United Way of Greater Cincinnati

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: ~$37.2 million (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: ~4 months (LOI to funding decision)
• Grant Range: $2,500 (Community Engagement Grants) – $75,000 (Black Empowerment Works); Community Partner grants vary widely
• Geographic Focus: Nine counties across Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana (Greater Cincinnati region)

Contact Details

• Website: www.uwgc.org
• Funding Resources: uwgc.org/partner-with-us/funding-resources/
• General Grants Enquiries: [email protected]
• Community Partner Funding: [email protected]
• Application Portal: e-CImpact system (accessed through UWGC's funding resources page)
• Black Empowerment Works Applications: uwgc.org/bewapply
• Notification Sign-up: Email agency name, contact person, address, phone, website, and email to [email protected]

Overview

Founded in 1915, United Way of Greater Cincinnati (UWGC) is one of the region's largest nonprofit organizations, serving nine counties across Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. With total assets of approximately $83 million (FY2024) and annual community investment of over $37 million, UWGC is a significant force in regional philanthropy. The organization funds both direct service delivery and systems-level change under three strategic pillars: Educational Success, Financial Empowerment, and Housing Security.

UWGC's approach goes beyond conventional grant-making. The organization positions itself as a strategic partner — working alongside funded organizations through learning communities, capacity-building, and collaborative problem-solving. President and CEO Moira Weir has articulated the philosophy clearly: "We build strategies with communities, setting priorities based on their concerns and informed by data." UWGC also administers public funds on behalf of the City of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, broadening the range of grant opportunities it manages. It holds a perfect 100% score from Charity Navigator for accountability and finance.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Community Partner Fund: The flagship program, investing $11.3 million – $15.5 million per year in 80-125+ partner organizations. Partners fall into three funding pools:

  • Catalytic Change: Systems-level transformation
  • Collaborative Impact: Coordinated, comprehensive services
  • Responsive Services: Critical direct services addressing immediate community needs
  • Applications made via LOI then full RFP through the e-CImpact portal; annual funding cycle runs July 1 – June 30

• Black Empowerment Works (BEW): Grants of $4,000 – $75,000 (most recently $17,000 – $75,000 in Round 4) to Black-led organizations, social enterprises, coalitions, and individuals. NOT limited to 501(c)(3) organizations. Total investment since 2020 exceeds $5 million across 133+ projects. Grants are renewable for a second year contingent on performance.

• City of Cincinnati Human Services Fund: Administered by UWGC on behalf of the City since 1981. Funds 501(c)(3) nonprofits delivering human services to Cincinnati residents in areas including Comprehensive Workforce Development, Youth Gun Violence Prevention, and Housing Stabilization. City funding cannot exceed 60% of a program's total revenue. A separate Impact Award (10% of budget) supports one large-scale social innovation project per cycle.

• Digital Equity Grant Program: Grants of $25,000 – $50,000 to nonprofits in the nine-county service area working to bridge the digital divide. Complements Hamilton County's investment in public broadband infrastructure.

• EY Digital Divide Take Action Fund: Grants of approximately $11,000 per organization (six organizations selected per round) to address digital inequities for Black, Latino, and low-income families. EY employees participate in the nomination and vetting process.

• Future of Manufacturing Fund: Funded by the GE Aerospace Foundation (2024 launch). Supports workforce development programming addressing gaps in advanced manufacturing. Amounts not publicly disclosed.

• Community Engagement Grants: One-time grants of approximately $2,500 for 501(c)(3) grassroots organizations and faith partners to host specific programs or events (e.g., food drives, clothing programs, back-to-school events).

• Memorial Trust Funds: Annual grants from four named funds — Ettlinger Trust Fund, Fleischmann Memorial Fund, Huenefeld Trust Fund, and Smith Trust Fund — awarded to UWGC partners and local organizations aligned with each trust's donor-specified goals.

Priority Areas

• Educational Success (early childhood through post-secondary)
• Financial Empowerment and Economic Well-being
• Housing Security
• Digital Equity and Broadband Access
• Black-led Social Change and racial equity
• Workforce Development and Manufacturing

What They Don't Fund

• Organizations that do not serve low-income or vulnerable populations
• Programs that do not align with UWGC's three strategic pillars
• Organizations without cross-sector collaborative partnerships (required for core Community Partner Fund)
• Programs where City funding would exceed 60% of total revenue (Human Services Fund)
• Organizations with known management, fiscal, reporting, or program deficiencies (Human Services Fund)
• Organizations without an established county presence when applying to county-specific geographic pools

Governance and Leadership

Executive Team

• Moira Weir, President & CEO (since March 2020) — First woman to lead UWGC. Career background spans 27+ years in human services, previously serving as director of Hamilton County Job and Family Services for 12 years. Holds an MSW from Bryn Mawr College, BA in Business Administration from Simmons University, and an MBA from Thomas More University.
• Meredith Comin, Chief Brand Officer
• Teresa Huxel, Chief Financial Officer
• Chandra Mathews-Smith, Chief Community Engagement Officer
• Tricia Sunders, Chief Development Officer
• Amy Weber, Chief Impact Officer

Board Leadership (35-member board)

• Brian Hodgett (Board Chair) — The Procter & Gamble Co.
• George Vincent (Board Chair-Elect) — The Kroger Co.
• Ryan Dunlap, Board Treasurer
• Jill Meyer (Board Secretary) — O.H.I.O. Fund

The board includes representatives from Cincinnati Bengals, Duke Energy, Fifth Third Bank, and local universities. Members are "thoughtfully selected by our Nominating Committee for their proven leadership and unwavering commitment to strengthening Greater Cincinnati."

Key Leadership Quotes:

• "Our partners inform our work and ensure our collective efforts are truly responsive to community needs." — Moira Weir, President & CEO
• "These trusted community partners play a pivotal role in our transformational work." — Moira Weir
• "We build strategies with communities, setting priorities based on their concerns and informed by data." — Moira Weir
• "We know day-to-day programming is not enough to help struggling families overcome generational hurdles and systemic deficiencies." — Moira Weir

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Community Partner Fund (Core Program) Applications are submitted through a two-stage process via UWGC's online e-CImpact portal:

1. Pre-Application / Letter of Interest (LOI): Complete the eligibility quiz and pre-application. Reviewed on a rolling basis by UWGC staff. If approved, responses carry forward into the full application.
2. Full RFP Application: Invited applicants complete the full Community Investment Application. All answers from the LOI carry forward with the option to edit or clarify.

Note: Organizations may only apply once per fund (Impact and Catalyst) per geographic area. If applying to multiple counties, separate profiles must be created for each geographic area.

Black Empowerment Works Applications are submitted online at uwgc.org/bewapply. Information sessions are held prior to the application deadline. One application per organization per year. Grants are renewable for a second year contingent on performance.

City of Cincinnati Human Services Fund Applications submitted online via the UWGC website. Organizations may submit up to three program proposals. The Impact Award requires a lead agency application with partner letters of intent.

Community Engagement Grants Contact [email protected] directly to inquire and apply.

Get on the Notification List Organizations can sign up for grant cycle notifications by sending agency name, contact person, address, phone number, website, and email to [email protected].

Decision Timeline

Community Partner Fund (approximate):

• Early March: LOI call opens
• March 7: LOI process opens in e-CImpact
• March 31: LOI submission deadline
• May 9: Full RFP available to invited applicants
• May 29: RFP closes
• June 30: Funding decisions communicated
• July 1: Funding cycle begins

Total time from LOI submission to funding decision: approximately 3–4 months.

Human Services Fund (FY2026):

• February 14: Application opens
• March 24: Proposals due
• June: City Council approves awards
• September 1: Grant period begins

Success Rates

UWGC does not publicly publish success rate data. However, scale provides some context: the Community Partner Fund receives significantly more interest than the 80-125 funded slots suggest. Organizations are encouraged to sign up for the notification list and attend information sessions to maximize their chances of proceeding from LOI to full application.

Reapplication Policy

• Black Empowerment Works: Only one application per year per organization. Grants are renewable for a second year contingent on performance and available funds.
• Community Partner Fund: Funding is awarded on an annual cycle. Unsuccessful applicants may reapply in subsequent cycles; no public waiting period policy has been documented.
• Reporting requirement: Funded organizations must notify UWGC within 30 days if any reported program information changes after funding is awarded.

Application Success Factors

Align with all three pillars — or at least one deeply: UWGC funds work across Educational Success, Financial Empowerment, and Housing Security. The strongest applications show how these areas are interconnected: "Without safe and stable housing, children struggle to focus on their education; without financial stability, families can't afford quality housing or invest in their children's learning."

Lead with data and community voice: UWGC states it uses "community insights, data, research, and co-design processes" to inform its grant-making. Successful applications should demonstrate outcome data, evidence of community co-design, and data-backed results. Applications described as having "data-backed programs or initiatives with proven results" are explicitly prioritized for the Impact Fund.

Demonstrate cross-sector partnerships: The Community Partner Fund explicitly requires at least one cross-sector collaborative partnership spanning public, nonprofit, and/or private stakeholders. Partnerships should be substantive, not merely nominal.

Show systems-change ambition: UWGC seeks "organizations leading systems-level transformation," not just direct service providers. Even service-delivery applicants should articulate how their work contributes to systemic change goals.

Prioritize equity explicitly: UWGC's mission explicitly addresses racial and economic inequity. Applications should address systemic barriers and demonstrate commitment to serving disproportionately impacted communities, particularly Black families and low-income households.

Establish geographic presence: UWGC prioritizes applicants with "an established presence in the county" where they are requesting funds. New organizations seeking funding in a specific county should demonstrate local roots and community relationships.

Match the right fund to your organization's stage: The Catalyst Fund is for innovative or capacity-building programs; the Impact Fund favors proven, scalable work. The Black Empowerment Works program is explicitly for Black-led organizations including for-profits and informal coalitions — a broader pool than most UWGC grants.

Attend information sessions: For the Black Empowerment Works program specifically, UWGC hosts information sessions on platforms including Eventbrite and Facebook Live prior to application deadlines. Attending these sessions provides direct access to UWGC staff guidance and demonstrates organizational engagement.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is a major regional grant maker with over $37 million in annual community investment across nine counties in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. It is one of the most significant sources of nonprofit funding in the Greater Cincinnati area.
• Multiple distinct grant programs exist — do not treat UWGC as a single opportunity. The Community Partner Fund, Black Empowerment Works, City Human Services Fund, Digital Equity Grant, and Community Engagement Grants each have different eligibility criteria, amounts, and timelines.
• The Black Empowerment Works program is uniquely open to non-501(c)(3) entities, including for-profit social enterprises, coalitions, and individuals — making it accessible to organizations that would be ineligible for most grant programs.
• Applications are geographically segmented: Funds raised in each county stay in that county. Organizations serving multiple counties must apply separately for each geographic area and create separate profiles.
• Sign up for the notification list early: UWGC encourages organizations to join their email list ([email protected]) for advance notice of funding cycles opening. Grant windows can be short.
• UWGC values partnership beyond funding: Successful partner organizations are expected to participate in learning communities, collaborative convenings, and capacity-building activities throughout the year. Frame your application around long-term partnership, not just a funding transaction.
• Strong fiscal management is non-negotiable: UWGC and the City of Cincinnati explicitly disqualify organizations with known management, fiscal, or reporting problems. Ensure governance and financial systems are in order before applying.

References

1. United Way of Greater Cincinnati — Funding Resources: https://www.uwgc.org/partner-with-us/funding-resources/ (accessed February 2026)
2. United Way of Greater Cincinnati — Funded Partners: https://www.uwgc.org/partner-with-us/funded-partners/ (accessed February 2026)
3. United Way of Greater Cincinnati — Community Partner Funding: https://www.uwgc.org/partner-with-us/community-partner-funding/ (accessed February 2026)
4. United Way of Greater Cincinnati — City of Cincinnati Human Services Fund: https://www.uwgc.org/partner-with-us/human-services-fund/ (accessed February 2026)
5. United Way of Greater Cincinnati — "$15.5 million investment in 125 community partners" press release: https://www.uwgc.org/united-way-announces-15-5-million-investment-in-125-community-partners/ (accessed February 2026)
6. United Way of Greater Cincinnati — 2024–2025 Funded Community Partners announcement: https://www.uwgc.org/united-way-announces-2024-2025-funded-community-partners/ (accessed February 2026)
7. United Way of Greater Cincinnati — Black Empowerment Works program: https://www.uwgc.org/see-the-impact/financial-empowerment/black-led-social-change/black-empowerment-works/ (accessed February 2026)
8. United Way of Greater Cincinnati — Black Empowerment Works Grant Applications announcement: https://www.uwgc.org/black-empowerment-works-accepting-grant-applications/ (accessed February 2026)
9. United Way of Greater Cincinnati — BEW Record $1.9M Investment announcement: https://www.uwgc.org/uwgc-partners-invest-record-nearly-2m-local-black-led-work/ (accessed February 2026)
10. United Way of Greater Cincinnati — Leadership Page: https://www.uwgc.org/about/leadership/ (accessed February 2026)
11. United Way of Greater Cincinnati — 2024 Community Impact Report: https://www.uwgc.org/see-the-impact/2024-impact-report/ (accessed February 2026)
12. United Way of Greater Cincinnati — Digital Equity Grant Program: https://www.uwgc.org/uwgc-launches-digital-equity-grant-program-nonprofits/ (accessed February 2026)
13. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer — United Way of Greater Cincinnati (EIN 310537502): https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/310537502 (accessed February 2026)
14. Charity Navigator — United Way of Greater Cincinnati: https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/310537502 (accessed February 2026)
15. CauseIQ — United Way of Greater Cincinnati: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/united-way-of-greater-cincinnati,310537502/ (accessed February 2026)
16. UWGC Application Guidelines 2024–2025 (PDF): https://unitedwaycha.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/UWGC-Application-Guidelines-2024-25-NEW.pdf (accessed February 2026)