Letters of Intent (LOI forms) are reviewed by our Community Solutions Panel Chairs who determine which programs will be invited to apply for our annual grant process. Please see the annual grant process timeline below for more details.

Please submit questions to Christine Wiersema at cwiersema@unitedwayif.org or by calling (208) 522-2674.

Schedule of Events

* See below for additional important funding guidelines.

2023–24 Community Investment Fund Guidelines

Program Eligibility Criteria

United Way has established certain criteria that agencies must meet before their Letter of Intent will be considered. They must:

• Organizations applying for grants funding must have registered as 501(c)3 tax exempt organization as determined by the Internal Revenue Service.
• As a condition of a program grant award, it will be expected that you attend monthly meetings (currently via zoom) with United Way of Idaho Falls & Bonneville County and other funded nonprofit partners.
• Have as their primary mission the provision of health and/or human services.
• Resources are directed towards programs that illustrate how they are targeted toward low-income families, individuals, seniors – A.L.I.C.E. Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed
• Be under control of a local governing board which is organized and functioning to provide policy direction and fiscal management oversight.
• Have the ability to demonstrate outcomes in the goals under the Impact areas of Health, Education and Financial Stability. Our funding priorities under the three pillars are access to Healthcare (mental health & physical health); Food Insecurity (children & seniors’ access to fresh, nutritious food); Pre-K & early education; Affordable Housing (living wage).
• Financial Attachments
  
  • Be able to provide an independent financial audit of most recent fiscal year (if organization annual revenue is over $500,000)
  • or an independent financial review of most recent fiscal year (if organization annual revenue is $1 to $499,000),
  • Also, a copy of the most recent 990 filed with the IRS.
• Provide services to residents of and have a physical service delivery location in eastern Idaho, including the counties of Bonneville, Clark, Fremont, Jefferson, Lemhi, Madison, and Teton.

Program Investment Guidelines

• Minimum grant amount will be $5,000.
• Grant awards are not made for capital projects.
• Outcomes will be reviewed each year by the Community Solutions Panel Volunteers.  To ensure that investments are making an impact, a maximum grant amount for any newly applying agency/program is $15,000.  If there is a collaborative effort and the lead agency receiving the funds is not new to receiving UWIFBC funds, this guideline may not apply.
• As a general rule, UWIFBC grant awards should not exceed 20% of a program’s budget.  Exceptions to this may be made on a case by case basis such as innovative collaborations and community impact alignment.

Community Panel Volunteer Opportunity

Approximate time commitment–20 hours from April through May.

As a community solutions volunteer you will carry out UWIFBC’s stewardship role on behalf of our contributors. Your responsibility is to objectively and fairly review the funding requests of local nonprofit organizations and recommend how UWIFBC should invest campaign funds in our communities. You and your fellow volunteers will maintain confidentiality and make every attempt to report and avoid conflicts of interest. Your duties include:

• Read and review all materials provided to you prior to activities.
• Understand and be familiar with UWIF’s mission and goals.
• Participate and contribute to your panel.
• Participate in at least one agency visit.
• Participate in agency interviews.