United Way of Hancock County’s new Financial Stability Initiative funding process has been established, and letters of intent are being accepted until Monday, December 11 at noon.
The Financial Stability Initiative’s purpose is to create financial health for residents of Hancock County by focusing on three strategies: workforce readiness, financial empowerment and youth investment. The Financial Stability Initiative will prioritize funding projects whose outcomes align with the three strategies and are shaped through the framework of collective impact. A collective impact framework includes cross-sector collaboration such as public, private, nonprofit, corporate, government, education and is led by a lead or backbone organization which identifies a common agenda, includes shared measurements, outlines mutually-reinforcing activities and provides evidence of a continuous communication plan among the organizations throughout the life of the grant award.
Applicants are advised to clearly illustrate how their proposed request will maximize other resources available in the community, avoid duplication of efforts and coordinate with related partnerships and coalitions in the community. For the first time, United Way will consider funding programs for up to 5 years. Additionally, the funding is open to all organizations that can show fiscal responsibility and proven outcomes. This includes nonprofits, schools, churches, businesses, corporations and government entities.
Instructions and the letter of intent form are available online at: http://liveunitedhancockcounty.org/finanicalstability.
To assist the community in establishing collaborative efforts, United Way will be hosting a Synergy Session on Thursday, November 16 from 1-5 p.m. at the Marathon Center for the Performing Arts. The event is free and open to the public. At the event, participants will have an opportunity to meet with other entities that have an interest in helping at-risk families improve their financial stability. To register for the event, go to http://liveunitedhancockcounty.org/synergy-session.
For questions about the letters of intent or the event, contact Beverly Phillips, community solutions director, at 419-423-1432 or Beverly.phillips@uwhancock.org.