The United Way of Martin County presented 44 Community Impact Grants totaling $898,497 in funding for the upcoming year. Thirty-two agencies will use the funds awarded to implement local programs aimed at improving education, health and financial stability for Martin County residents. Grants were presented at the Big Reveal sponsored by Capstone IT.
The diverse list of programs includes child literacy programs, addiction recovery, mental health services, free meal programs, supportive housing, community health care and more. Three new agencies will receive grant funding this year:
• The Banner Lake Club’s beyond summer slide literacy program
• Love and Hope In Action (LAHIA)’s daytime resource center for the homeless
• Treasure Coast ABA’s early intervention program for children with developmental disabilities
The funding comes at a pivotal time when more demand and fewer donations are hitting local nonprofits hard as they try to battle economic pressures to provide critical community services.
“Low-income adults, families and children are managing more demands and stress than ever before,” said Carol G. Houwaart-Diez, president/CEO of United Way of Martin County. “Our community organizations have answered the call to support those in crisis, but our nonprofits are also facing inflationary pressures and labor shortages and have the added challenge of meeting increased demand with declining revenue.”
To overcome these obstacles, United Way has become laser-focused on finding synergy and shared opportunities in order to build a community where everyone has the opportunity and access to thrive. More than 60 community volunteers helped make funding decisions during a rigorous evaluation process to ensure grants are distributed objectively and aligned with United Way’s goals.
“We find, fund and partner with the most effective programs and organizations in Martin County,” Diez said. “We have a volunteer-led Fund Distribution Committee that monitors the progress of the grants. When they see programs work, we want to try to help find ways to bring their successes to scale,” she said. “When we see them stumble, we want to identify the problem and help correct it. Our goal is to maximize impact, much like a financial manager selects investments to maximize profit.”
Beyond these grants, an additional $872,432 will support local nonprofits through direct designations as well as funding for United Way’s internal programs, including the United Way Holiday Project, Tools for Success and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance.
This investment is made possible through the support of thousands of community members and corporate partners who contribute to United Way’s annual campaign. For a full list of funded programs, visit www.unitedwaymartin.org/FundedPrograms. To get involved by donating your time, money or voice to make Martin County a better place, visit www.unitedwaymartin.org.
About United Way of Martin County
United Way of Martin County’s mission is to lift the community and change lives together through the collective power of advancing the common good. Since 1972, the United Way has been working to create long-term social change and provide support to Martin County residents by investing in programs that strive to: enhance healthy living, improve education, and support financial stability.