United Way VIT to determine grant awards
A team of local volunteers will determine how hundreds of thousands of dollars raised through the 2024 United Way Wayne and Holmes Counties campaign will be invested in the community. The Volunteer Investment Team plays a crucial role in ensuring donations support local initiatives in the community that work to help people improve their lives.
Volunteer Investment Team members come from all corners of both counties and represent the community at large. Some VIT members have been reviewing grants for United Way Wayne and Holmes for several years, and others joined in 2024 as new members. They are all personal donors to the organization.
Annually, area nonprofits can apply for grants from United Way Wayne and Holmes. Funds must be used in one of the four core areas: health/mental health, workforce development, youth development or basic needs.
Last year VIT members recommended funding of over $1 million to 21 local organizations including Boys and Girls Club of Orrville and Wooster to provide before and after school care, Catholic Charities for mental health treatment, Holmes Center for the Arts for scholarships for youth programs, and Nick Amster Workshop for workforce development experiences.
The dollar amount in grant requests varies each year — the requests this year totaled over $1.5 million. The available amount of money the VIT will have to allocate is significantly less than the requests, so tough decisions will have to be made about where to invest the dollars. The amount available to spend is yet to be determined as the fundraising campaign just closed.
In January the VIT members picked up their binders with grant applications, financial information and third-party validation on each of the applicants. They will meet in person to discuss, rank and make a recommendation to the board of directors on funding needs in mid-February.
Volunteer Investment Team members said dollars are used where the community most needs the financial assistance. However, it’s not only based on financial need, but also on the applying organization’s ability to be transparent with their financials or open about how and where they spend the money. Grants are not awarded without going through a vetting process, which includes reviewing financials, verifying valid status with government entities, and application review and discussion by the Volunteer Investment Team.
Grant award announcements will be made in the latter part of March.
To learn more or join the next VIT, email info@uwwh.org or call Kayley at 330-264-5576.
