United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $11,271,181 (2024-25 campaign goal)
Total Distribution: $34.5M (2023)
Decision Time: Varies by program (mini-grants: ~6 weeks)
Grant Range: $5,000 - $440,000
Geographic Focus: Lee, Hendry, and Glades Counties, Florida
Partner Agencies: Nearly 100
Programs Supported: Over 260

Contact Details

Address: 7273 Concourse Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33908
Phone: 239-433-2000
Website: www.unitedwaylee.org
Partner Agency Contact: Angela Fischler, Community Impact Manager (AngelaF@UnitedWayLee.org)

Overview

Founded in 1957 and tax-exempt since May 1964 (EIN: 59-1005169), United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades is one of Southwest Florida's largest charitable organizations. The organization distributed $34.5 million in grants in 2023, making 123 awards to partner agencies across three counties. With a 13-year track record of maintaining a 4-star Charity Navigator rating and an efficiency rate of 96.4% (nearly all donations going directly to programs), the organization has met its annual fundraising campaign goal for 31 consecutive years. United Way focuses on fund distribution, community building, volunteer advancement, and information referral services through their 211 helpline. The organization has demonstrated resilience and consistent growth, with 2023 showing a 208.4% increase in total giving versus 2021 (partially due to Hurricane Ian recovery efforts).

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Impact Partner Agency Funding (Major Program)

Grant Range: $230,000 - $440,000 (typical range)
Application: Annual basis through online portal
Payment: Quarterly distributions for grants over $3,000
Process: Applications accepted annually from eligible, locally-based organizations

Mini-Grant Program

Grant Range: $5,000 - $10,000 per nonprofit or program
Application: Fixed deadline cycle (applications typically open in February)
Purpose: Promote wider impacts that increase capacity for community care
Example Timeline: Applications open Feb 3, close March 14, recipients announced March 28, funds distributed April 4

Small Grant Program

Grant Amount: Up to $3,000
Application: Simplified one-page application process

Priority Areas

United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades focuses on five core impact areas:

Meeting Critical Needs - Basic needs including food, clothing, hygiene items, and emergency assistance
Healthy Community - Healthcare access, mental health services, substance abuse treatment
Youth Opportunity - Education programs, mentoring, after-school activities, expanded learning opportunities
Financial Security - VITA tax preparation, financial literacy, employment services
Community Resiliency - Disaster response and recovery, crisis intervention

The organization also runs direct programs including:

211 Information and Referral Service - Community helpline
Community Partnership Schools - Located at Franklin Park Elementary, Colonial Elementary, and Fort Myers Middle Academy (providing expanded learning opportunities and basic needs resources)
VITA Tax Program - Free tax preparation services (8,100 returns filed in 2023, generating $8.4M in refunds)
Gifts-in-Kind Program - Distribution of donated goods (over 50,000 toys distributed during Christmas season)

What They Don't Fund

While complete exclusions are detailed in their Fund Distribution Handbook, basic restrictions include:

Programs operating outside of Lee, Hendry, and Glades Counties
Organizations without 501(c)(3) status or less than two years old (for mini-grants)
Programs that do not demonstrate measurable community impact
Incomplete applications
Programs that do not align with United Way's five core pillars

Governance and Leadership

Key Leadership

President and CEO: Jeannine Joy

Senior Staff:

Angela Fischler - Community Impact Manager (primary contact for partner agency applications)
Keila Santiago - 211 Director
Lugeenya Blackstock - Accounting Director
Madison - Vice President, Community Impact and Disaster Response
Lisette Quintero - Executive Assistant

Major Donor Groups

The organization has strong support from:

Alexis de Tocqueville Society - Donors contributing $10,000+ annually (raised $5,014,498 in 2023-24, representing 46% of campaign total)
Keel Club - 479 individual donors giving $1,000+ annually
Pacesetters - 154 early campaign contributors

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For Partner Agency Funding (Major Grants): Applications for membership with United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades are accepted on an annual basis from eligible, locally-based organizations who meet criteria requirements outlined in the Fund Distribution Handbook. Organizations must:

Contact Angela Fischler (AngelaF@UnitedWayLee.org) to discuss eligibility
Review the Fund Distribution Handbook for minimum eligibility requirements
Submit complete application through online portal (portal access is restricted until official opening date)
Existing partner agencies receive login credentials in advance

For Mini-Grant Program:

Ensure organization has 501(c)(3) status at least two years old
Submit application during open period (typically February-March)
Committee of local business professionals reviews applications
Recipients announced approximately 2 weeks after close
Funds distributed shortly after signed contracts received

Decision Timeline

Partner Agency Funding: Annual review cycle with Fund Distribution Timeline published in advance

Mini-Grant Program (2025 example cycle):

February 3 - Applications Open
March 14 - Applications Close
March 28 - Recipients Announced (approximately 2 weeks)
April 1 - Signed Contracts Due
April 4 - Distribution of Funds (approximately 6 weeks from application open to distribution)
February 3 (following year) - Impact Report Due

Notification: Direct contact to applicants; awards publicly announced

Success Rates

In 2023, United Way made 123 awards, up from 109 awards in 2022 and 98 awards in 2021. This represents a growing trend in both number of grants and total distribution. Since 2015, the organization has awarded 753 individual grants totaling $72,679,470.

Specific acceptance rates are not publicly disclosed, but the organization supports nearly 100 partner agencies on an ongoing basis, suggesting that successful applicants often receive multi-year support.

Reapplication Policy

Mini-Grants:

Applicants can only receive ONE grant per cycle
Organizations are eligible to receive grants up to three times for the same program
Previous grant recipients must submit an impact report by the specified deadline
Failure to submit impact report will disqualify organization from future consideration

Partner Agency Funding:

Annual reapplication required through the standard process
Funded agencies may vary dependent on program or agency performance and operational status

Application Success Factors

Review Criteria

Applications are evaluated by local community volunteers who carefully review:

Community Needs Assessment - Demonstrated need for programs in the region
Program Effectiveness - Agency's effectiveness at providing services
Impact Measurement - Analysis of funding impact in meeting community needs
Outcomes and Results - Clear, measurable outcomes aligned with United Way pillars

Final recommendations are approved by the United Way Board of Directors.

Alignment with Strategic Focus

Successful applicants demonstrate strong alignment with United Way's five core impact areas:

Meeting Critical Needs
Healthy Community
Youth Opportunity
Financial Security
Community Resiliency

Organizations should clearly articulate how their programs address one or more of these pillars with measurable outcomes.

Geographic Requirement

All funding must directly serve residents of Lee, Hendry, or Glades Counties. For mini-grants, even if a program is not based in these counties, funds can ONLY be used to serve residents of these counties.

Organizational Requirements

Valid 501(c)(3) status (at least two years old for mini-grants)
Local operations or clear local service delivery
Demonstrated organizational capacity and stability
Measurable impact metrics
Complete and timely reporting

What Makes Applications Stand Out

Based on partner agency characteristics:

Evidence-based programs with proven track records
Collaborative approaches that work with other community organizations
Scalable impact - programs that can serve many people efficiently
Clear metrics - specific, measurable outcomes (e.g., "8,100 tax returns filed" or "18,985 hours of expanded learning")
Community validation - local business professional reviewers value community-recognized needs

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Demonstrate measurable impact - United Way values data-driven results. Use specific metrics showing how many people you serve and what outcomes they achieve.
Align with the five pillars - Clearly map your program to one or more of their impact areas (Critical Needs, Health, Youth, Financial Security, or Resiliency).
Start with mini-grants - If you're not currently a partner agency, the $5,000-$10,000 mini-grant program offers an accessible entry point with a clear application timeline.
Build local relationships first - Contact Angela Fischler early to discuss your program's fit before investing time in a full application.
Emphasize local service - All funding must serve Lee, Hendry, or Glades County residents. Be explicit about your local impact.
Plan for the annual cycle - Partner agency applications are accepted annually. Monitor their website for timeline announcements and prepare well in advance.
Deliver on reporting - Impact reports are mandatory and failure to submit disqualifies you from future consideration. This organization values accountability.

References

All sources accessed December 2024.