United Way of Central Ohio is pleased to announce the 2024-2025 program investment process is underway, with full proposals submitted by 86 nonprofits for 113 programs. Full proposals under consideration are for programs aligned with Success by Third Grade. These are strategies focused on strengthening families and ensuring every child has the opportunities and resources necessary to be on a pathway to success by the time they leave third grade. The program investment grant cycle begins July 1, 2024, and ends June 30, 2025.

Before final funding decisions are made, however, 43 United Way staff members and many loyal community volunteers are busy conducting 87 site visits across central Ohio to hear from nonprofits and get a firsthand look at their programs in action. Volunteers include United Way supporters from Hexion, Nationwide, PNC and other organizations. Funding recommendations will go to the United Way board of trustees on April 25 for approval.

A total of 166 people reviewed and scored the Letters of Intent in late January and early February. This is the largest number of participants United Way has had for the process, and it included 27 staff members and over 135 community volunteers. LOI reviewers were evenly split with 48% identifying as white and 48% as people of color (3.6% did not disclose). A total of 18 teams each reviewed and scored nine Letters of Intent.

Diversity, equity and inclusion are central to United Way’s mission and are a focus of our program investment process, as well.  Nonprofits that receive funding are required to have a board-approved plan to increase their board diversity so that it reflects the demographics of Franklin County or the service area of the organization. To help support this effort, we work in collaboration with funded agencies to create and execute rigorous plans for achieving greater board diversity.