Pathways To Potential
United Way of Southwestern Indiana’s new strategic framework includes a move to competitive grant funding. Requests for Proposals (RFP’s) will be released semi-annually and will center around one or more of our Pathways. Any 501(c)3 in good standing that serves Vanderburgh, Warrick, or Spencer counties is eligible to apply. A nonprofit does not have to be a legacy “Partner Agency” to apply for these funding opportunities. United Way of Southwestern Indiana is excited to expand our partnerships and empower individuals and families with resources to support upward mobility.
All applications are evaluated and scored by content expert taskforces. The highest scorers are passed to United Way’s Community Impact Cabinet who makes funding recommendations to the Board of Directors. For more detailed information on our funding process, click here.
Pathways To Potential
Pathways to Potential is United Way SWI’s issue-based, competitive grant process to
address the root causes of poverty. Due to the large and complex nature of poverty, we
prioritize the following pathways toward upward mobility: employment, mental health,
youth services, and a two-generation approach to social stability.
Applicants must be either a 501(c) 3 organization registered with the IRS or a community group with a 501(c)3 organization serving as its fiscal sponsor. Proposed projects must provide services in Spencer, Vanderburgh, and/or Warrick County
THE PATHWAYS
EMPOWERING EMPLOYMENT
Empowering individuals with the resources needed to
secure and maintain living-wage employment
MENTAL HEALTH
Advocating for, and improving,
access to mental health care
THRIVING NEXT GEN
Equipping children and youth with skills
to thrive both socially and academically
SOCIAL STABILITY & GROWTH
Strengthening relationships that serve as a safety net and alliances that expand opportunities for growth
Two of the four Pathway Grants are awarded each year as part of a two-year cycle.
Current Pathway Grant Cycle
Spring 2025 - Social Stability and Growth
The intention of this funding is to serve families who are experiencing financial and social instability. Priority consideration will be given to programs with a multi-generation service model and programs with proven strategies for reducing socia
MINIMUM REQUEST: $50,000
Funding Process
At United Way, we convene the resources needed to solve our community’s most critical problems. One of those resources is charitable dollars. United Way raises funds, then oversees the investment of your hard-earned dollars back into activities and programs that demonstrate positive impact toward solving the problem.
But we don’t do that alone.
We depend on teams of local content and context experts who volunteer their time to develop each Request for Proposal and to evaluate applications. They help us invest your donation into local nonprofits and collaborations that empower individuals and families with resources to support upward mobility. United Way works to make demonstrable impact toward a chosen goal and has developed four Pathways research shows have the strongest links to upward mobility.
Click here for more information on our new strategic focus on upward mobility and view a listing of our current funded partners here.
Funding Process
At United Way, we convene the resources needed to solve our community’s most critical problems. One of those resources is charitable dollars. United Way raises funds, then oversees the investment of your hard-earned dollars back into activities and programs that demonstrate positive impact toward solving the problem.
But we don’t do that alone.
We depend on teams of local content and context experts who volunteer their time to develop each Request for Proposal and to evaluate applications. They help us invest your donation into local nonprofits and collaborations that empower individuals and families with resources to support upward mobility.
Social Stability & Growth Grantees
Dream Center (with Potter’s Wheel, Memorial CDC)
$334,419
Providing wrap-around case management for families, which matches a family with a support person who can assist them with a wide range of issues
Evansville Christian Life Center
$200,000
Expansion of nationally-recognized GAIN initiative which helps low-income people build relationships through a cohort training on financial management and life skills, as well as pairs them with mentors
Parenting Time Center
$100,000
Hires a wrap-around case manager to support parents who are working to regain custody of their children
Thriving Next Gen Grantees
EVSC Foundation
$211,876
Piloting of the International Newcomers Academy, providing dedicated staff to serve English as a second language students
YWCA of Evansville
$156,000
Expansion of Live Y’ers program to low-income boys, prioritizing boys of color
Youth First
$99,290
Expanding service to two Warrick County Middle Schools, eliminating a gap in service between elementary and high school
Mental Health Access Grantees
Youth First
$222,160
Hire additional staff to serve more students, including ESL students
Catholic Charities
$177,840
Increase counseling capacity and underwrite sliding-scale fees
Gaining Employment Grantees
Grow Southwest Indiana Workforce Board, Inc.
$140,000
Mobile service & expansion of service to additional job seekers
Ivy Tech Foundation
$84,000
Scholarships for new IvyBridges HVAC and CDL certification program
Missing Pieces
$26,000
Support of new no-fee transportation route to provide accessibility to employers in Eastern Vanderburgh/Western Warrick County
The Process
The Impact Cabinet assesses the financial resources available and determines funding pools for each Request for Proposal.
In advance of a scheduled Pathway Request for Proposal release, a taskforce of content and context experts is assembled to:
- Assess the need in the respective Pathway area
- Determine the specific impact goal for the RFP
- Develop the RFP, including eligibility criteria and evaluative measures
- Evaluate and score grant applications.
Additionally, a taskforce of financial experts is assembled to review applicants’ financial position and program efficiency.
Applications are evaluated via a blind review, ensuring no potential favoritism by anyone who may have professional relationships with applicants. Scores are reviewed by the Impact Cabinet and funding recommendations are based on both applicant scores and available resources. All funding recommendations are then approved by our Board of Directors.
Grant Management Platform
We utilize the e-CImpact software to manage grant applications, progress reports, and accountability documents. If you are a new applicant, you will choose the “New to e-CImpact” selection at the bottom of the login page.