2025 Grant Application Available

October 17, 2024

As part of the annual community grant funding each year, the 2025 Grant Applications through United Way Wayne and Holmes Counties (UWWH) have now been made available. UWWH offers grant funding towards needs based requests. In the last decade, UWWH has granted over $14 Million to solving local issues through partnerships with local non-profits. The grant application window will be open from October 1, 2024 with applications due no later than end of business December 13, 2024.

The grant application allows UWWH to directly assist local nonprofits in Holmes and Wayne Counties, directly working towards their mission to mobilize community resources while improving the lives of people in the community. Local community members assist in the review of completed grants as part of the “Investment Team” as volunteers and UWWH donors who review each grant application. Investment Team volunteers provide funding recommendations to the UWWH Board of Directors.

United Way Wayne and Holmes aims to measurably improve the lives of residents in our community, often those who are employed, but still are income constrained. Four areas of focus guide UWWH in their mission to assist these community members: Health/Mental Health/Substance Abuse Treatment, Safety Net/Basic Needs, Workforce Development and Youth Development. Grant applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements to apply:

Be an organization meeting one of the following criteria:
A 501(c)3 nonprofit currently registered with the Secretary of State of Ohio.
A governmental organization, such as public education institution, voluntary associations, or faith-based community.

Run by a volunteer Board of Directors, none of whom receives any remuneration from the organization.
Currently be located within, and providing services in Wayne and/or Holmes Counties.

A question-and-answer session on the application process will be held at UWWH located at 215 S. Walnut St., Wooster on Thursday, November 7, 2024 at 11 AM and again at 4 PM. Applicants are encouraged to attend. A virtual option is available, please call the office for details. The application deadline is 5 PM on the evening of December 13, 2024. Awards will be announced in March 2025. Organizations who have questions may contact United Way via email: info@uwwh.org or by phone: (330) 264-5576. Application is available at: uwwh.org or go to GET FUNDING.

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Why we stay nonpartisan

By Katie Koglman • October 7, 2026

United We Help: Why United Way Wayne and Holmes Stays Nonpartisan Turn on the television. Scroll social media. Check your mailbox. Election season brings a steady stream of political messages, each competing for our attention and asking us to choose a side. It can be overwhelming, especially when you are trying to separate facts from opinions and decide whom to trust. At United Way Wayne and Holmes Counties, we value the trust our community places in us. That is why we want to be clear about our role during elections.We do not endorse candidates, oppose candidates, or tell people whom to vote for. As a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, we are prohibited from participating in political campaigns for or against candidates for public office. This is a legal requirement , not simply an organizational preference. Our responsibility is to serve Wayne and Holmes Counties and bring people together to help our neighbors. Nonpartisan does not mean silent We see the challenges people face every day: families struggling to afford groceries, workers facing transportation barriers, children needing opportunities to learn, and neighbors searching for mental health support. We have a role in helping our community and policymakers understand those needs. We can share information, educate elected officials, build relationships, and speak up about issues connected to our mission. We can also engage in some lobbying on specific legislation, within the limits that apply to charitable organizations. Speaking up about a community need is different from asking you to vote for a particular candidate. Can we do that? Our “Can We Do That? A Quick Guide to Nonprofit Advocacy” graphic uses a traffic-light approach to explain the difference. Green: Speak up for our community. Share stories, explain community needs, educate policymakers, and encourage civic participation. Yellow: Know the rules. Supporting or opposing specific legislation is lobbying, which comes with limits and responsibilities. Red: No candidate endorsements. We cannot support or oppose candidates, contribute organizational funds to their campaigns, or use our organizational voice to tell you whom to elect. We can encourage people to register and vote, and provide voter information, as long as those efforts remain neutral and do not favor or oppose candidates or political parties. Your vote belongs to you You may hear us discuss hunger, literacy, housing, transportation, or other issues affecting local families. You may see us meeting with elected officials to help them understand what is happening in our communities. Those conversations are about the people we serve. They are not candidate endorsements. We encourage you to ask questions, examine reliable information, learn about candidates, and make your own informed choices. The neighbors who turn to us for help have different backgrounds, beliefs, and political views. So do the donors, volunteers, and partners who make our work possible. Helping our community takes all of us. Election season will come and go. Our commitment to Wayne and Holmes counties continues regardless of the outcome. We encourage all of you to vote, and vote for who you think is the best candidate! Early voting begins October 6, 2026 through Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026 and Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. To find where you should go to vote Click Here. Go VOTE!!