At United Way of Story County (UWSC), we believe real transformation happens when our entire community — neighbors, nonprofits, businesses, and volunteers — rallies around shared goals. Together, we don’t just respond to challenges, we create lasting change.
We are excited to announce $100,000 in funding available through our 2026 Financial Empowerment Major Grant Program, with awards granted to up to three agencies. If your organization is ready to pilot bold solutions and help families build stronger financial futures, we invite you to apply.
When families have the tools and resources to manage their finances, access child care, and maintain stable housing, they can focus on building brighter futures and contributing to a stronger community for everyone. Financial stability helps families move from surviving to thriving, but many lack access to the tools to get there. Thousands of Story County families are not in the financial position to weather even a small storm, struggling paycheck to paycheck. We know that:
- 49% of renting households spend 30% or more of their income on rent. (2024 American Community Survey, 5 Year Estimates)
- 34% of people reported worrying about rent/mortgage over the last year. (2025 Community Health Needs Assessment)
- 26% of households do not have $400 on hand to cover an emergency expense. (2025 Community Health Needs Assessment)
- 6% of Story County households are unbanked (no savings or checking account). (2023 Prosperity Now Scorecard)
Unique Opportunity: UWSC is looking for work that will pilot solutions that address root causes or barriers to effectiveness; innovative approaches or emerging ideas that strengthen outcomes for families; or collaborative initiatives that leverage shared expertise, resources or service delivery. These dollars will be allocated to support programs and initiatives that invest in new, innovative, or expanded services for children and/or adults in Story County.
While the Financial Empowerment Major Grant offers flexibility beyond traditional UWSC funding, priority will only be given to programs that align with our Financial Empowerment Goal to invest in tools to build long-term financial stability for 1,000 households annually. For more information about the full application, please read the Financial Empowerment Major Grant Request for Proposal (RFP).
Letter of Intent Office Hours
This is your opportunity to ask specific questions about your plans/application and chat through the program with UWSC Community Impact staff.
- Thursday, March 5, 3:00 - 4:00 PM
- Thursday, March 12, 3:00 - 4:00 PM
- Thursday, March 19, 3:00 - 4:00 PM
Please RSVP for one of the sessions listed above here.
Application Process
The Financial Empowerment Major Grant process opens on Monday, February 23. Details about each stage in the process are listed below.
Stage 1: Letter of Intent (LOI) during February and March; open to all who are interested and eligible
Opens: Monday, February 23, 2026
Deadline: Monday, March 23, 2026, at noon, 12 PM
- Email the Letter of Intent to UnitedWay@uwstory.org as a PDF attachment.
The LOI should be 1-2 pages long; there will be an opportunity to provide additional details during the Full Application. Please include the following information:
- What: program or service to be funded.
- Who: population to be served.
- Why: demonstrated community need to be met.
- How: connect the project to its anticipated outcomes.
- Any partners or collaborators and their roles.
- Total amount requested with overview of expenses (a more detailed budget form will be part of the Full Application).
Submission: Email the Letter of Intent to unitedway@uwstory.org as a PDF attachment.
UWSC staff will post an informational video on the United Way website on February 26, and will be available during virtual office hours on Thursday, 3-4 PM, March 5, 12, 19.
Results notification: on or before Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Stage 2: Full Application during March and April; by invitation only
Opens: Upon receipt of invitation to submit a full application by email
Deadline: Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at noon, 12 PM
Submission: Email the completed application, budget sheet, and any supporting materials to unitedway@uwstory.org as PDF attachments. Please hold Thursday, May 7, 8–9:30 AM pending a possible invitation to the final presentation step. Current UWSC partner agencies do not need to resubmit items 3 and 4 below:
- Financial Empowerment Major Grant Application
- Financial Empowerment Major Grant Budget Sheet
- Financial Documentation
- Agencies with an annual budget below $250,000 must submit an electronic copy of IRS Form 990 and a balance sheet prepared externally and independently, along with their application.
- Agencies with an annual budget of $250,000 or more must submit an electronic copy of their full comparative audit and an electronic copy of their IRS Form 990, along with their application. Agencies with an annual budget below $250,000 must submit an electronic copy of IRS Form 990 and a balance sheet prepared externally and independently.
- List of Board of Directors member names, professional affiliation, addresses, places of business
- OPTIONAL: MOU or other partnership documents
Results notification: Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Stage 3: Presentation and Q&A on May 7; open by invitation only
Thursday, May 7, 8 AM – 9:30 AM in-person presentation to UWSC Allocations Committee
- Some clarifying and follow-up questions will be provided ahead of time.
- Be prepared both to address advance questions and to answer new questions that arise.
Stage 4: Final Award Notifications on Friday, May 29
- If selected, plan to meet with UWSC staff during the week of June 1-5 to discuss program delivery, data collection and outcomes reporting.
- Sign a grant agreement during the week of June 8-12.
- Agencies will receive one lump sum payment during June 2026.
- Quarterly reports will be due around September 30, December 31, March 31 and June 30.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to our most frequently asked questions below. For other questions or assistance, please call our office at (515) 268-5142 or email unitedway@uwstory.org.
Organizations/agencies must have non-profit status (or have a fiscal agent who has non-profit status) and be able to provide its federal employer ID/EIN and an IRS determination letter.
Nonprofit human service organizations/agencies serving residents of Story County.
Current ASSET agencies are eligible, but cannot apply for additional funding for existing ASSET services.
All funding must be reinvested within Story County.
- Programs already funded by UWSC or through ASSET process
- One-time purchase of goods for distribution (food drive, holiday gifts, winter gear, etc)
- Programs with inherently religious activities such as worship, prayer, proselytizing, or instruction. Those activities must be separated from the UWSC-funded program by time, location, or both.
- Non-essential program expenses (t-shirts, prizes, etc.)
- Endowments, fundraising events or organizational parties
- Political campaigns, events, or lobbying activities
- Alignment with the UWSC Financial Empowerment goals
- New or expanded programs not currently funded through UWSC or ASSET
- Clear outcomes and measurable impact on people’s lives
- Preference given to programs serving low- to moderate-income populations.
- Matching funds or community resources - demonstrates commitment and multiplies impact
- Collaboration with other agencies, while not required, will strengthen your application during review. You may choose to attach documentation of a formalized partnership, such as a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or partner agreement, to your full application. Formal agreements help ensure aligned roles, shared accountability, and coordinated service delivery that improve outcomes.
- Each proposal reviewed on individual merits
- Awards will not exceed a total of $100,000
- Partial funding may be awarded
- Grantees required to acknowledge UWSC support in publicity