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United Way of Greater Nashville

Annual Giving
$7.5M
Decision Time
3mo

United Way of Greater Nashville (United Way of Middle Tennessee Inc)

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $7.5 million (2025-2027 funding cycle)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Bi-annual funding cycle with review period following October application deadline
  • Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed (varies by program)
  • Geographic Focus: 9-county region in Middle Tennessee (Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Hickman, Houston, Montgomery, Robertson, Stewart, and Williamson Counties)

Contact Details

Main Office:
250 Venture Circle
Nashville, TN 37228-1604

Phone: (615) 255-8501
Fax: (615) 780-2426
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.unitedwaygreaternashville.org

211 Helpline: Dial 211 for information and referral services

Overview

United Way of Greater Nashville (formerly United Way of Middle Tennessee Inc, EIN: 62-0533104) is a major grant-making organization serving Middle Tennessee. With total revenue of approximately $46.2 million and net assets of $59.9 million, the organization mobilizes community resources to address critical needs in education, financial stability, health, and basic needs. The organization recently announced its 2025-2027 Community Impact Funding cycle, allocating $7.5 million to support 184 nonprofit partner agencies, including 40 newly-funded partners. Erica Mitchell became President and CEO in January 2025 after serving over 13 years with the organization. United Way of Greater Nashville operates with a volunteer-driven funding model and administers federal grants including Ryan White/CARE grants serving over 2,500 individuals across 92 Tennessee counties.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Impact Funding (CIF)

  • Bi-annual competitive funding cycle
  • 2025-2027 cycle: $7.5 million distributed to 184 partner agencies
  • Two-year funding commitments
  • Application window: Typically October 1-25 every two years

Outcome-Based Investments Program

  • Supports 100+ nonprofit agencies in Davidson, Williamson, Robertson, Cheatham, and Hickman counties
  • Serves over 95,000 low-income, vulnerable children and adults
  • Focus on measurable changes in behavior or condition

Federal Grant Administration

  • Ryan White/CARE Grants: Core medical and support services for individuals living with HIV in 92 of 95 Tennessee counties
  • CDC/HIV Prevention Grant: Prevention and education services for high-risk populations

Priority Areas

United Way of Greater Nashville focuses on four primary funding areas:

  1. Building Strong and Healthy Communities - Health services, end-of-life care, emergency response
  2. Helping Kids Learn and Succeed - Youth development, educational programs, mentoring
  3. Breaking the Cycle of Poverty - Job training, financial stability, workforce development
  4. Meeting Our Neighbors' Basic Needs - Food assistance, housing support, basic services

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, United Way's focus is on:

  • Programs serving low-to-moderate income individuals and families
  • Health and human services organizations
  • Organizations with 501(c)(3) status established prior to specific deadlines
  • Geographic service within their 9-county footprint

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Erica Mitchell, President & CEO (began January 1, 2025)
Mitchell previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Community Impact Officer at United Way of Greater Nashville for over 13 years. On her priorities: "I'm drawn to causes that create long-term impact — especially those that break cycles of poverty and improve access to education, health and financial stability."

Tracey Dill, Chief Community Impact Officer (began January 1, 2025)

Senior Leadership Team:
United Way of Greater Nashville operates with an all-women senior leadership team including:

  • Chief Development Officer
  • Chief Operating Officer/Chief Financial Officer
  • Chief Marketing Officer
  • Chief Growth Officer

Board of Trustees

Board Chair: Alberto R. Gonzales

Board Members include:

  • Scott Becker, Genesco Inc.
  • E. Anthony (Tony) Heard, InfoWorks, Inc.
  • R. Milton Johnson, HCA Healthcare (Retired)
  • Dr. L. Gregory Jones, Belmont University
  • Gordon Knapp, Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (Retired)
  • Honorable William C. Koch, Jr., Nashville School of Law
  • Dr. Candice McQueen, Lipscomb University
  • Dr. Sydney Savion, Vanderbilt University
  • Rev. Clay Stauffer, Woodmont Christian Church
  • Dr. Shanna Jackson, Nashville State Community College

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

United Way of Greater Nashville operates a bi-annual Community Impact Funding (CIF) process. The most recent cycle opened October 1, 2024, and closed October 25, 2024, with funding beginning July 2025.

Pre-Application Requirements:

  1. Establish 501(c)(3) Status - Must be certified by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) established prior to designated deadline (e.g., April 1, 2022, for recent cycle)
  2. Create Giving Matters Profile - Current profile required through CiviCore platform (https://givingmatters.civicore.com)
  3. Complete Agency Eligibility Review (AER) - Pass the AER process before applying for funding
  4. Update 211 Profile - Maintain current information on the 211 helpline database

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Serve individuals or families with low-to-moderate household income
  • Provide majority of services in health and human services field
  • Demonstrate significant local presence in one or more of the 9 counties served
  • Geographic service area: Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Hickman, Houston, Montgomery, Robertson, Stewart, and Williamson Counties

Application Method: Online through designated portal during bi-annual application windows

Decision Timeline

  • Application Window: October 1-25 (approximately 25 days)
  • Volunteer Review Period: Following application deadline, community volunteers conduct reviews including site visits
  • Board Approval: Board of Trustees provides final approval of funding recommendations
  • Contract Initiation: After board approval
  • Funding Begins: July of the following year (e.g., July 2025 for October 2024 applications)
  • Funding Duration: Two-year commitments

Review Process: Dedicated community volunteers review each agency's financial health, effectiveness, and mission alignment. Volunteers conduct site visits and engage directly with nonprofit leaders to understand community impact.

Success Rates

For the 2025-2027 funding cycle:

  • 184 partner agencies funded
  • 40 newly-funded partners (first-time recipients)
  • 144 continuing partners (approximate)

Success rates and total number of applications not publicly disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

The bi-annual funding cycle structure means organizations must reapply every two years. Specific policies for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly documented. Organizations can indicate interest to be notified when the next cycle opens.

Application Success Factors

What United Way of Greater Nashville Values

Mission Alignment and Community Impact:
President & CEO Erica Mitchell states: "Our community impact process is built on the strength of volunteers who care about improving community conditions across our nine-county footprint. Each year, many dedicated community volunteers spend hours reviewing applications, asking hard questions, and making thoughtful funding decisions. Their involvement, along with the guidance of our board, ensures that donor dollars go to programs making the greatest difference."

Partnership Approach:
"We believe strong partnerships are key to building a thriving community," said Mitchell. The organization seeks collaborative partners rather than simply grant recipients.

Demonstrated Outcomes:
The Outcome-Based Investments program emphasizes "measurable changes in behavior or condition" in focus areas. Programs must demonstrate concrete results, not just activities.

Financial Health and Effectiveness:
Volunteer reviewers carefully examine financial health and organizational effectiveness. Applicants should ensure financial documentation is transparent and demonstrates sound management.

Local Presence and Service to Target Population:
Organizations must demonstrate significant local presence in the 9-county region and must primarily serve low-to-moderate income individuals and families.

Preparation and Profile Management:
Maintaining current and accurate profiles on both Giving Matters (CiviCore) and 211 systems demonstrates organizational capacity and commitment to accessibility.

Examples of Funded Partners

Recent funded partners include diverse organizations such as:

  • Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Middle TN - One-on-one youth mentoring
  • Bethlehem Centers of Nashville - Educational programs for North Nashville children and seniors
  • 4:13 Strong - Job training and placement for formerly incarcerated men
  • FiftyForward - Programs for adults 50 and older
  • Alive Hospice - End-of-life clinical care and grief support
  • American Red Cross - Emergency preparedness and response
  • Ancora TN - Human trafficking aftercare and advocacy

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Plan for a bi-annual cycle - Applications open every two years with two-year funding commitments. Missing a cycle means waiting two years for the next opportunity.
  • Complete all pre-application requirements early - The Giving Matters profile and Agency Eligibility Review must be completed before you can apply. Don't wait until the October application window opens.
  • Emphasize measurable outcomes - United Way prioritizes results-oriented funding. Clearly articulate specific, measurable changes in behavior or condition your program creates.
  • Demonstrate financial health and organizational capacity - Volunteer reviewers conduct thorough examinations. Ensure financial documentation is transparent, accurate, and demonstrates sound fiscal management.
  • Prepare for site visits and direct engagement - The review process includes site visits and conversations with nonprofit leaders. Be ready to showcase your work and articulate your impact in person.
  • Focus on partnership, not just funding - United Way seeks collaborative partners invested in long-term community change. Demonstrate how you'll engage beyond receiving a check.
  • Align with priority areas - Clearly connect your work to one or more of the four funding priorities: Building Strong and Healthy Communities, Helping Kids Learn and Succeed, Breaking the Cycle of Poverty, and Meeting Basic Needs.

References

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