In the 2023 fiscal year, United Way introduced a new way of investing in people, communities, and partners.
Through the Partnership Grant Program (PGP), United Way’s grantmaking model made a significant shift toward one that prioritizes collective learning to foster high-trust relationships, productive knowledge sharing, and include diverse perspectives.
By design, small organizations with deep roots in their communities or expertise in an emerging topic were selected alongside larger nonprofit service providers.
By design, small organizations with deep roots in their communities or expertise in an emerging topic were selected alongside larger nonprofit service providers.
The newly designed program limited its grantees to 100 organizations within United Way’s key focus areas—Early Learning, Career Pathways, Financial Empowerment, and Community Resiliency.
“We found that the outcomes-centered application and reporting expectations of our past grant programs didn’t foster the high-trust relationships that we need to learn from and truly partner with nonprofit leaders,” said President and CEO Bill Golderer.
While funding has traditionally varied among the pool of grantees, each grantee will now receive the same amount of unrestricted funding. Across our nine-county footprint, each will receive a grant of $50,000 in the program’s first year.
Each grantee will now receive the same amount of unrestricted funding. Across our nine-county footprint, each will receive a grant of $50,000 in the program’s first year.
“We have the opportunity to support not only well-known anchors of our sector but also smaller or lesser-known nonprofit organizations who have so much to contribute but may not have been competitive in the past,” added Chief Impact Officer Kate Houstoun.
We have the opportunity to support not only well-known anchors of our sector but also smaller or lesser-known nonprofit organizations who have so much to contribute but may not have been competitive in the past.
Our donors invest in us to lead bold solutions that address poverty and create opportunities for all. The Partnership Grant Program will help us do just that while sustaining close ties to the communities we serve.
Together, we’re not just transforming procedures. We’re creating a brighter, more equitable Greater Philadelphia region for all.