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United Way Of Central Indiana Inc

Annual Giving
$57.2M
Grant Range
$25K - $0.5M
Decision Time
3mo

United Way Of Central Indiana Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $57.2 million (FY 2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Varies by program; semi-annual reporting cycles
  • Grant Range: $25,000 - $470,000
  • Geographic Focus: Seven counties in Central Indiana (Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion, Morgan, and Putnam)

Contact Details

Address: 2955 North Meridian Street, Suite 300, Indianapolis, IN 46208

Phone: (317) 923-1466

Website: www.uwci.org

Email: community@uwci.org

Grant Program Inquiries: accreditation@uwci.org (for accreditation process)

Sector Support Grants: Contact Sara VanSlambrook for Capacity Building Fund and Contingency Fund applications

Overview

Founded in 1921, United Way of Central Indiana is one of the region's largest philanthropic organizations, investing $57.2 million in the community during its most recent fiscal year. The organization serves seven counties in Central Indiana: Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion, Morgan, and Putnam. Under the leadership of President & CEO Fred Payne (appointed July 2022), United Way has evolved from a traditional community chest model to a strategic community impact partner focused on data-driven solutions to poverty reduction. The organization's mission centers on fighting for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in Central Indiana. United Way operates through a unique accreditation model, partnering with dozens of local nonprofits that undergo rigorous evaluation to become eligible for multi-year funding investments. Their grantmaking philosophy emphasizes measurable outcomes, with all funded partners required to demonstrate efficiency, efficacy, and progress through semi-annual reporting.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Basic Needs Fund: $12.45 million awarded in 2023-2024 to 60 nonprofits

  • Grant range: $50,000 - $470,000
  • Focuses on safe and affordable housing, healthy food access, transportation, and health services
  • Three-year funding cycle for accredited partners

Family Opportunity Fund: Part of $17.8 million in total awards (2024-2025)

  • Grant range: $40,000 - $470,000
  • Supports integrated programming serving both youth and adults in the same household
  • Aimed at improving education, financial stability, and well-being of whole families

Social Innovation Fund: $950,000 awarded to 13 organizations (2023-2024)

  • Grant range: $25,000 - $100,000
  • Targets initiatives that accelerate positive outcomes in housing, food access, transportation, education, job pathways, and health
  • Includes annual Propel Pitch Competition with $100,000+ in awards

Sector Support Grants:

  • Capacity Building Fund: Up to $50,000 for comprehensive capacity-building interventions
  • Contingency Fund: Up to $50,000 for emergency response and financial stabilization
  • Technology Fund: Over $2.2 million awarded to 80+ organizations for 105 projects since 2020
  • Facilities Maintenance Fund and Capital Projects Fund: Available to accredited partners

Priority Areas

United Way of Central Indiana concentrates funding in four interconnected areas:

  • Basic Needs: Emergency assistance, food security, affordable housing, transportation access, healthcare services
  • Education: Early care and learning, youth development, educational pathways
  • Economic Mobility: Workforce development, job training, financial stability programs
  • Health: Physical health, mental health, behavioral health services

According to CEO Fred Payne: "To effectively reduce financially unstable households, we must concentrate our efforts and resources on addressing the key predictors of poverty."

What They Don't Fund

  • Organizations without 501(c)(3) IRS designation
  • Federations
  • Religious congregations (as primary grant recipients)
  • Government units
  • Capital drives (except through specific Capital Projects Fund)
  • Organizations outside the seven-county service area
  • Organizations not accredited by United Way of Central Indiana (for most grant programs)

Governance and Leadership

President & CEO: Fred Payne (appointed July 18, 2022)

  • Previously served at Indiana Department of Workforce Development
  • Guides decision-making with three key questions: Does this initiative impact poverty? Is it good for our community? Is it sustainable?
  • Quote: "Poverty is one of the greatest challenges facing Central Indiana" and "Poverty is not determined by a singular issue, and it can impact families for generations. But we know many of the ways to combat poverty, and we're leaning into data."

Board Chair: Jeff Harrison, Citizens Energy Group

Secretary: Richard E. Hester, Indiana Business Advisors

The Board of Directors and Executive Team comprise senior leaders from across the business and nonprofit sectors, bringing expertise in operations, technology, talent and culture, strategic intelligence, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

CRITICAL FIRST STEP - ACCREDITATION REQUIRED: Most United Way of Central Indiana grant programs are available only to accredited partner organizations. Organizations must complete the accreditation process before being eligible for impact funding.

Accreditation Process:

  1. Organizations must serve people in Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion, Morgan, or Putnam counties
  2. Must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit incorporated in Indiana or operating as an identified part of another incorporated organization with its own governing/advisory board
  3. Work must align with United Way outcomes in basic needs, early care and learning, economic mobility, and safe and affordable housing
  4. Complete organizational and governance applications (review the accreditation guidebook)
  5. Application deadline: November 1 annually for new partners
  6. Evaluation by volunteer leaders, board members, and staff on financial health, governance, strategy and innovation, sustainability, diversity and inclusion, and community responsiveness
  7. Contact: accreditation@uwci.org

Impact Fund Applications (for accredited partners):

  • Applications reviewed using objective rubric
  • Scored by dedicated team of board members, staff, and community volunteers
  • Scoring serves as starting point for deliberation
  • Three-year funding cycles for Basic Needs and Family Opportunity programs
  • Rolling applications for some Sector Support grants

Sector Support Grant Applications:

  • Capacity Building Fund & Contingency Fund: Email Sara VanSlambrook to begin application process
  • Social Innovation Fund: Typically opens in summer (July application period noted for future cycle)
  • Technology Fund: Applications accepted on rolling basis

Propel Pitch Competition: Annual event (typically held in April) with application period several months in advance

Decision Timeline

  • Accreditation: Reviewed annually; new partner applications due November 1
  • Impact Funds: Evaluated on three-year cycles; announcements typically made in fall (November) with funding contracts beginning January 1
  • Social Innovation Fund: Application period opens mid-year; decisions announced December
  • Propel Pitch Competition: Awards announced at annual event in spring

Specific example from past emergency grant: Application deadline August 13, decisions announced August 27 (2-week turnaround for crisis funding)

Success Rates

United Way of Central Indiana does not publicly disclose overall success rates for grant applications. However, context suggests competitive programs:

  • 71 nonprofits received accredited partner status and impact funding in 2024-2025 cycle
  • 13 organizations received Social Innovation Fund grants from larger applicant pool
  • Organizations undergo rigorous evaluation on financial health, governance, strategy, sustainability, and community impact

Reapplication Policy

  • Accredited Partners: Three-year funding cycles with opportunity to reapply at end of term
  • Unsuccessful Applicants: No waiting period specified; organizations can reapply in subsequent cycles
  • Sector Support Grants: Vary by program; organizations can apply for multiple support funds as needs arise

Application Success Factors

Based on United Way of Central Indiana's documented approach and recent awards, successful applicants demonstrate:

1. Alignment with Data-Driven Poverty Reduction CEO Fred Payne's framework asks three critical questions about every initiative: Does this impact poverty? Is it good for our community? Is it sustainable? Applications should clearly address all three.

2. Measurable Outcomes and Strong Data Capacity "Data collection is a crucial part of each nonprofit's application and the ongoing evaluation of all United Way impact grants." Successful organizations demonstrate:

  • Ability to collect and report quantitative and qualitative data semi-annually
  • Clear metrics demonstrating efficiency and efficacy
  • Measurable progress toward defined outcomes

3. Organizational Excellence Across Multiple Dimensions Accreditation evaluation criteria include:

  • Financial health and sustainability
  • Strong governance structures
  • Strategic planning and innovation
  • Diversity, equity, and inclusion practices
  • Responsiveness to community need

4. Integrated Family-Centered Approaches The Family Opportunity Fund specifically seeks "integrated programming that serves both youth and adults in the same household." Applications should demonstrate:

  • Whole-family impact
  • Multi-generational solutions
  • Coordination across education, financial stability, and well-being

5. Innovation and Accelerated Impact Social Innovation Fund recipients show potential to "accelerate positive outcomes" through:

  • Workforce development pathways (e.g., Latinas Welding Guild - $100,000)
  • Addressing food insecurity with innovative models
  • Creative approaches to transportation, housing, and healthcare access

6. Geographic Reach Within Service Area Recent awards show preference for:

  • Programs serving multiple counties within the seven-county region
  • Organizations with deep local roots and community connections
  • Demonstrated impact in underserved areas

7. Examples of Funded Programs:

  • The Arc of Greater Boone County: $150,000 total ($70,000 Basic Needs, $80,000 Family Opportunity)
  • Latinas Welding Guild: $100,000 for workforce development
  • Martindale Brightwood CDC: $91,000 for community development
  • HATCH, Inc.: $50,000 for innovation programs
  • Advocates for Education: $25,000

8. Long-term Partnership Mindset United Way seeks "community impact partners" rather than one-time grantees. Applications should demonstrate:

  • Commitment to ongoing semi-annual reporting
  • Willingness to participate in United Way's evaluation framework
  • Openness to capacity-building support and technical assistance

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Accreditation is essential: Unless applying for specific open-call programs like Social Innovation Fund or Propel Pitch, organizations must first achieve accredited partner status. Plan at least one year ahead for this process.

  • Think three-year partnerships, not one-time grants: United Way's model emphasizes sustained investment in proven partners. Applications should articulate long-term vision and capacity for multi-year engagement.

  • Lead with data: This funder is explicit about data-driven decision-making. Applications must demonstrate robust ability to measure and report outcomes, not just outputs.

  • Answer Payne's three questions: Frame your proposal to clearly show how it impacts poverty, benefits the community, and is sustainable. If you can't answer "yes" to all three, United Way has indicated this falls low on their priorities.

  • Demonstrate whole-family or systemic approaches: United Way has evolved from single-issue funding to integrated solutions. Show how your work addresses multiple predictors of poverty simultaneously.

  • Geographic fit matters: Serve populations in Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion, Morgan, or Putnam counties. Multi-county impact may strengthen applications.

  • Substantial funding available: With $57.2 million invested annually and grants ranging from $40,000 to $470,000, this funder can provide significant, transformational support to the right partners.

References

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