Open call! London-area United Way seeking poverty-reduction pitches

United Way Elgin Middlesex is making an open call to grassroots organizations and equity-seeking groups with pitches to fight poverty, a move it says has increased the diversity of the people in the community it is reaching.

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With the program, which first launched in 2021 and is open for a new round of applications, the United Way has been able to boost the number of Indigenous-led organizations it supports, said president and chief executive Kelly Ziegner.

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When it first launched, the program “was well-received by the community and for us to stay nimble and be responsive to the needs of the community in real-time. We envision this process will continue every two years,” she said.

The grants focus on agencies that work with equity-deserving populations, such as Indigenous people, persons with disabilities and folks who are disproportionately affected by poverty. The program was created to boost opportunities for funding access and make the process more equitable.

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Local charities can apply for grants to support one or two programs at up to $200,000 each. A maximum amount of $400,000 in grants is available to a single organization. The funding lasts two years, running from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2026.

The non-profit received many applications last time and is expecting the same this time around.

“It’s a pretty competitive process, and I can tell you the last time we went through the granting process, we received close to $14 million in requests for about $4.5 million dollars in funding,” said Ziegner.

The United Way program is taking applications until Nov. 3. Proposals are assessed in a lengthy process by staff and volunteers from different demographics and backgrounds, including from the labor sector and the corporate world.

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“It’s a very, very difficult volunteer job because it’s not for lack of wanting to find them all. It’s just a result of there’s not enough for everyone,” Ziegner said.

Agencies supported by the community fund in 2021 are not guaranteed funding after March 2023. The United Way says their priority is focusing on programs that reduce or prevent poverty while expanding funding opportunities for organizations and initiatives.

The funding program is responding to “immense” need in the community, Ziegner said, urging the public to support United Way so there is more to give to organizations that help the most marginalized.

For more information on the community fund and how to apply, visit www.unitedwayem.ca/whatwedo/community-fund/

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