For the first time, United Way of Central Indiana is awarding $1.2 million in grants to 33 nonprofits outside of its accredited partner network.
United Way’s Basic Needs Fund is awarding $500,000 to 27 nonprofits, and the Family Opportunity Fund is awarding $700,000 to eight nonprofits. Two organizations will receive money from both funds.
“Nearly 40% of Central Indiana households are living in, or one emergency away from, poverty,” said Shannon Jenkins, United Way’s vice president of impact. “These grants to non-accredited organizations, guided by United Way’s strategic aim of increasing and diversifying investment in under-resourced areas, will support operations, services and programming — and outcomes supporting more people and families throughout Central Indiana.”
The Basic Needs Fund focuses on providing safe housing, healthy food access, transportation and health services. The Family Opportunity Fund supports programming for adults and youth in the same household to improve education, financial stability and family well-being.
Nonprofits in Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion, Morgan and Putnam counties were invited in October to apply for grants. Two committees of United Way staff, board members, and volunteers reviewed applications and selected the recipients. The grants are part of a larger initiative by United Way to strengthen their role as a community partner in underserved areas.
“With this funding BCMP will continue helping youth realize their potential while also addressing growth opportunities for the parents and caregivers who may pursue ways to improve their family’s overall livelihood,” said Matt Wilson, executive director of Boone County Mentoring Partnership (BCMP).
The following organizations received funds from the Family Opportunity Fund:
- Boone County Mentoring Partnership: $80,000 (Boone)
- Child Care Answers: $80,000 (Marion)
- Coburn Place Safehaven II, Inc.: $80,000 (Marion)
- Indiana Latino Institute: $80,000 (Marion)
- Latino Youth Collective: $80,000 (Marion)
- Positive Character Girls: $80,000 (Marion)
- Trinity Free Clinic: $140,000 (Hamilton)
- Westminster Neighborhood Services: $80,000 (Marion)
The following are the recipients of the Basic Needs Fund grants:
- accessABILITY Center for Independent Living: $25,000 (Marion)
- Ascent 121: $25,000 (Marion)
- Beyond Homeless: $20,000 (Putnam)
- Brookside Community Development Corporation: $15,000 (Marion)
- Centers of Wellness for Urban Women: $15,000 (Marion)
- Community Action of Greater Indianapolis: $5,000 (Marion)
- Desert Rose Foundation: $20,000 (Morgan)
- Dove Recovery House for Women: $25,000 (Marion)
- Family Promise of Hamilton County: $20,000 (Hamilton)
- Fuller Center for Housing of Putnam County: $25,000 (Putnam)
- Grace Care Center: $25,000 (Hamilton)
- Habitat for Humanity of Boone County: $10,000 (Boone)
- Heart and Soul Clinic: $15,000 (Hamilton)
- Hope Healthcare Services: $25,000 (Hendricks)
- Isaiah 117 House: $10,000 (Marion)
- Janus Development Services: $25,000 (Hamilton)
- Meals on Wheels of Hamilton County: $15,000 (Hamilton)
- NeuroHope of Indiana: $15,000 (Marion)
- New Life Food for Life: $10,000 (Putnam)
- Peace Restored: $20,000 (Morgan)
- The Caring Center: $15,000 (Boone)
- St. Vincent de Paul Indianapolis Council: $25,000 (Marion)
- Susters Inc.: $15,000 (Marion)
- Talitha Koum Women’s Recovery House: $15,000 (Hancock)
- Trans Solutions Research and Resource Center: $15,000 (Marion)
- Trinity Free Clinic: $25,000 (Hamilton)
- Westminster Neighborhood Services: $25,000 (Marion)
For more information about United Way, visit uwci.org.
This reporting is made possible by a grant from the Indianapolis African-American Quality of Life Initiative, empowering our community with essential health insights. https://iaaqli.org/
Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.
Hanna Rauworth is the Health & Environmental Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, where she covers topics at the intersection of public health, environmental issues, and community impact. With a commitment to storytelling that informs and empowers, she strives to highlight the challenges and solutions shaping the well-being of Indianapolis residents.
