community Fund to health and human service programs throughout our six-county service area; Hancock, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Somerset, Waldo, and Washington Counties.
  • Community volunteers review, score, and determine who will be funded. Volunteer to be a reviewer!
  • Programs can choose from a list of shared community indicators as their performance measures that will feed up to HoMEUW’s headline indicators, instead of creating individual program logic models as in past cycles.
  • The maximum grant per program, per year is $50,000. Nonprofit organizations can apply for more than one program to receive United Way funding.
  • Fully funding grant requests of the top scoring programs, when possible.

Opportunity 2028 Bold Goals & Outcomes

Applicants must demonstrate alignment with and report data every 6 months on one United Way Bold Goal:

Bold Goal #1: Meet basic needs and promote self-sufficiency for all
Our goal is to move 10,746 people out of poverty* by 2028.
*defined as 200% of federal poverty level

  • Outcome 1.1: Families and individuals have access to resources and assistance to address food insecurity
  • Outcome 1.2: Families and individuals obtain or maintain safe, affordable, stable housing
  • Outcome 1.3: Individuals have an effective support system when faced with violence or abuse
  • Outcome 1.4: Individuals have access to opportunities to improve financial stability and achieve self-sufficiency

Bold Goal #2: Prevent, treat and support recovery from Substance Use Disorder
Our goal is to eliminate deaths due to Substance Use Disorder by 2028.

  • Outcome 2.1: Increase access to the full spectrum of accessible and affordable treatment and recovery resources
  • Outcome 2.2: Increase access to prevention programming, youth programs to increase resiliency, and strategies to reduce stigma

Bold Goal #3: All children have quality early learning experiences
Our goal is to increase the percent of children reading proficiently at the end of third grade to 58% by 2028.

  • Outcome 3.1: Increase access to preschool and quality early childcare programs
  • Outcome 3.2: Parents and caregivers are informed and engaged in their child’s development
  • Outcome 3.3: K-3 children have access to before and after school activities
  • Outcome 3.4: Providers and professionals deliver quality educational experiences

Key Application Dates & Trainings

  • This funding round has closed. We will begin the funding process again in late Fall 2021.

Eligibility Criteria

The following eligibility criteria will continue to be required to receive HoMEUW funding:

  1. Not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, educational institution, or municipality conducting a health and human service program in Penobscot, Piscataquis, Hancock, Somerset, Waldo, or Washington counties.
  2. Active board of directors that meets with a quorum at least quarterly
  3. Stated mission and bylaws.
  4. Files Form 990 with the Internal Revenue Service annually
  5. Submission of appropriate Financial materials
  • Gross receipts of $500,000 or more = Annual Audit
  • Gross receipts of $25,000-$500,000 = Independent Review of Financial Statements from an external accountant OR Audit
  • Gross receipts of less than $25,000 = Compilation OR Independent Review OR Audit
  1. Funding requests cannot exceed 35% of the program budget.
  2. Funded partners are required to comply with HoMEUW’s agency agreement which includes stipulations on reporting, marketing and supporting the HoMEUW annual campaign etc.
  3. The Heart of Maine United Way Board of Directors has previously decided that the following types of programs are not eligible to receive United Way Community funding:
  • emergency disaster relief programs
  • adult residential care
  • programs that integrate structured religious activity in United Way funded services or condition receipt of United Way funded services on acceptance of, or participation in, inherently religious activities. Inherently religious activities include worship, prayer, or instruction.

All interested applicants will be required to complete a one-page letter of intent prior to the opening of the application process.  This will give HoMEUW staff an opportunity to ensure each applicant aligns with their chosen goal(s) and objective(s) and meets all funding eligibility requirements.

For more information or questions please contact us.