Community impact fund
investing in our community
Through the generous contributions of individual and corporate donors, we invest millions of dollars each year through the Community Impact Fund
The Community Impact Fund is our traditional process of investing contributions from donors into metro-area community programs. The Community Impact Fund (CIF) is one piece of our total investment in the community, but perhaps what we are known for most.
amplifying the impact of each donation
THROUGH THE COMMUNITY IMPACT FUND, ONE DONATION INVESTS IN MORE THAN 100 PROGRAMS AT ONCE.
Donors can either designate directly to the Community Impact Fund or give generally to United Way of the Midlands to support this work. Programs receiving UWM funds have the flexibility to use these dollars within the scope of their initiatives to meet various needs, amplifying the value of your support.
community voice in action
Receiving an investment from the Community Impact Fund is more than a financial investment. It is a stamp of approval from our community volunteers who make the investment recommendations.
Teams of community volunteers review program applications and direct dollars where they are needed most – creating a circle of support and strengthening the human services network in our community.
providing a circle of support
your gift builds a stronger tomorrow for our community
more than
local programs
from more than
local nonprofits
to provide
services
how it works
application process
UWM accepts applications from nonprofits across the metro requesting funding for their programming.
The process begins with nonprofits submitting a letter of intent to apply for funding, followed by a due diligence meeting where applicants meet with UWM staff members to discuss their program and the application process. Based upon the letter of intent and the due diligence meeting, nonprofits are then invited to apply and are provided with the formal application.
community-led funding
A key part of the process is the utilization of community centered volunteer review teams to review applications and help determine which agency programs receive a grant award.
Our review teams are made up of volunteers from the community who generously donate their time and represent diverse areas of expertise and lived experiences. Conflicts of interests are disclosed and respected to maintain the integrity of the process.
Once all of the applications are received by UWM, volunteers are assigned to a review team with a focus rooted in one of our four priority funding areas: Community Resiliency, Youth Opportunity, Financial Security and Healthy Communities. The teams are assigned 10-12 applications to score, participate in an orientation meeting and two review meetings to discuss scores and recommend funding levels. All CIF funding is reviewed and approved by the UWM Board of Directors.
relationships & reporting
This process helps ensure all funds are awarded to programs making the most significant impact in the community, while also addressing the highest needs in our area.
Over the course of the grant period, UWM staff reviews reporting, provides technical assistance, connects volunteers to the agencies and uses this time to strengthen our organizational partnerships. Partners are also provided opportunities to bring visibility to their work through UWM engagement, publicity and data partnerships. For multi-year investments, site visits are conducted in off-cycle years to provide volunteers with a sense of how dollars are being used to enhance service delivery.
This engagement also helps UWM and volunteers keep our pulse on community needs in preparation for future funding cycles.
2024 - 2026 investments
Through the CIF’s 2024-2026 investment cycle, UWM is investing $6.4 million into more than 120 unique programs across the Omaha-Council Bluffs metro.
A majority of CIF investments provide multi-year funding. These programs support UWM’s goal of delivering 10 million services during the ’25-’26 one-year period.
A TRUSTED STEWARD OF DONOR FUNDS
UWM is committed to leading the discernment process with practices and open communication.
Each program applying was able to connect with UWM staff to receive feedback and seek clarity prior to the application with the addition of a letter of intent requirement and a due diligence meeting this cycle.
The nonprofit landscape has grown increasingly competitive with a growing number of organizations providing vital services, which underscores the importance of the CIF and its process. UWM is proud to be investing in these programs that the volunteer review teams diligently examined and recommended based on their ability to serve critical needs in our community.
Funded Agency Programs
100 Black Men of Omaha
African American Empowerment Network
Alcoholic Resocialization Conditioning Help
Autism Action Partnership Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands
Career EdVantage
Carole’s House of Hope
Catholic Charities of Des Moines
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Omaha
Child Saving Institute
Christ Child Society
CIRA
City Sprouts
Collective for Youth
College Possible
Completely KIDS
Connected Roots Care Center
D2 Center
Easterseals Nebraska
Eastern Nebraska Community Action Partnership
Family Housing Advisory Services
Firefly
Father Flanagan’s Boys’ Home
Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska
Girls Inc. of Omaha
Goodwill Industries
Habitat for Humanity of Council Bluffs
Heart Ministry Center
Heartland Family Service
Heartland Hope Mission
Heartland Workers Center
HomeWoven
I Be Black Girl
inCOMMON Community Development
International Council for Refugees and Immigrants
Easterseals Nebraska Iowa
Jobs for America’s Graduates (iJAG)
Iowa Legal Aid
Kids Can Community Center
La Fuente Business Center
Latino Center of the Midlands
Legal Aid of Nebraska
Lutheran Family Services
MICAH House Corporation
Millard Public Schools
Nebraska Center for Workforce Development and Education
Nebraska Diaper Bank
Nebraska Enterprise Fund
Neighborgood
New Visions Homeless Services
No More Empty Pots
Ollie Webb Center
Omaha Home for Boys
OneWorld Community Health Centers
Partnership 4 Kids
Restoring Dignity
RISE
Santa Monica House
Saving Grace Perishable Food Rescue
Shine Bright
Siena Francis House
Stephen Center
The Salvation Army
The Simple Foundation
The Wellbeing Partners
Together
Urban League of Nebraska
Visiting Nurse Health Services
Whispering Roots Women’s Center for Advancement
YMCA of Greater Omaha
Youth Emergency Services
YouTurn
2024 - 2026 investments
Through the CIF’s 2024-2026 investment cycle, UWM is investing $6.4 million into more than 120 unique programs across the Omaha-Council Bluffs metro.
A majority of CIF investments provide multi-year funding. These programs support UWM’s goal of delivering 10 million services during the ’24-’25 one-year period.
This cycle saw the addition of a letter of intent requirement, as well as a due diligence meeting, allowing each program applying for funding to connect with UWM staff to receive feedback and seek clarity prior to the application.
The nonprofit landscape has grown increasingly competitive with a growing number of organizations providing vital services, which underscores the importance of the CIF and its process. UWM is proud to be investing in these programs that the volunteer review teams diligently examined and recommended based on their ability to serve critical needs in our community.
COMMUNITY IMPACT FUND PRIORITIES
Our four focus areas work together to create a circle of support that addresses social and economic disparities while connecting families with a network of essential resources.
Programs funded through CIF address social and economic disparities by reaching underserved, low-income or hard-to-reach populations. UWM investments maximize the impact of donor dollars through investments that address our region’s most immediate needs and systemic issues.
Healthy Community
Improving health and well-being for all
Food access, shelter and homeless prevention, physical and behavioral health, case management and legal services, Combined Health Agencies Drive (CHAD) and more.
Youth Opportunity
Helping young people realize their full potential
Childcare and early childhood development, after school and summer learning, mentoring, college and career readiness, family engagement, JAG Nebraska and more.
Financial Security
Building financial stability and strength
Education and training, employment and entrepreneurship, financial literacy and asset development, Siemer Institute partnership and more.
Community Resiliency
Addressing urgent needs today to advance a better tomorrow
Referrals to health and human service resources via the 211 Helpline (NE and IA), CRCSP, Goodfellows, Emergency Food & Shelter Program, disaster relief/recovery and more.
for nonprofits
Community Impact Fund 2026-2028 Letters of Intent Open October 1
This fund runs on a two-year investment cycle, with the process for 2026-2028 funding opening in fall of 2025.
Letter of intent resources
LOI Training session
Join us for a virtual Letter of Intent Training Session on September 25, 2025. To receive an invite send an email to communityinvestment@uwmidlands.org.
Community impact fund 2026 - 2028 timeline
LOI submission deadline
Due Diligence meetings
Application submission
Community review period
Announcement of awarded proposals
For questions, please reach out to communityinvestment@uwmidlands.org.