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United Way Fox Cities Inc

Annual Giving
$8.4M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $8,427,352 (2024)
  • Number of Awards: 67 grants (2024)
  • Average Grant Size: ~$125,000
  • Decision Time: Not publicly specified
  • Service Area: Outagamie, Calumet, and Northern Winnebago counties (Wisconsin)
  • Geographic Focus: Fox Cities region (Wisconsin)

Contact Details

Address: 1455 Midway Road, Menasha, WI 54952

Phone: 920-954-7210

Fax: 920-954-7209

Website: https://unitedwayfoxcities.org

Grant Inquiries: Contact Community Impact Team via website or main phone number

211 Helpline: Dial 211 (24/7 service for community resource connections)

Overview

United Way Fox Cities Inc came into existence on January 1, 1993, as the result of a merger between the former United Way, Inc. Appleton/Heart of the Valley and the United Way of Neenah-Menasha. The roots of the organization can be traced back to 1947 and the Community Chest organizations of Neenah-Menasha and Appleton. As a 501(c)(3) charitable organization with tax-exempt status since March 1965, United Way Fox Cities has earned a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator.

The organization's mission is to improve lives by bringing diverse people together to build a stronger, more caring community for everyone. United Way Fox Cities invests more than $8.4 million annually in programs that address urgent needs and stabilize families in the Fox Cities region. The organization impacts 1 in 3 people in the Fox Cities through investments in initiatives, grants, collaborations and more than 100 programs at local partner agencies. With almost 50 community partners, United Way Fox Cities strengthens local resilience and creates pathways to better health, education, and financial security.

Lisa Kogan-Praska has served as President & CEO since January 2024, bringing leadership experience from her previous role as CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Bay & Lakes Region. Under her leadership, the organization continues to position itself for continued growth and sustainability while making giving easier and more personal for donors.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Annual Grant Program: United Way Fox Cities' primary funding mechanism with annual grant cycle (May-April funding period). The 2026-27 cycle distributed 67 grants totaling $8,427,352, with an average award of approximately $125,000, though individual grant amounts vary considerably.

Youth Board Grants: A separate grantmaking stream managed by high school students from the Fox Cities area, focusing on youth-oriented programs. Youth Board members review applications, make funding recommendations, and help fulfill United Way's mission through youth-focused investments.

Application Method: Fixed annual cycle with two-stage process (Letter of Intent followed by full application for invited organizations only)

Priority Areas

For the May 2026-April 2027 grant cycle, United Way Fox Cities prioritizes programs that address immediate support and stabilizing essentials for individuals and families experiencing, or at risk of, hardship or instability.

The organization accomplishes its mission through four Impact Areas:

  1. Developing Children and Youth: Programs supporting child development, youth opportunity, and educational success
  2. Promoting Health: Initiatives addressing physical and mental health, including the Be Well Fox Valley initiative
  3. Healing and Crisis Intervention: Services providing immediate support and crisis response, including the PATH (Providing Access to Healing) school-based counseling program
  4. Providing Basic Needs and Self Sufficiency: Programs addressing food security, housing stability, financial security, and essential resources like the Kimberly-Clark Eastern Wisconsin Diaper Bank

Each Impact Area is composed of volunteers who study community issues, prioritize those issues, and determine United Way's strategy for addressing them.

Geographic Focus: Organizations must serve individuals in Outagamie, Calumet, or Northern Winnebago counties to be eligible for funding.

What They Don't Fund

Organizations that are not eligible include:

  • Organizations that discriminate or refuse services based on religion
  • Organizations that require attendance in religious activities as a condition of service
  • Organizations with a primary focus on animal welfare
  • Organizations with a primary focus on arts
  • Organizations with a primary focus on the environment
  • Organizations not serving the three-county Fox Cities region

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Lisa Kogan-Praska, President & CEO (since January 2024) - Previously CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Bay & Lakes Region where she led a historic integration of clubs in Door County, Greater Green Bay, and Shawano regions. On her appointment, she stated: "I loved my work with the clubs, but the opportunity to lead and shape the important work of the United Way in my home community was one I could not pass up. I look forward to impacting non-profits in our region and positioning the organization for continued growth and sustainability well into the future."

Wendy Krueger, Chief Operating Officer

Beth Clay, Vice President of Community Impact - Leads the Community Impact team that oversees grantmaking

Senior Staff

  • Joshua Lambrecht, Director of Resource Development
  • Alicia Frank, Associate Director of Resource Development
  • Justine Higgs, Associate Director of Be Well Fox Valley
  • Jaime Rashid, Associate Director of Marketing and Communications
  • Julia Etheridge, CRS/CRS-DC, 211 Program Coordinator
  • Joan Dunne, Accountant
  • Kyle Brauer, CRM Coordinator
  • Leah DeShaney, CRS, 211 Information & Referral Specialist
  • Kate McClory, Be Well Fox Valley Project Coordinator
  • Amanda Ross, Staff member

Board of Directors

United Way Fox Cities operates with an active volunteer board of directors. The organization requires that all funded partner agencies also maintain an active volunteer board as an eligibility requirement. Specific current board members are listed on the organization's website.

Youth Board

Composed of students from high schools in United Way Fox Cities' service area. Youth Board members review grant applications, make funding recommendations for youth-oriented programs, and meet on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month from 6:30pm - 7:30pm.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

United Way Fox Cities uses a two-stage invitation process for its Annual Grant program:

Stage 1: Letter of Intent (LOI)

  • Organizations submit a short form to confirm alignment with funding priorities
  • LOI is required for all applicants to confirm eligibility
  • The LOI checks for alignment with UWFC's funding priorities
  • Submitting an LOI does not guarantee an invitation to apply
  • LOI period typically opens in early fall (September)

Stage 2: Full Application (Invitation Only)

  • Based on the LOI, selected organizations are invited to submit a full proposal
  • Applications are completed through EC-Impact, United Way's secure online grant management system
  • EC-Impact allows applicants to save work as they progress
  • Application resources for invited applicants are accessible within EC-Impact

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Tax-exempt as described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
  • In good standing with the State of Wisconsin
  • Active volunteer board of directors
  • Serve individuals in Outagamie, Calumet, or Northern Winnebago counties
  • Deliver at least one service within their 2026-27 funding priorities

Decision Timeline

Review Process: Trained community volunteers spend more than 1,200 hours reviewing programs and making funding decisions. Volunteers from the four Impact Areas conduct in-depth reviews using shared decision-making processes. Reviewers discuss scoring and make funding recommendations.

Timeline: Specific decision timelines from application submission to award notification are not publicly specified. Organizations are encouraged to contact the Community Impact Team for timeline information about the current cycle.

Notification: United Way Fox Cities strives to communicate openly with applicants throughout the process.

Success Rates

Based on 2024 data, United Way Fox Cities made 67 awards. While the total number of applications received is not publicly disclosed, the organization works with almost 50 community partners and funds more than 100 programs, suggesting competitive but accessible funding opportunities. Success rate percentages are not published.

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly detailed. Organizations are encouraged to contact the Community Impact Team for guidance on reapplication procedures and timing.

Application Success Factors

United Way Fox Cities believes grantmaking is most effective when it's transparent and community-informed. Based on their published guidance, successful applications demonstrate the following:

Demonstrating Community Need

  • Use specific examples, statistics, trends, or current events to demonstrate urgency
  • Use concise data and connect it directly to the population served
  • Reference community data sources such as Community Health Needs Assessments, County Health Rankings, or internal organizational data
  • Connect need to one or more of UWFC's 2026-2027 funding priorities

Intervention and Service Design

Reviewers evaluate whether:

  • Activities are appropriate, feasible, and responsive to the target population
  • Activities are feasible within the requested funding level
  • The program demonstrates understanding of external factors (ecosystem) affecting service delivery

Outputs and Outcomes

  • Select one primary output that best represents total reach among funded services
  • Outputs should answer "What did we do?" (e.g., number of counseling sessions provided)
  • Outcomes should show meaningful changes and improvements in the community or for individuals served
  • Example: PATH (Providing Access to Healing) provided 4,639 counseling sessions to 274 students

Budget Presentation

  • Organizations may use their own budget format or UWFC's provided template
  • All categories must be labeled clearly
  • Totals must align across all attachments
  • Use budget narrative to expand on any items that may need clarification
  • Demonstrate that requested funds are appropriate for the scope of work

Application Completeness

  • Focus on information that supports the work described in the funding request
  • Optional sections may be left blank if you have nothing additional to share
  • Review published scoring rubrics (United Way strives to make these available)
  • Take advantage of office hours during the open LOI period for guidance

Organizational Capacity

  • Active volunteer board of directors (required)
  • Tax-exempt status and good standing with the state
  • Demonstrated ability to deliver services in the three-county region
  • Track record of program delivery and community impact

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Two-stage process with invitation only: Don't skip the Letter of Intent - it's required to be considered for a full application. Only organizations whose LOI demonstrates strong alignment with current priorities receive invitations to apply.

  • Data-driven applications win: Use specific statistics, community health data, and concrete examples to demonstrate need. Vague statements about community needs won't be competitive.

  • Geographic specificity matters: Your program must serve residents of Outagamie, Calumet, or Northern Winnebago counties. Don't apply if your service area doesn't include these counties.

  • Align with 2026-27 priorities: Current focus is on "immediate support and stabilizing essentials" for families experiencing or at risk of hardship. Programs addressing basic needs, crisis intervention, youth development, and health promotion are priorities.

  • Volunteer reviewers make decisions: More than 1,200 volunteer hours go into reviewing applications. Write clearly and avoid jargon - your reviewers are engaged community members, not necessarily experts in your field.

  • Average grant size is substantial: With 67 grants totaling $8.4 million, the average award is around $125,000, suggesting United Way Fox Cities makes significant, impactful investments rather than many small grants.

  • Long-term partnerships are valued: United Way works with almost 50 community partners and funds 100+ programs, suggesting they value ongoing relationships with effective organizations over constantly changing their partner base.

References

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