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United Way of New York City

Annual Giving
$68.5M
Grant Range
$50K - $3.0M

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United Way of New York City

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $68,535,484 (2023 tax year)
  • Number of Awards: 185 grants (recent year)
  • Geographic Focus: New York City (five boroughs)
  • EIN: 13-2617681
  • Partner Network: 650+ community-based organisations

Contact Details

Website: https://unitedwaynyc.org/

Procurement Inquiries: procurement@uwnyc.org

General: Information available through website contact form

Overview

United Way of New York City is a prominent nonprofit organisation dedicated to helping low-income New Yorkers make ends meet and lead self-sufficient lives. The organisation distributes substantial grant funding—$68.5 million in 185 grants in a recent year—through strategic partnerships with over 650 community-based organisations across all five boroughs. Under the leadership of President and CEO Grace C. Bonilla, the first Latina to lead the organisation, UWNYC has focused its grantmaking on creating lasting impact through four priority pillars: health equity, education equity, mental health for systems-involved individuals, and food and benefits access. The organisation channels resources by "uniting government, private, and public partners in support of community-driven solutions," positioning itself as a bridge between funders and frontline service providers.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Programme (HPNAP)

  • Funded by New York State Department of Health
  • Supports 380+ emergency food programmes
  • Provides annual food and operations support grants to Emergency Food Pantries and soup kitchens
  • Capacity building support includes reimbursement of operational costs and equipment grants

Emergency Food and Shelter Programme (EFSP)

  • Federal grant programme administered by UWNYC
  • Supports emergency food, shelter, rental and utility arrears assistance
  • Organisations selected by NYC EFSP Local Board

Emergency Assistance and Community Needs (EACN) Fund

  • Emergency response funding for urgent community needs
  • Competitive grants of $50,000 awarded to grassroots community organisations
  • Rolling activation based on emergency situations

Atlas Workforce Programme

  • $1.5 million partnership grant with The Fortune Society
  • Community violence intervention for adult men at highest risk
  • Transitional employment and wraparound services
  • Funded through NYC Department of Youth and Community Development

Atlas HOPE Initiative

  • $3 million investment
  • Serves men at highest risk of engaging in community violence
  • Addresses persistent patterns of rearrest
  • Provides housing, employment, and healthcare support

Choose Healthy Life Partnership

  • Multi-million dollar health equity initiative
  • Church-based health navigation in Black communities
  • Serves 30 churches across New York City and State
  • Provides health screenings, vaccinations, and wellness programmes

Neighbourhood Histories Plaque Project

  • Cultural heritage documentation initiative
  • Identifies and elevates culturally significant sites in marginalised neighbourhoods
  • Partners coordinate citywide community engagement

Priority Areas

UWNYC focuses on four strategic pillars:

  1. Health Equity: Addressing root causes of health disparities in Black and Brown communities through programmes like Choose Healthy Life; expanding access to screenings, vaccinations, and preventative care

  2. Education Equity: Supporting child literacy initiatives and educational programmes that promote economic mobility

  3. Justice & Opportunity: Criminal justice reform initiatives including community violence intervention, reentry support, and addressing cycles of trauma and incarceration

  4. Food & Benefits Access: Operating the largest network of emergency food programmes in NYC; connecting low-income New Yorkers to SNAP and other public benefits; ensuring dignified access to nutritious food

As Grace Bonilla explains, "The mission has always been steady: we want New Yorkers to thrive. What has changed is the needs of New Yorkers, and we have been at the forefront of addressing both emerging and longstanding policy needs."

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not publicly documented, UWNYC's grantmaking is strategically focused on the four pillars above. The organisation operates primarily through programmatic partnerships rather than open general operating grants to all organisations.

Governance and Leadership

President and CEO: Grace C. Bonilla

Grace Bonilla is the first Latina President and CEO of United Way of New York City. As a lifelong New Yorker, her work "has always been about channeling the full force of this city by uniting government, private, and public partners in support of community-driven solutions." She serves on multiple city commissions including the Race Equity Advisory Board and has served on mayoral transition committees.

On the organisation's approach to dignity, Bonilla stated: "Dignity means that our neighbors get food that's nutritious to them," reflecting the organisation's evolved, equity-focused approach to service delivery.

Board Co-Chair: Samir Gandhi, Partner and Global Practice Lead for Capital Markets Group at Sidley Austin LLP

Board Members (Selected recent appointments):

  • Chris Canty, ESPN Radio Host & New York Giants Alumni
  • Laurinda Martins, Partner at Fried Frank
  • Christine Sobhani, Senior Partner at Kingsley Gate
  • Kate Woolley, IBM Ecosystem General Manager
  • Carolyn Bidwell, Brookfield Asset Management
  • Felix V. Matos Rodriguez, Ph.D., Chancellor, City University of New York
  • Tynnetta McIntosh, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
  • Anish Melwani, LVMH North America
  • Yesenia Scheker Izquierdo, KPMG LLP
  • Karyn L. Twaronite, Ernst & Young LLP

The board includes senior leaders from major financial, legal, and corporate institutions, reflecting UWNYC's role as a connector between the private sector and community organisations.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Important Note: United Way of New York City does not have an open, rolling public application process for general grants. Most grants are awarded through:

  1. Invitation-Only Partnerships: For major programme initiatives like Atlas and Choose Healthy Life, UWNYC identifies and selects partner organisations based on programme criteria and organisational capacity

  2. Request for Proposals (RFPs): UWNYC periodically issues specific RFPs for particular programmes or initiatives. All RFPs are posted at unitedwaynyc.org/procurement-bid-opportunities/

  3. Emergency Assistance and Community Needs (EACN) Fund: Organisations do NOT apply for EACN Fund grants. UWNYC identifies and selects partners that meet eligibility criteria to ensure rapid response to emergencies

  4. State/Federal Programmes: For programmes like HPNAP and EFSP, UWNYC administers grants on behalf of government funders, with selection processes governed by those funding sources

To Stay Informed:

  • Sign up for notifications at unitedwaynyc.org/procurement-bid-opportunities/
  • Contact procurement@uwnyc.org with questions about upcoming opportunities

Procurement Principles: UWNYC emphasises "promoting fair and open competition," procuring "high-quality products and services on schedule," and meeting community needs through "culturally relevant, equity-focused services and programming."

Getting on Their Radar

Network Affiliation: UWNYC works with 650+ community-based organisations across NYC. Organisations already providing services in UWNYC's priority areas (health equity, education, justice & opportunity, food access) are more likely to be considered for partnerships.

Government Partnerships: Many of UWNYC's grants are tied to government funding streams (NYC DYCD, NYS Department of Health, federal HRSA grants). Organisations with strong government relationships or capacity to manage government-funded programmes align well with UWNYC's model.

Eligibility Baseline: Based on EACN Fund criteria, UWNYC typically requires partners to be registered 501(c)(3) organisations with at least two years in operation, in good standing with an active Board of Directors, current insurance coverage (general business, workers' compensation), and current on financial reporting.

Programme-Specific Fit: Partnerships show UWNYC favours organisations with:

  • Deep community roots and cultural competence (grassroots CBOs)
  • Specialised expertise in specific populations (e.g., The Fortune Society's criminal justice focus)
  • Capacity for community engagement and trust-building
  • Ability to deliver "culturally relevant, equity-focused services"

Strategic Relationships: UWNYC positions itself as a convener of "government, private, and public partners." Building relationships with UWNYC staff at sector events, through government partnership channels, or via introductions from existing partner organisations may increase visibility.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines vary significantly by programme:

  • Emergency response grants (EACN Fund): Rapid deployment during crises, with identification and funding happening within weeks
  • RFP-based opportunities: Timelines specified in each RFP (typically 1-2 months from submission deadline to award notification based on comparable United Way chapters)
  • Major programme partnerships: Longer lead times involving strategic planning, often developed over months in partnership with government funders

Notification methods are not publicly specified but likely include direct email/phone contact to awarded organisations.

Success Rates

Specific success rate data is not publicly available. However, the organisation's selective grantmaking approach focuses on strategic partnerships rather than broad distribution of small grants.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly documented. Given the invitation-only and RFP-based nature of most grants, reapplication depends on when new opportunities in an organisation's area of work are announced.

Application Success Factors

Since UWNYC operates primarily through strategic partnerships and invitation-based grantmaking rather than competitive open applications, success factors focus on organisational positioning:

1. Alignment with Strategic Pillars

Grace Bonilla emphasises UWNYC is "committed to the four pillars that we believe can really make New Yorkers thrive, which is health equity, education equity, mental health for those that are systems involved, and our food and benefits program." Organisations must demonstrate clear alignment with at least one pillar.

2. Equity-Focused and Culturally Relevant Programming

UWNYC explicitly seeks "culturally relevant, equity-focused services and programming." Partnerships prioritise:

  • Serving Black and Brown communities facing systemic disparities
  • Community-driven solutions with authentic community engagement
  • Programmes led by people with lived experience (e.g., Fortune Society's model)

As Bonilla states: "This is a true opportunity to build a more just and equitable city where every New Yorker can see themselves in the fabric of the city, know they belong and that the barriers that could rob them of their agency are acknowledged and they are being dismantled."

3. Operational Capacity and Financial Stability

Minimum requirements include:

  • 501(c)(3) status with at least 2 years operation
  • Active Board of Directors
  • Current insurance coverage
  • Up-to-date financial reporting

For larger partnerships, capacity to manage substantial government-funded programmes is essential.

4. Partnership Orientation

UWNYC sees itself as a "convener" bringing together multiple sectors. Organisations that can collaborate with government agencies, demonstrate partnership experience, and work within multi-stakeholder initiatives are favoured. The Atlas partnership with Fortune Society and NYC DYCD exemplifies this collaborative model.

5. Evidence of Community Trust

The Choose Healthy Life programme demonstrates UWNYC's emphasis on trusted community institutions. Organisations with established community presence, cultural competence, and deep relationships in the neighbourhoods they serve are prioritised.

6. Focus on Systems Change

Under Bonilla's leadership, UWNYC aims to "drive lasting, systemic change." Applications that demonstrate impact on root causes rather than only providing services—such as the Atlas programme addressing "persistent patterns of rearrest"—align with organisational priorities.

7. Responsiveness to Emerging Needs

EACN Fund deployment shows UWNYC's agility. Organisations that can rapidly scale to meet urgent community needs while maintaining quality may be tapped for emergency funding.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Strategic positioning is more important than a strong application: UWNYC primarily works through invitation and strategic partnerships. Focus on building organisational capacity, government relationships, and visibility in your sector rather than waiting for open RFPs

  • Government funding partnerships are key: Many UWNYC grants flow from city, state, and federal sources. Organisations with capacity to manage government-funded programmes and existing relationships with agencies like NYC DYCD are well-positioned

  • Equity lens is non-negotiable: Every communication and programme description must demonstrate commitment to equity, cultural relevance, and community-driven solutions. Use language about "systemic barriers," "dignity," and "agency"

  • Monitor the procurement page: While opportunities are limited, sign up for notifications at unitedwaynyc.org/procurement-bid-opportunities/ to catch RFPs as they emerge

  • Think partnership, not grant: Position your organisation as a potential collaborator in UWNYC's convening role—emphasise your ability to work with government, corporate partners, and other nonprofits rather than just seeking funding

  • Align with current priorities: The four pillars (health equity, education equity, justice & opportunity, food & benefits access) define everything. If your work doesn't clearly fit one of these areas, UWNYC funding is unlikely

  • Build for the long term: With 650+ organisations in their network, UWNYC favours established relationships. Engage with their programmes, attend their events, and demonstrate your organisation's value over time rather than approaching cold with a funding request

References

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