United Way for Southeastern Michigan is committed to delivering the greatest impact in our community for every dollar raised. We know the investments we make in the vital services our partners provide are essential to helping those in need across the region. As demand for basic needs and educational supports funding has increased substantially and resources are limited, we are changing our process for the Spring 2024 season. To address immediate community need, maximize impact, improve efficiency and reduce decline rates, we will pursue a targeted investment strategy and will not issue an open RFP.
The Detroit Financial Well-being Innovation Challenge calls on everyone – from nonprofit organizations and community groups, to corporations and financial institutions, to those who know what it’s like to face these barriers firsthand – to submit their ideas and lend their support.
The Detroit Financial Well-being Innovation Challenge will provide seed funding and technical assistance to test and refine these ideas over several years, with active community involvement along the way. The challenge will prioritize ideas that create change at a structural or systemic level so that Detroiters can thrive financially. Over the course of the challenge, successful applicants will launch their ideas into functioning programs and initiatives.
Don’t see a great fit? Check back here to see new opportunities.
To prepare, be sure to create an organizational account at SurveyMonkey Apply; complete your Organization and Financial Profile to stay up to date on all upcoming funding opportunities and resources; and click here to learn how to create your SMA account.
In conjunction with Global Volunteer Month in April 2024, the United Way Engagement Team has developed a framework to provide ten $1,000 mini-grants that fund volunteer project supplies to nonprofit and community organizations throughout Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.
This mini-grant program has few restrictions and requirements to remove some of the common barriers between organizations and funding. Overall, we hope that the Volunteer Project Mini-Grant Program helps the organization build brand recognition in the community and mobilize groups to volunteer, give and advocate in partnership with United Way for Southeastern Michigan.
The Racial Equity Fund endeavors to provide financial support in the form of flexible, unrestricted and general operating grants with the intention of prioritizing funding solutions by leaders who are in close proximity to the opportunity/need the organization is trying to address.
This program will offer grants to Oakland County non-profit organizations, school districts, public-school academies, and Oakland County Cities, Villages, and Townships (CVTs) delivering Out of School time academic and social emotional learning services with a goal of increasing the capacity of these organizations to meet this growing demand for services.
This program will offer grants to Oakland County nonprofit organizations delivering mental/behavioral health services and associated support services with a goal of increasing the capacity of these organizations to meet this growing demand for services.
United Way for Southeastern Michigan is opening a highly competitive RFP process to fund eligible 501(c)3 nonprofits based in Washtenaw County with established programing in the areas of emergency food, homeless services, and/or benefit navigation support, inclusive of Medicaid enrollment services. Organizations are invited to apply for funding ranging from $15,000 to $40,000 for a 6-month grant period. The 2024 Washtenaw County Responsive Basic Needs investment process is an open call for applications from both potential and existing funded partners of United Way who meet the eligibility criteria and funding priorities laid out in the application.
Applications are due no later than 5 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 18.
The Washtenaw County Racial Equity Fund will provide financial support and technical assistance to BIPOC-led organizations through operational unrestricted grants. The fund is designed to empower BIPOC-led organizations to provide programs and projects that work toward eliminating racial disparities in pursuit of more equitable and just communities across Southeastern Michigan.
This winter, $200,000 is available in grants ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 directly for organizations with BIPOC executive leadership. Over the last two years, 49 organizations were awarded.
Organizations must be based in Washtenaw County and serve Washtenaw County residents.
For over a century, United Way for Southeastern Michigan has been tackling the most pressing challenges faced by our community, including those related to children and families, health, and overall stability. SEMPQIC (Southeast Michigan Perinatal Quality Improvement Coalition) is a coalition that aims to reduce infant mortality and support the perinatal system of care in the region. They are developing strategies to address the life-course and social determinants of health. According to United Way for Southeastern Michigan’s ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) report, 39% of households across our region struggle to afford basic needs such as quality childcare, food, housing, and utilities. Persistent disparities for ALICE communities can also lead to communities of color being disproportionately impacted by infant and maternal deaths. Systemic injustices have greatly diminished the opportunities for healthy pregnancies, births, and perinatal health, particularly in Black and Brown communities. United Way is proud to partner with SEMPQIC as their fiduciary and join the fight against preventable infant and maternal deaths, working toward healthy moms and healthier starts for our community’s youngest and most vulnerable.
Improving equity, reducing disparate outcomes, and ensuring healthy births for Michigan families is at the center of all efforts supported by the Michigan Perinatal Quality Collaborative (MI PQC)* and the Region 10 PQC. Achieving these goals is not feasible without the input and feedback from families, nor without the efforts of community organizations and programs that address local needs and provide care and support for families in our respective region.
In October 2023, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services released the newest version of its strategic plan for improving birth outcomes. This plan, Advancing Healthy Births: An Equity Plan for Michigan Families and Communities*, is written to be actionable and meant to be used by community partners, local stakeholders and all individuals working to improve birth outcomes for Michigan families.
To facilitate alignment with the Advancing Healthy Births plan and encourage collaborative efforts with the MI PQC and individual RPQCs, mini awards will be available through a request for proposal process. Community-based organizations and local programs within the Region whose efforts are focused on improving birth outcomes, reducing health disparities, and addressing root causes of these disparities, will be eligible to apply.
The Region 10 PQC is expecting to award an estimated 30 mini grants in an amount between $25,000 to $100,000 per award. Interested organizations and/or programs will need to complete the application to be considered for a mini grant. Mini grants will be awarded to successful applicants by February 29, 2024, and all funds will need to be spent by September 30, 2024. Additional information can be found below.
*For more information on the MI PQC, individual RPQCs, and the Advancing Healthy Births: An Equity Plan for Michigan Families and Communities, please visit the MDHHS Division of Maternal & Infant Health website: www.michigan.gov/MIH.
Applications are due no later than 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 23.
United Way for Southeastern Michigan opened a competitive RFP process to fund partners engaged in services that strengthen and expand access to our region’s safety net.
United Way for Southeastern Michigan opened a competitive RFP process to fund partners engaged in educational wraparound services that create thriving children by providing integrated student supports and expanded learning time opportunities.
The United Way for Southeastern Michigan is opening a competitive RFP process to fund partners already engaged in advocacy efforts impacting households living below the ALICE Threshold, reducing barriers to services and increasing equity or supporting voter access and engagement. The 2023-24 Policy and Advocacy Grant investment process is an open call for applications from both potential and existing funded partners.