Nonprofit HQ

The funds we raise are distributed to a network of highly-vetted local nonprofits – a process which engages dozens of community volunteers to help ensure funds are invested wisely and yield results that matter.

Once funded, United Way holds each of its nonprofit partners accountable to achieving specific outcomes. For further support, we offer regular workshops for organizational and program development, as well as training about our funding priorities and program evaluation process.

WHAT TYPES OF NONPROFIT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ARE FUNDED BY UNITED WAY?

Donor contributions to the United Way Community Fund are invested in specific, direct service programs that align to one of our six priority outcomes within the areas of education, income, and health.

WHAT QUALIFICATIONS ARE NECESSARY TO APPLY FOR UNITED WAY FUNDING?

To be considered for a program grant from United Way, nonprofit organizations must have a physical presence in our four-county service area and meet our funding eligibility criteria.

HOW DOES A NONPROFIT APPLY FOR UNITED WAY FUNDING?

United Way of the Coastal Empire invites eligible nonprofits serving Chatham, Bryan, Effingham, and Liberty Counties to propose programs for funding consideration through its 2021 Community Fund. Proposals should specifically address emerging or growing community needs as a result of COVID-19, and/or inequitable access or outcomes in our priority areas of education, health or financial stability. Interested organizations should review eligibility requirements and instructions.

HOW DOES UNITED WAY MAKE ITS GRANT FUNDING DECISIONS?

United Way Community Investments staff facilitates an outcome-based evaluation process that employs dozens of trained community volunteers to serve as grant evaluators, which is overseen by a standing committee of United Way’s Board of Directors. Decisions are based on the merit of organizational and program performance and the resources available for investment.

Support your grant request, program development, and communications with reliable data and statistics about health and human service needs in our community:

Census.gov

Federal census data

Coastal Georgia Indicators Coalition

Community dashboards and health, economic, education and quality of life indicators aligning with the Chatham County Blueprint strategic plan

County Health Rankings

County-by-county health and related social indicators, data and rankings

Get Georgia Reading

With a focus on factors that affect childhood literacy, data maps of academic, economic, health and social indicators by county, census tract, and school

Kids Count (Annie E. Casey Foundation)

Social, health, and economic indicators of child well-being

Prosperity Now

Foundation Directory Online

How does it work?

United Way of the Coastal Empire continues to put resources into the community’s hands through access to the Foundation Directory Online. There are two ways to access the FDO; the most efficient and robust of which is in-person. You can schedule an appointment for any time between 8:30 am and 5 pm by emailing [email protected] or [email protected].

If you are unable to use the FDO in person, please consider Candid’s free, remote access to the Foundation Directory Online, which was recently extended through 2021! The extended remote access will look different from earlier remote access in 2020 and early 2021, though. First, users are getting an upgrade: personal accounts! Using the Foundation Directory Online remotely in 2021 will require an FDO Essential account. Not to worry, this is created free of charge when you access it through our Nonprofit HQ page.

The key difference though between previous remote use, and what remote use will look like going forward is the Day Pass. The FDO Essential Day Pass enables a remote user to access the Foundation Directory Online, for 24 continuous hours. Once the 24 hours have expired, the user will be able to remotely access the Foundation Directory Online after 30 days have passed.

Please follow the steps below to ensure you continue to have remote access to the FDO.

1. Register with our site here by entering a unique username and your email
2. Follow the prompts in the email to set a password
3. Go back to our Nonprofit HQ and click this link to sign in
4. This will bring you to the FDO Essential homepage
5. Create an FDO Essential Account as prompted
6. Once you are logged in, the 24-hour window begins, and the timer will be displayed at the top of the screen.

Please remember, you will create 2 accounts:
one for our Nonprofit HQ & one for FDO Essential