Agency Grant Portal

2027 Community Impact Program Application

Due on Thursday, October 15, 2026 at 12 Noon

Community Impact funding requests should present innovative approaches to meeting the health and human services needs of our community. Priority will be given to projects that address United Way Worldwide and Merrill Area United Way’s impact areas:

  • Healthy Communities (Improve access to nutritious foods and quality health education and services, so people have resources they need to lead healthy lives.)
  • Youth Opportunity (Create pathways for young people to reach their goals, from early childhood education to college and career success.)
  • Financial Security (Connect people to education, tools, and job training so they have financial freedom and peace of mind.)
  • Community Resiliency (Help communities prepare for, prevent, and respond to challenges, from crisis support to disaster relief.)

Other key factors for funding consideration include:

  • Measurable outcomes,
  • Programs that meet current unmet needs, and
  • The agency’s ability to secure funds to sustain the project.

All organizations applying for Community Impact Program funds must meet the following minimum requirements:

  • Operate as 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
  • Operate under established Articles of Incorporations and Bylaws or other written documents or statutes that define the applicant’s purposes, membership, management and operation.
  • Operate on a non-discriminatory basis in employment, recruitment of volunteers and delivery of services. (See I-D of contract agreement, page 7.)
  • Demonstrate effective program performance and financial responsibility and accountability.
  • Operate or provide service within Lincoln County, specifically Merrill, Irma, Gleason, and the surrounding townships.
  • Completion of the Program Application in a timely fashion.
  • Completion of Addendum A on page 5, and Addendum B on page 6.

Community Impact Application

The following basic operating guidelines shall apply:

  • Funds shall be used solely for the stated Impact purpose.
  • Funded activities shall commence in a timely manner, and expenditures shall cease within one year after receipt of Impact funding unless an extension is granted by the Board of Directors of the Merrill Area United Way. Impact funds not expended shall be returned to Merrill Area United Way.
  • All Community Impact Funds shall be approved by the Board of Directors of the Merrill Area United Way. The amount of any funding will depend upon individual program requests, annual campaign outcomes, and the need as determined by the Board of Directors of the Merrill Area United Way.
  • No Community Impact funding will be given for any purpose that would jeopardize the tax-exempt status of the Merrill Area United Way or the applicant organization.
  • Impact fund recipients shall conspicuously acknowledge Merrill Area United Way in all promotional materials, activities and programs funded with United Way monies.
  • Administrators of funded programs shall annually submit two project performance reports – at the midway point and at completion of the program along with a final financial report indicating specific use and the resulting outcomes of Community Impact funds. MAUW will offer report templates.
  • Recipient agencies with United Way funded programs shall not automatically be funded in the next fiscal year but must apply annually for MAUW funding.

Deadline for proposal submission is noon on October 15, 2026.

Please submit online (preferred) or deliver hard copy via mail or in person to the United Way office:

Merrill Area United Way
P.O. Box 813 or 503 S. Center Avenue, Suite #5
Merrill, WI 54452

Application and Funding Procedure: The following general procedure shall apply.

Applying is not a guarantee for funding.

  • Organizations submit applications for funding to the Merrill Area United Way office as noted above. (Applications not received by the deadline will likely not be considered).
  • The Allocation Teams will make a preliminary review of each request and (only if necessary) determine if a formal hearing and/or onsite visit with the applicant organization is needed. Funding requests may be approved or denied without a hearing or onsite visit.
  • The Allocation Teams will submit a recommendation for funding recipients and the amounts to the Board of Directors of the Merrill Area United Way. Organizations will receive written notification of the Board’s decision after a final MAUW budget is approved.

There are two ways to submit your application, online or hard copy.

Login instructions for Online Application

Watch a short instructional video on creating an account and saving drafts.

All applicants are required to have or create an account to complete and submit your application.  Keep your user name and password handy so that you can "save a draft" and return to complete your submission.  Also this user name and password will continue to be used for agency reporting and future applications.

  • LOGIN HERE (If you already have a user name and password)
  • CREATE AN ACCOUNT (New users only - Recommend using your Agency Name as your User Name - watch for an email to set your password, check spam)
  • RESET YOUR PASSWORD (if your email has been used previously, you can reset your password - an email will be sent to the email address used to set up the login)
  • LOGOUT (Be sure to log out once you have saved your draft or submitted your application)

Incomplete applications will not be accepted.  Do not leave any blanks; enter N/A if not applicable.

Important to Note:

  • If you do not remember your password, click "reset your password" above and instructions to reset your password will be emailed to the email address used to set up your login.
  • Be sure to click the "SAVE DRAFT" button at the bottom of the application frequently and BEFORE you exit the application, you will be able to return and work on the application as time permits. Be sure to click "SUBMIT" when completed - you will be emailed a copy of your submission.
  • To access your saved draft or view a past submission, log into the Agency Portal and click on the "Submissions" tab located at the top of the Agency Portal page.  Then, click on the saved draft or submission you wish to access.  You can also click on the application link and the application will pick up where you left off.  

 

If you are unable to complete an online application, you can download a fillable application HERE:

Submit one fully completed application, PLUS separate MAUW Outcome Matrix application document.

Be sure to include all items listed on Addendum A (Page 3) with your application.