United Way of Tompkins County supports health & human service programs that are making an impact in our community. Those requesting a grant from United Way of Tompkins County must be a 501(c)3 non-profit organization (or under the fiscal sponsorship of one), community council, or municipal agency physically in or primarily serving residents of Tompkins County.
How to Apply
Please login to Foundant, our online grant management platform, to apply for available grants. We recommend using Google Chrome as your web browser, but Foundant is compatible with all browsers. To access training information for Foundant, including written instructions and videos, please click here. For technical assistance with your Foundant account, or to receive training, please contact Chief Operating Officer, Gail Belokur, at gbelokur@uwtc.org.
Click here to start your application
United Tompkins Community Impact Fund
- Opening: February 15, 2024
- Closing: March 28, 2024 - 5:00PM
The United Tompkins Community Impact Fund (formerly Community Care Fund) invests in programs that address community needs and strengthens lives in Tompkins County. Funds are granted on a two-year cycle. Each cycle, the United Tompkins Community Impact Fund awards grants to support the operations, programs, and services of local nonprofit, mission-driven agencies whose work in full or part is based in one of UTWC's established priority impact areas which include:
• Access to Safe, Affordable Housing
• Food Security
• Flourishing of Marginalized Communities
• Whole Health and Well Being
• Transportation
• Childhood and Youth Success
Learn more about how UWTC's Community Impact Committee has invested resources through the UTCIF's current cycle here.
Previous Awardees:
T. Merrell Shipherd Grant Fund
At this time there are no funds available for this grant process. Please check back in the future.
Previous Awardees: 2020 COVID-19 Response Awards, 2019-2020 Awardees, 2018-2019 Awardees
Youth and Philanthropy (YAP) Grant Fund
- Opening: Monday, September 30, 2024
- Closing: Monday, October 28, 2024
Description: Each year, 10th-12th graders from across Tompkins County participating in the Youth and Philanthropy (YAP) program, award grants to programs sponsored by local nonprofit agencies that focus on addressing community needs. All applications must clearly identify how the grant funding will address specific community needs and how those needs were identified. Requests do not have to be youth-centered. Funding for the grants awarded is provided by a generous donation from Triad Foundation.
Eligibility: 501c3 nonprofits and exempt charitable, municipal/community, or educational organizations serving Tompkins County residents are eligible to apply.
Total Amount To Be Awarded: $25,000
Learn more about the Fall 2022 projects YAP has invested in here.
Previous Awardees: 2021 Awardees, 2020 Awardees, 2019 Awardees, 2018 Awardees
FOCUS Fund
- Opening: Friday, May 19, 2023
- Closing: Wednesday, May 31, 2023 @ 8:00AM
Each spring, Dryden Middle School students in the Focus On Community Understanding Service (FOCUS) work with UWTC staff and school faculty/volunteers on leadership and development activities; community needs assessments; and a competitive grant cycle for their rural town. The students ultimately decide how to allocate the available funds.
The funding for the program is provided by a generous grant from the Dryden Youth Opportunity Fund.
Eligibility:
- Must be a 501c3 non-profit organization or sponsored by one
- Program must be based in and/or provide direct service to the Town of Dryden community
- Requests should be for a specific project, program, or essential equipment – not general operating expenses
- Requests should be in the $250-$500 range, with a maximum request of $1,000
UWTC hopes to expand the program into additional Tompkins County communities in the future.