how to apply

Community Support Grants

Beginning January 28, 2026, United Way invites Letters of Inquiry from applicants whose goals are aligned with our vision of moving Lane County communities from surviving to thriving. Community Support Grants can be used to deliver programs, sustain or increase organizational capacity, or enhance collaborative partnerships focused on a mutual goal. We welcome requests for general operating support.  

Page Overview: Eligibility | Funding Period & Amounts | Reporting | Priority Populations | Impact Areas | Questions | To Apply | FAQ

Applicant Eligibility 

Applicants must provide services in Lane County, Oregon and have 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, be classified as a public entity, or have a qualified fiscal sponsor (i.e. a sponsoring tax-exempt organization). Collaborative projects involving multiple partners are acceptable; the collaborative must designate an agency as the Lead Applicant. Agencies may only submit one Letter of Inquiry for a Community Support Grant, unless they are also serving as the Lead Applicant for a collaborative project in addition to their individual agency project. In that case, they may submit up to two Letters of Inquiry (one as an individual agency, and one for the collaborative project).  

For this funding opportunity, United Way will accept applications from new organizations, and from organizations who have previously received United Way funding. Organizations who were funded in the most recent investment cycle (2023-2026) must have any outstanding reports submitted before applying in order to be considered eligible.  

Funding Period and Amounts  

Individual requests between $5,000 and $20,000 per year will be considered. The funding period will be July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028, subject to annual review after one year.  

Reporting Requirements 

Grant recipients will provide a brief report within 30 days of the conclusion of each year of the grant period.  

Priority Populations 

For this funding opportunity, United Way of Lane County will prioritize proposals that serve the following communities: 

  • People of color and Native and Indigenous communities 

  • LGBTQIA2S+ populations 

  • People living with physical and / or cognitive disabilities  

  • People living in rural areas of Lane County 

  • ALICE households (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed), or people navigating poverty 

Impact Areas 

Due to the limited amount of funding available, United Way of Lane County – and the panel of community volunteers who will review and make decisions about funding requests – seek to carefully align successful grant applications with United Way’s priority areas of impact. Please review this section closely to learn more about these local impact areas and determine in advance if your proposal might be a good fit with United Way’s strategic objectives. 

For this round of grant funding, applicants will be asked to select one of the following Impact Areas to apply under: Healthy Community, Youth Opportunity, or Community Resiliency. Funding will be prioritized for applicants and projects working toward one or more of the outcomes listed below within their selected Impact Area:  

Healthy Community: 

United Way of Lane County improves health and well-being for children and families in Lane County by connecting people to the resources they need to lead safe, healthy lives. From access to basic needs like food and health care to building greater financial stability, we work across sectors to ensure that everyone in Lane County can flourish.  

Community Support Grant funding in this Impact Area will be prioritized for projects working toward one of the following long-term outcomes:  

  • People in Lane County have reliable access to nutritious, culturally supportive food.  

  • People in Lane County have their basic needs – including access to stable housing, healthcare, and affordable childcare – consistently met.   

  • Pregnant people across Lane County have access to pre- and post-partum support like doulas, lactation consultants, and home-based services. 

Youth Opportunity: 

United Way of Lane County creates pathways to success for young people to thrive. By investing in childcare, early learning and literacy, parenting education, and family engagement, we ensure that every child in Lane County has the opportunity to reach their full potential.   

Community Support Grant funding in this Impact Area will be prioritized for projects working toward one of the following outcomes:  

  • Parents, caregivers, and providers in Lane County are equipped with the knowledge and tools to support local children's development through accessible parent support programs.  

  • Lane County children are supported by culturally specific in- and after-school programs that reflect their languages, values, and traditions. 

Community Resiliency: 

United Way of Lane County helps Lane County communities prepare for, prevent, and respond to big challenges, from emergency response to disaster relief. In times of crisis, we bring local leaders, neighbors, and resources together to raise funds and take action. And because we know that resilient communities recover from emergencies more quickly and effectively, we help build stronger local connections – before, during, and after disaster – to sustain momentum through long-term recovery. 

Community Support Grant funding in this Impact Area will be prioritized for projects working toward one of the following outcomes:  

  • Lane County human service providers have emergency response plans for their organization in place and are empowered to take active roles in crisis response and recovery. 

  • Lane County communities receive timely access to emergency relief, housing, food, and support during and after a crisis.   

  • Emergency and disaster planning efforts intentionally include the voices, needs, and leadership of historically marginalized communities to ensure inclusive and culturally relevant responses. 

Questions  

Two virtual information session / Q&As regarding this funding opportunity will be held on:  

  • Info Session #1: January 12 2026, 10am – 11:30am: Register here

  • Info Session #2: January 21 2026, 1pm – 2:30pm: Register here 

Recordings will be posted on this page following each session.  

You may also reference our Frequently Asked Questions section. To see a list of past Support Grant recipients, please click here. Please reach out to community@unitedwaylane.org with any additional questions. 

To Apply 

Our online grant application portal, e-cImpact, will open for submissions on Wednesday, January 28. All Letters of Inquiry must be submitted through e-cImpact by midnight on Monday, February 23.  

If you do not already have an Agency Profile in e-cImpact, you will need to create one and have it approved by United Way staff prior to completing your application. Please allow 3-5 days for your Agency Profile to be approved.  

If you would like to prepare responses prior to submitting them in e-cImpact, a PDF of the application questions and scoring rubric will be available to download here on Wednesday, January 28.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why does United Way invest in Community Support and Community Transformation Grants? 

A: For almost 80 years, United Way has been uniquely positioned, and trusted, to see the bigger picture of what local communities need, then work to connect folks across our landscape, bringing people and resources together to move Lane County communities from surviving to thriving. One way we do this is by strategically investing grant awards into local Lane County agencies and organizations who serve our most vulnerable communities, from providing basic needs to creating long-term solutions to big, systemic challenges. 

Q: Who is eligible to apply?   

A: Applicants that meet our eligibility criteria, including 501c3 nonprofit organizations, school districts, and community-based organizations working with a fiscal sponsor are welcome to submit a Letter of Interest (LOI). 

Q: When are Letters of Inquiry due?

A: Letters of Inquiry (LOIs) for both Community Support and Community Transformation Grants are due by 11:59pm on Monday, February 23. Organizations invited to submit a full proposal will receive a Request for Proposal (RFP) in March. 

Q: When will grants be made?

A: Grant recipients will be announced in June 2026, and funding will begin on July 1, 2026.

Q: How much money are you investing in Community Support and Transformation Grants?  

A: As a community-led, and community-funded, nonprofit organization, United Way of Lane County raises dollars from donors across Lane County to invest in our local grantmaking efforts. This number fluctuates from year to year and is dependent on factors like donor commitments, economic conditions, new or emerging community investment strategies, and more.  

This page will be updated in early 2026 when the total amount of funds available for this next grant cycle is confirmed. 

Generous gifts made by United Way donors are combined with contributions from local friends, neighbors, workplaces, and partners across Lane County. To learn more and give today, please visit www.unitedwaylane.org/donate.  

Q: May we apply for multiple United Way grants in this cycle, e.g. a Community Support Grant and a Community Transformation Grant? 

A: Yes – a single applicant may submit one Letter of Interest (LOI) for each grant program – Community Support and Community Transformation. An applicant may submit up to two LOIs for the Community Support Grant only if they are serving as the Lead Applicant for a collaborative project (one LOI for their independent project, and one LOI for the collaborative project). An applicant may only serve as the Lead Applicant for one Transformation Grant LOIs but may be listed as a collaborating partner on multiple Transformation Grant LOIs. 

Q: How will proposals be evaluated?   

A: Community volunteers lead our grant review and decision-making process. Specifically, volunteer reviewers will be assigned to a panel and will score Letters of Interest (LOIs) based on a rubric. They will then meet to discuss their scores and present a recommendation of who should be invited to submit a full proposal (RFP) to the United Way of Lane County Community Investment Steering Committee. This process will be repeated after the RFP with the same panels of reviewers. After reviewing all of the panel recommendations, the Community Investment Steering Committee will submit a recommendation of funded organizations to the Board of Directors for final approval. 

Q: Can applicants access the scoring rubric?  

A: Yes. Scoring rubrics will be available to applicants when the Letters of Interest (LOIs) and full proposals (RFPs) have been posted.

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