United Way of San Antonio & Bexar County - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $33.5 million (2024)
Total Grant Awards: 128 awards (2024)
Geographic Focus: San Antonio and Bexar County, Texas
Operating Budget: Raises and fundraises more than $45 million annually
Tax Status: 501(c)(3), EIN 74-1272381
Charity Rating: Four-Star rating (100% score) from Charity Navigator

Contact Details

Address: 700 S Alamo St, San Antonio, TX 78205

Phone: (210) 224-4245 or (210) 352-7000

Email: unitedway@unitedwaysatx.org

Website: https://www.uwsatx.org

Request for Proposals: https://www.uwsatx.org/resources/agency-partners/request-for-proposals/

Overview

United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County (UWSA) has been serving the community for decades with a mission to unite the community to identify and solve the most critical issues affecting residents. The organization raises and distributes more than $45 million annually to support programs preparing young children for life, helping students succeed, fostering self-sufficiency for individuals and families, and supporting people in crisis. In 2024, UWSA made $33.5 million in grants across 128 awards, impacting 211,094 lives. Beginning in July 2019, the organization shifted to a collective impact model that funds strategies rather than individual programs, with competitive multi-year funding cycles. Chris Martin has served as President and CEO since April 2019, bringing more than 30 years of United Way experience to the role. Under his leadership, UWSA has focused on improving child literacy and education, student success, and families' financial stability. In 2024, UWSA announced 71 nonprofit organizations selected to receive funding through 2030, representing approximately $15 million in annual investments.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Multi-Year Community Investment Funding (2025-2030)

Amount: Approximately $15 million annually distributed across 71 funded organizations
Duration: Five-year funding commitments through 2030
Application: Highly competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process conducted periodically
Note: This represents core community investment funding subject to annual campaign results

Special Initiative Funds (Example: United for Kerr County Fund)

Amount: $750,000 annually for two years
Purpose: Disaster recovery and specific community needs
Application: Rolling basis as special funds are established through e-CImpact online portal

COVID-19 Response Grants (Historical Reference)

Amount: Individual grants ranged from $5,000 to $50,000
Total Distributed: Over $2 million from a $3.2 million fund

Priority Areas

United Way of San Antonio focuses on three primary impact areas:

1. Ready Children

Ensuring children grow up in safe, stable, and nurturing environments
Health in mind, body, and spirit
Quality early childhood education
School readiness and kindergarten preparation
Child protection, disability, and health services
2024 Impact: 15,637 lives impacted through parenting programs and quality early childhood education

2. Successful Students

Student engagement in communities
High school graduation and college readiness
21st Century workforce preparation
Resource-rich environments with prepared and engaged adult support
Youth development programs

3. Strong Individuals and Families

Economic stability and financial literacy
Self-sufficiency and workforce development
Quality of life free from discrimination
Housing stability
Job training and career advancement
Dual Generation Initiative: Two-generation approach helping families secure stable housing, childcare, well-paying jobs, and education (2024: 417 households with 180 adults in education/workforce training)

4. Safety Net Services

Emergency and disaster assistance
Crisis intervention
2-1-1 Helpline: 161,738 calls in 2024 connecting residents to housing, child care, job training, and more

Special Programs:

Family Resource Center Network: Place-based collective impact strategy addressing child abuse and neglect
Military and Veteran Support: State grant management to improve well-being of Texas military and veteran families
VITA Tax Assistance: 23,000 individuals served with $31.6 million in tax refunds (2024)
Texas Rising Star Quality Childcare: 203 centers achieved certification in 2024

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not publicly detailed, UWSA funds evidence-based programs aligned with their three impact areas (Ready Children, Successful Students, Strong Individuals and Families) and safety net services. Organizations outside Bexar County or those not aligned with these strategic priorities would not qualify for core community investment funding.

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Christopher (Chris) Martin, President & CEO

Joined October 2018, became CEO April 2019
30+ years of United Way experience
Board Chair of United Ways of Texas
Vision: "In an ideal vision, you end up with every one of our kids being ready for kindergarten, every one of our kids graduating from high school and they're ready for college, career and life. They have the real foundation that they need to be successful. And making sure the individuals and families in this community are financially stable."
Philosophy: "I believe more so today in what we're doing because I think we're really starting to get at the core issues that this community faces."

Edward H. Guerra, Executive Vice President, Administration and CFO

Peggy Poore, Executive Vice President, Partners for Community Change

Board of Trustees

Kim Lubel, Board Chair

Herb Stumberg, Secretary (Air Measurement Technologies, Inc.)

Rene Escobedo, Treasurer (Attorney at Law)

Lyndon Herridge, Vice Chair and Former President & CEO (Retired March 2019)

The Board includes representatives from major corporations including H-E-B, USAA, Valero Energy Corporation, and other leading organizations in the San Antonio business community.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

United Way of San Antonio uses a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process for its core community investment funding. Applications are submitted through e-CImpact, United Way's online grants management portal.

Multi-Year Community Investment Funding:

RFPs are released periodically (most recent cycle selected organizations to receive funding from 2025-2030)
This is described as "the most competitive request for proposal process in United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County's history" with more than $58 million in annual funding requests across 200+ program proposals from 168 organizations
Future RFP cycles have not been announced; organizations should monitor the website

Special Initiative Funds:

Released on a rolling basis as specific funds are established
Recent example: United for Kerr County Fund (flood recovery)
Each fund has its own timeline, eligibility, and application requirements

Application Requirements:

Organizations must submit proposals through e-CImpact portal
Must demonstrate alignment with UWSA's strategic priorities
Must show potential to meet evolving community needs
Proposals undergo rigorous review by community volunteers organized into Impact Councils

Decision Timeline

For Special Initiative Funds (e.g., Kerr County Fund example):

RFS Launch to Application Deadline: Approximately 25 days
Application Deadline to Award Notification: Approximately 2 months
Total Process: Approximately 3 months from launch to program start

For Multi-Year Community Investment Funding:

Award notifications are made in Spring
Co-investment revenue must be confirmed at time of award notification
Programs begin July 1 following award notification

Funding Disbursement:

United Way allocates 1/12 of awarded funding each month
Performance reviewed monthly, which may influence funding allocation

Success Rates

The most recent RFP cycle (2024-2025) was highly competitive:

Applications: 200+ program proposals from 168 organizations requesting $58 million
Awards: 71 organizations selected
Estimated Success Rate: Approximately 42% of organizations (71 out of 168) received funding
Total Available: Approximately $15 million annually

This represents one of the most competitive cycles in UWSA's history.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations may undergo separate interviews if they apply for multiple indicators or programs. Being interviewed does not guarantee an award of funding. Organizations that are not selected may reapply when future RFP opportunities are announced.

Application Success Factors

Based on UWSA's stated priorities and recent funding decisions, successful applications demonstrate:

1. Strategic Alignment Strong applications are those that "most strongly aligned with our strategies and demonstrated the most potential to meet the evolving needs of our community." Alignment with one or more of the three Impact Council areas (Ready Children, Successful Students, Strong Individuals and Families) is essential.

2. Measurable Outcomes UWSA emphasizes that "measurable goals have been set to ensure that every gift is optimized, expenses are low and that people's lives will be improved." Applications should include clear metrics and evaluation plans demonstrating community impact.

3. Evidence-Based Programs All programs "regularly undergo a Standards Review to ensure that dollars donated fund strong programs and make the greatest community impact possible." Applications should cite evidence of program effectiveness.

4. Organizational Stability UWSA has "a long history of raising and allocating funds to strong, well-managed agencies and programs." Organizations should demonstrate fiscal and administrative stability with low overhead rates (typically 35% or less based on general United Way standards).

5. Community Support Applications should demonstrate broad community support and partnerships that amplify impact.

6. Collective Impact Approach Since transitioning to a collective impact model in 2019, UWSA funds strategies rather than individual programs. Applications should show how programs contribute to larger community-wide strategies and outcomes.

Recent Examples of Funded Programs:

Parenting programs and quality early childhood education (Ready Children)
Child protection, disability, and health services
Dual Generation Initiative serving families on east and west sides of San Antonio
Programs supporting the Family Resource Center Network
Programs contributing to Texas Rising Star childcare quality certification
Military and veteran family support services

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Multi-year commitment: UWSA offers 5-year funding cycles, providing stability for funded organizations but making competition intense when RFPs are released
Strategic fit is paramount: With a 42% success rate in the most recent cycle, applications must demonstrate exceptionally strong alignment with Ready Children, Successful Students, or Strong Individuals and Families impact areas
Collective impact model: UWSA funds strategies, not just programs—show how your work contributes to community-wide solutions and coordinates with other efforts
Measurement matters: Include concrete, measurable outcomes and evaluation plans; UWSA conducts ongoing Standards Reviews and monthly performance monitoring
Watch for special initiatives: While core community investment RFPs are infrequent, special funds (like disaster recovery) may offer additional opportunities on a rolling basis
Build relationships early: With Chris Martin's emphasis on understanding how organizations view United Way as "an asset in the community," engaging with UWSA before RFP cycles through volunteer opportunities, Impact Councils, or community partnerships may strengthen future applications
Demonstrate community impact at scale: Recent funding decisions favored organizations impacting thousands of lives (e.g., 15,637 through Ready Children programs; 161,738 calls to 2-1-1)

References

United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County official website: https://www.uwsatx.org (Accessed December 2024)
GuideStar Profile - United Way of San Antonio & Bexar County: https://www.guidestar.org/profile/74-1272381 (Accessed December 2024)
"United Way Names Nonprofits Set to Share in $15 Million Worth of Grants," San Antonio Report: https://sanantonioreport.org/united-way-names-nonprofits-set-to-share-in-15-million-worth-of-grants/ (Accessed December 2024)
United Way of San Antonio Request for Proposals page: https://www.uwsatx.org/resources/agency-partners/request-for-proposals/ (Accessed December 2024)
Impact and Community Partners - United Way of San Antonio: https://www.uwsatx.org/about-us/partnerships/impact-and-community-partners/ (Accessed December 2024)
Board of Directors - United Way of San Antonio: https://www.uwsatx.org/about-us/people/board-of-directors/ (Accessed December 2024)
Staff Leaders - United Way of San Antonio: https://www.unitedwaysatx.org/about-us/staff-leaders/ (Accessed December 2024)
"New United Way CEO: 'We Must Adapt to Changing Environment'," San Antonio Report: https://sanantonioreport.org/new-united-way-ceo-we-must-adapt-to-changing-environment/ (Accessed December 2024)
"United Way's Chris Martin: Changing the plan to tackle San Antonio's poverty, education problems," San Antonio Express-News: https://www.expressnews.com/business/business_columnists/texas_power_brokers/article/United-Way-s-Chris-Martin-Changing-the-plan-to-14970992.php (Accessed December 2024)
"United Way's Top Accomplishments in 2024," United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County: https://www.uwsatx.org/blog/united-ways-top-accomplishments-in-2024/ (Accessed December 2024)
"United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County Selects Nonprofit Partners to Fund For Next Five Years": https://www.uwsatx.org/blog/united-way-of-san-antonio-and-bexar-county-selects-nonprofit-partners-to-fund-for-next-five-years/ (Accessed December 2024)
United Way of San Antonio & Bexar County, Instrumentl 990 Report: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/united-way-of-san-antonio-bexar-county (Accessed December 2024)
Charity Navigator Rating - United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County: https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/741272381 (Accessed December 2024)
ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - United Way of San Antonio & Bexar County: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/741272381 (Accessed December 2024)
"United Way investments made with community in mind," MySA Commentary: https://www.mysanantonio.com/opinion/commentary/article/United-Way-investments-made-with-community-in-mind-13811718.php (Accessed December 2024)