Thanks to over 80 years of donor support, United Way of Peterborough & District (UWP) has a proud history of working with local groups and agencies to transform our community. Working with our donors and our community, UWP seeks to change social conditions to create opportunities for a better life for individuals, families, and communities by making our community a better place to live for everyone.

This request for proposals is for grants between $500-$5,000 to support community projects taking place between April 1, 2023 and March 31, 2024. A total of $25,000 is available through the Neighbourhood Fund.

UWP’s Neighbourhood Fund provides small, one-time grants to support informal groups of individuals that are working together to improve their community within the City and County of Peterborough. This funding will support residents to identify solutions to local community issues and act on them. The UWP Neighbourhood Fund aims to enhance resident engagement and leadership while offering valuable opportunities for residents to get to know their neighbours and engage in their community.

In 2022, UWP embarked on a strategic process to define our priorities and identify actions we can take to address them. Our vision is that everyone in our community has the opportunity to reach their full potential, but we are learning that various groups face different barriers accessing this opportunity, including the programs and services intended to support them.

Providing the opportunity for community members to improve their sense of belonging is an important aspect of addressing diversity, equity, inclusion, and reconciliation. UWP is inviting applicants to describe how your project supports individuals and groups in feeling a sense of belonging in our community. In the future, we will be adding criteria to our funding review process to score the ways that projects are designed to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and/or reconciliation.

What types of project can your group apply for?

Eligible projects include (but are not restricted to) resident-led initiatives that increase social interaction, inclusion and diversity, increase community safety, build local skills and engage residents in projects that will benefit their community.

Eligible activities and expense examples:

Community gatherings that promote engagement and interaction of diverse residents. Example: Multi-cultural, social or educational activities
Projects that engage residents in building strong neighbourhoods. Example: Community assessment and local planning
Local initiatives that improve neighbourhoods such as community clean-up days, community gardening, mural, art and beautification projects
Projects developed and led by equity-deserving groups to address needs in their communities
Enhancing an existing neighbourhood event

What can my group not apply for?

The below list outlines the main projects and expenses that are not eligible for this grant. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have a question about the eligibility of your project activities and expenses before applying.

Ineligible activities and expense examples:

Costs associated with capital or other fundraising campaigns
Activities that are not directly related to resident engagement
Travel expenses (exceptions will be made when travel expenses are essential to participation in activity)
Election campaign events
Bingo nights or fundraising activities
Office administration costs (staffing; rental; utilities etc.)
For-profit organizations or ventures
Existing or ongoing programs/services

What your group needs to know

This funding is targeted to informal groups of individuals (minimum 3 people) that are working together to improve their neighbourhood or empower a demographic community
Each group needs to delegate a Project Representative who is at least 18 years old and will act as the point of contact between United Way Peterborough and District and your team – if none of your team members are 18+ please contact Betsy Farrar about selecting a Project Representative
Grants will provide from $500 to a maximum of $5,000 to a project

How to apply

Interested groups are encouraged to schedule a meeting with Betsy Farrar, Manager of Community Impact prior to submitting their application to discuss the scope of their project, the application process, and reporting requirements. This is an opportunity to ask questions about your project’s eligibility and receive feedback on your application. Together, we will make sure all of the necessary details are present so that the evaluators are able to understand the intentions of your project.

This meeting is not mandatory and project teams may choose to proceed with this application without this meeting. Attending this meeting is not considered during the scoring of your application.

Complete our online application form at this link:

https://forms.office.com/r/wPPxi7F0jW

Applications close on Friday, January 20, 2023 at 5:00PM

Template:

To prevent you from losing your progress while completing the online application, we encourage you download the template HERE write your answers in this document, and then copy your answers into the online form. Incomplete forms cannot be saved and returned to at another time, so please be prepared to answer all of the questions once you start the application and ensure that you click ‘Submit’ at the end.

Writing your answers in the template first will also allow you to: have a copy of your answers for your reference, ensure your specific answers are within the character/word limits, and be able to use bulleted lists in your answers.

Please ensure that you transfer all of your information from the template into the form before submitting it – applications sent by email will not be counted as a submission unless prior arrangements with UWP have been made.

Accommodations:

Please contact Betsy Farrar, Manager of Community Impact if your project team needs an alternate version of the online application form or accommodations during the application process.

Next Steps:

We will thoroughly evaluate all of the applications from late-January to mid-March. All project representatives will receive an email about the funding decision in mid- to late-March.

What happens if your group gets Neighbourhood Funding?

Project representative is required to sign a letter of commitment and agree to be responsible for the project
Project team will complete activities within 1 year of approval
Submit a final report about your project – report details will be provided to project representatives
Submit copies of receipts for materials or services purchasedNF23 Form Template

Thank you for your interest in United Way Peterborough and District’s Neighbourhood Fund.

We look forward to reading your application!

2022 Neighbourhood Fund

We are so pleased to announce the 8 recipients of our 2022 Neighbourhood Fund totaling $25,000!

The UWP Neighbourhood Fund provides small, one-time grants to support informal groups of individuals that are working together to improve their neighbourhood, whether that be a physical place or a connection of people within the City and County of Peterborough. This funding serves to enhance resident engagement and leadership while offering valuable opportunities for residents to identify solutions to local community issues and empower action.

“Our Neighbourhood Fund is more than just a grant, it is an opportunity for people to come together and imagine new ways to improve their community. As experts in their own communities, these recipients have identified specific social needs and developed creative solutions for addressing them. We are pleased to support projects related to inclusion, environmental sustainability, skill building, artistic expression, and fostering positive social connections.

-United Way Peterborough & District CEO Jim Russell