Community Investment Grants

Community Investment Grants: Funding Local Impact

UWWF's Community Investment Grants support local nonprofit programs that create meaningful, measurable impacts in the lives of individuals and families across Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.

Grants are awarded to nonprofit programs that focus on one of four impact areas: 

• Healthy Community
• Youth Opportunity
• Financial Security
• Community Resilience

Click here to view the 2025-26 funded non-profit programs 

Applications are reviewed by trained volunteers who live and serve in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Each application is assigned to a volunteer panel based on its impact area. Nonprofits can submit a Letter of Intent and grant application via e-Cimpact.

Updates to the Community Investment Grants:

• Grants are transitioning from a one-year to a two-year cycle. 
• Grants will now focus on Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed (ALICE) individuals and families across the four impact areas. If funded, most households being served under UWWF funding must fall within the ALICE threshold. 
• UWWF anticipates funding up to 15 programs this cycle to better position selected agencies to receive awards that align with their requested amounts, subject to available funds.

The transition to a two-year cycle allows UWWF and our partner agencies to take a broader, more strategic view of community impact. By evaluating programs over a longer period, UWWF can better measure true outcomes rather than short-term outputs. By limiting the number of awards, UWWF can invest more deeply and equitably in programs that strengthen our community. This shift helps UWWF better understand the sustained impact of its investments and how they improve lives across Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties. 

Who is ALICE?

ALICE represents households that earn more than the Federal Poverty Level but less than the basic cost of living for their county. These individuals or families do not qualify for government assistance, yet still struggle to make ends meet.

ALICE in our community:

• 28% of households in Escambia County 
• 27% of households in Santa Rosa County 

The goal of the Community Investment Grant is to address challenges ALICE households face and provide the support needed to thrive, not just survive.

Learn More

Click here to learn more about ALICE in Escambia County. 

Click here to learn more about ALICE in Santa Rosa County.

See below for more information on the Community Investment Grant and FAQs.

Community Investment Grant Eligibility

Agency Requirements - Nonprofits interested in applying for a UWWF Community Investment Grant must meet the following eligibility requirements: 

• Be incorporated and registered as a nonprofit in the state of Florida and certified as a tax-exempt charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
• Have an independent Board of Directors that meets regularly.
• Maintain current bylaws that guide the organization’s operations.
• Have been operational for at least 12 months and can provide the most recent completed year of financial documentation (i.e. audit, review or board-approved internal financials).
• File a current IRS Form 990 (not a 990N e-Postcard) or provide documentation explaining why a filing exemption applies.

Program Requirements - Nonprofits interested in applying for a UWWF Community Investment Grant must meet the following eligibility requirements in their program:

• Align with at least one of UWWF’s four impact areas
• Serve Escambia and/or Santa Rosa County residents
• Serve ALICE households
• Collect and report on the following data:
  • Income ranges  
    • ALICE  
    • Federal Poverty Level
  • Ethnicity  
  • Age
  • Gender
  • Geographic Area
  • Veteran Status  
  • Disability status  
  • Locations served  

Impact Areas and Outcomes: 

• Healthy Communities
  • Outcome - Improve community health and wellbeing
• Youth Opportunity
  • Outcome - Develop foundations for youth success
• Community Resilience
  • Outcome - Improve disaster preparedness and resource awareness
• Financial Security  
  • Outcome - Build household financial stability and independence

Graphic example:

Application Process:

Eligible nonprofits must complete the following steps to be considered for a Community Investment Grant:

1. Attend a virtual or in-person mandatory grant training session.
2. Ensure their nonprofit has an active e-Cimpact account with current contact information.
3. Submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) for a specific program. The LOI will be reviewed by the UWWF Finance Committee, made up of UWWF Board members.
4. If selected to advance, complete the full grant application through e-Cimpact.
5. Participate in a presentation to the volunteer panel assigned to review their application.

Agencies that are new to the United Way of West Florida application process and who need access to the application should contact Julia Helton at julia.helton@uwwf.or