PLEASE REVIEW THE BASIC CONDITIONS OF FUNDING TO ENSURE YOUR AGENCY QUALIFIES.
INSTRUCTIONS:
All applicants are required to have or create an account to complete and submit your application. Keep your user name and password easily accessible so you can "save a draft" and return to complete your submission. Also, this user name and password will continue to be used for future applications.
- LOGIN HERE (if you already have a user name and password)
- CREATE AN ACCOUNT (new users only-an email will be sent to you)
- RESET YOUR PASSWORD (if your email has been used previously, you can reset your password)
- LOGOUT (be sure to log out once you have saved your draft or submitted your application)
APPLICATION QUESTION LISTS (click to download):
- FINANCIAL SECURITY (Word Doc)
- HEALTHY COMMUNITY (Word Doc)
- YOUTH OPPORTUNITY (Word Doc)
APPLICATIONS ARE DUE BY 4:00PM MARCH 31, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
1) How do I submit my organization’s grant application?
You must submit the grant through our grant application portal on our website. We provide a list of grant questions and required documentation, so you may work on the grant in a word processing document and then copy and paste it into the online grant application.
2) Which Impact Area should I apply to?
Choose the Impact Area that best fits your agency’s mission.
Youth Opportunity – Preparing young people to realize their potential from cradle to career
Examples: childcare and early childhood education, in-school, after-school, and summer learning, family engagement, literacy development, college and career readiness
Financial Security – Creating a stronger financial future for every generation
Examples: adult education, job training, and career pathways, financial education and coaching, food security, homelessness prevention, affordable housing, and homeownership, benefits access
Healthy Community – Improving health and wellbeing for all
Examples: healthcare access, maternal and child health, health spaces and physical activity, mental health support, substance misuse, recovery, and prevention
3) What is the funding cycle for a United Way grant?
Grants are awarded in June, with funds being distributed quarterly in July, October, January, and April. The funding cycle is July 2025-June 2026.
4) Is there a required budget template?
We do not provide a budget template for you to complete. Please upload a PDF of your own board-approved budget.
5) Do I need to upload my 501c3 documentation and bylaws if I’ve been a Partner Agency before?
If you are a current partner agency and there have been no changes to these two documents, there is no need to upload them, as we already have them on file. If you are not a current partner agency, we ask that you upload both your 501c3 and bylaws.
6) Who reviews the grant applications?
United Way's Community Investment Cabinet is a committee of community volunteers who: (1) follow and implement policies and procedures consistently and equitably regarding all agency funding requests; (2) review all applications for funding; (3) make assigned site visits to agencies applying to receive funding; and (4) work as a team to come to a consensus for recommending funding amounts for applying agencies. The United Way of Bemidji Area Board of Directors makes the final approval for recommended funding to partner agencies and programs.
7) What are operating reserves?
Operating reserves are unrestricted funds that you have on hand to provide a cushion against unexpected events and expenses and losses of income (such as losing a grant).
8) What is the range of grant awards?
While there is no minimum or maximum on our annual grants, typically agencies receive grants in amounts between $5,000 and $40,000. Agencies who received funding in the previous year are never guaranteed the same dollar amount as the Investment Cabinet allocates based on agency and community needs.
9) Who is eligible to apply for a United Way annual grant?
Agencies seeking partner funding from the United Way of Bemidji Area MUST meet the “Basic Conditions of Funding,” which are provided with the grant application.
10) How do I get a copy of my completed grant application?
When you submit your application, both United Way and your agency receive a submission/confirmation email with the completed application attached. We encourage you to save that file for your records. If you do not receive an email, first check your junk folder. If it’s not there, please contact United Way to ensure submission has been received.