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.

What 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

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.
  • File a current IRS Form 990 (not a 990N e-Postcard) or provide documentation explaining why a filing exemption applies.
  • Offer programming that supports one or more of UWWF’s four impact areas:
    • Healthy Community
    • Youth Opportunity
    • Financial Security
    • Community Resilience
  • Programs must serve individuals and families living in Escambia and/or Santa Rosa counties.

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.org

July

  • UWWF hosts Community Investment Grant training sessions.
  • The Letter of Intent (LOI) opens in e-Cimpact. 

August

  • The LOI closes. 
  • The UWWF Finance Committee reviews LOI submissions.
  • The full grant application opens in e-Cimpact.

September

  • The grant application closes. 
  • UWWF hosts volunteer training sessions. 
  • Volunteers are assigned applications and begin evaluations.
  • Volunteers may submit questions to applicants through e-Cimpact. 

October

  • Applicants deliver presentations to volunteer panels about their programs.

November

  • Volunteer panels deliberate and make initial funding recommendations.
  • Panel co-chairs review and finalize recommendations for submission to the UWWF Board of Directors.
  • The UWWF Board of Directors reviews and approves final funding decisions. 

December

  • Applicants are notified of funding decisions and next steps.

January 2027

  • Funding begins for awarded agencies.

A: 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, we can better measure true outcomes rather than short-term outputs. This shift helps us understand the sustained impact of our investments and how they improve lives across Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties.

A: A two-year funding model provides: 

  • Stronger outcome measurement: giving agencies time to demonstrate long-term change.
  • Greater program stability: enabling more consistent planning and implementation.
  • Reduced administrative workload: allowing agencies to focus more on community impact rather than annual applications. 
  • Improved collaboration: fostering deeper partnerships between UWWF, volunteers, and local nonprofits. 

A: This transition allows UWWF to support better preventive, long-term solutions that address the root causes of challenges faced by the ALICE population: households that are Asset Limited, Income Constrained, and Employed. By focusing on outcomes rather than outputs, we aim to create meaningful, sustainable improvements in financial stability, education, and health for families striving to make ends meet. 

A: The six-month transition period will give UWWF time to implement and align this new approach. During this period, staff and volunteers will refine processes, provide updated training, and ensure seamless transition for agencies. This phase also allows us to strengthen how we measure impact and integrate preventive strategies that serve the ALICE population more effectively. 

A: While the application process through e-Cimpact will remain familiar, reviews and funding decisions will occur every two years. Applications will place a stronger emphasis on outcome-based reporting, long-term goals, and measurable community impact. 

A: The first two-year Community Investment Grant cycle will begin in January 2027, following the six-month transition period. 

A: Yes. Volunteer panels remain an essential part of UWWF's Community Investment process. They will continue to review applications, attend presentations, and make funding recommendations, now within a two-year cycle that allows for more meaningful evaluation of results.