Apply for Funding

If you are an agency located in and serving Dufferin County, applications will be made available on October 1^st and are due November 23^rd, 2018. Funding requests cannot exceed $30,000 per agency. Please review the eligibility criteria and instructions below.

Funding applications for agencies serving Guelph and Wellington County are currently closed.

General Criteria for receiving United Way Funding

In order to be eligible to receive United Way funding, the applying agency must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Provide services to Guelph, and/or Wellington County, and/or Dufferin County
• Be a registered charity and incorporated
• Have a volunteer board of directors
• Release audited financial statements each year
• Be non-partisan
• Have been in operation for at least one (1) year
• Align with a United Way Focus Area Outcome (PDF with associated measures available here)
• Adhere to the Community Investment Manual guidelines
• Funding may only be used to support the goals of a discrete program

Programs and initiatives must also demonstrate:

• the need for service
• the capacity to respond to that need
• collaboration to complement existing services

United Way does NOT typically fund:

• arts and culture
• sports and recreation
• capital campaigns
• health-based issues
• environmental projects/organizations
• educational institutions
• direct religious activities of religious groups or organizations

All applications are vetted through a sound process involving staff and community volunteers. Applications are due November 23, 2018 at 11:59 PM.

Investment Streams

United Way Guelph Wellington Dufferin has two investment streams: Multi-year and single-year investments, as well as Emergency/Bridge funding. 

Dufferin County Investments

Dufferin County funding is available on a one-year basis. These investments provide funding to programs and services including annual operating assistance. Currently, United Way operates on a three-year community investment cycle. Community initiatives or collaboratives that provide support to the sector as- a-whole may also apply through the Special Programs funding stream.

Multi-year investments are made to support programs and services that contribute significantly to at least one of three United Way’s focus areas and at least one of five community level outcomes. From a ‘big picture’ perspective, this alignment will support the development of a shared vision for community impact. It will bring both clarity and a common understanding to the ways different agencies work toward similar outcomes, and may facilitate further opportunities for inter-agency collaboration.

To learn more about the United Way Guelph Wellington Dufferin Community Impact Vision and Outcomes, click here.To discuss program alignment further, contact Shakiba Shayani, Director, Community Investment, shakiba@unitedwayguelph.com or 519-821-0571 ext. 24

Emergency/Bridge Funding

Please note that emergency funding may be issued to local agencies if and when urgent and unforeseen needs arise in the community. For more information about how to apply, please contactshakiba@unitedwayguelph.com.