Collaboration Grants

The application deadline of 1/31/12 has now passed. Applications are no longer being accepted. Thank you for your interest!

Overview

United Way of New York City (UWNYC) believes in the power of collaboration and that organizations can achieve more working together than they can alone. Our Collaboration Grants are designed to support teams of two or more community-based organizations that seek to create or expand innovative partnerships to achieve measurable outcomes for the people they serve.

In fiscal and program year 2012 (ending June 30, 2012) UWNYC will award Collaboration Grants in the following areas: Shared Services, Mergers & Acquisitions, and Shared Operation Supports. Each grant will range in size from $10,000 to $20,000, and shall be awarded jointly to two or more organizations that demonstrate a clear intent and framework for collaboration to achieve efficiencies in programs and/or operations, and a planning process that is likely to result in an implementable collaboration. 

These one-time grants will be awarded on a competitive basis according to the criteria stated below.

Minimum Qualification Criteria

In order to be considered for a Collaboration Grant, each partner agency included must meet the following minimum criteria:

  • Be a not-for-profit health or human service agency with a minimum of 3 years of experience providing programs and services
  • Be designated by the IRS as a 501(c)(3), tax-exempt organization or have a verifiable 501(c)(3) fiscal agent
  • Be located in New York City and serve low-income clients who live and/or work in one or more of the five boroughs
  • Have an active Board of Directors
  • Have a professional Executive Director who is accountable to the Board of Directors
  • Have an annual budget of $5 million or less
  • Have a certified independent financial audit and IRS 990 tax form, or similar form, if the 990 is not required
  • Comply with all provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act
  • Have an affirmative action statement and operate by policy and practice without discrimination based on age, race, gender, religion, sexual preference, disability, economic status, cultural heritage or national origin. This shall be true in all respects of the organization's operations, including services to people, selection of board, employment of staff and volunteers, and purchases of supplies.

Selection Criteria

Applications that meet the minimum qualification criteria will be reviewed and scored based on the following selection criteria:

  1. Organizations must apply jointly for this grant and must demonstrate an existing or developing partnership on a specific service offering or operations matter that could be made more efficient. Organizations must demonstrate how they will use the grant to develop and implement effective collaboration strategies and plans to achieve shared positive outcomes benefitting two or more agencies.
  2. Project plans must increase the quantity, quality, or efficiency of the services, operations or capacity of the partner organizations. Project plans must also demonstrate the ability to provide sustained impact after the grant period.
  3. Applicants must demonstrate how the collaboration would free up administrative dollars to support services, and how the collaboration would enhance the metrics by which the organizations hold themselves accountable.
  4. Awardees must commit to developing and implementing the first stage of a strategic and operational plan for collaboration by June 2012, as well as participating in a maximum of four sessions over the life of the grant that will be geared towards shared learning and best practices.
  5. Select Collaboration Grant grantees that demonstrate a viable, innovative, and sustainable plan may be eligible for a second year of funding after review and evaluation of all awardees' plans for implementation and sustainability.
  6. All grantees shall be required to submit an interim report and a final report.


Application Procedures

Collaboration Grant applications will only be accepted from January 2 - January 31, 2012.  Please upload your completed application no later than 5:00 p.m. on January 31, 2012.

Once UWNYC receives a copy of your grant application, you will receive a confirmation email indicating that your proposal has been received.

Grant decisions will be made by February 28, 2012.

General Instructions:

Step One: Click here to download the Collaboration Grant Application.

  • Proposals should be no longer than 10 pages, and should include:
  1. Statement of Need
  2. Declaration of Intent to Collaborate
  3. Proposed Model of Collaboration
  4. Description of Planning Process
  5. Timeline for Planning
  • Only electronic applications will be accepted. Applications will not be accepted via fax
  • Materials other than those specifically requested will not be accepted
  • Agencies who are selected to receive grant awards will be asked to submit additional supporting documents

Step Two: The application deadline has passed; submissions are no longer being accepted. Thank you for your interest!

If you have additional questions, please visit our FAQs or contact us at communitygrants@uwnyc.org.