Announcing our 2020 – 2021 Community Impact Grant Awards and the establishment of a new Social Change Initiative to support and prioritize funding toward our community’s work to address homelessness and housing challenges.
Our restructured Impact Grant process allows substantial and meaningful investment in the work of local nonprofit organizations. Our goal is to align evidence-based programs which establish a cohesive strategy for progressive social change. By fully funding these programs, we are able to direct support and build sustainability through measurable outcomes. A dedicated team of community volunteers reviewed program proposals and visited each organization, then made recommendations that were approved by the United Way’s board of directors.
This grant cycle, we will fully fund the following programs for a total of $370,000 over the two year period:
Teen LAUNCH — Engage, Connect, Empower, a collaboration with Rome-Floyd YMCA – $20,000
Acts of Kindness, a collaboration with Summit Quest – $20,000
Become Unsinkable, a collaboration with Rome-Floyd YMCA – $100,000
Cooking Matters and Outdoor Adventures, a collaboration with Summit Quest – $12,000
Life Skills Training, a collaboration with Family Resource Center – $70,000
No Longer Inc, a collaboration with Living Proof Recovery – $40,000
Project Learn, a collaboration with Boys and Girls Club of Northwest Georgia – $108,000
Additionally, the United Way joins our community in acknowledging poverty and homelessness as the greatest social challenges currently facing Rome & Floyd County. We have proposed a partnership with the City of Rome and Floyd County to give the Interagency Council on Poverty & Homelessness a permanent home, 501(c)3 status, and to create a permanent support staff position. This position will lead, coordinate, and support the Interagency Council in developing and implementing their new community plan. United Way has agreed to commit funding to support the council’s agreed upon and defined priorities.