Organizations across Simcoe Muskoka are being encouraged to join forces on innovative projects aimed at tackling poverty, as the United Way opens applications for a new round of its Community Collaborative Funding Initiative.
The funding program, which is accepting applications through Oct. 30, will provide up to $600,000 annually to support multi-year projects focused on addressing some of the region's most pressing social challenges.
The initiative is designed to fund collaborative efforts that bring together partners from different sectors, including charities, non-profits, businesses, municipalities, educational institutions and other community organizations.
"It's multi-year, multi-partner, and also cross-sector," said Rebeka Vaughan, manager of partnerships and collaborations with United Way Simcoe Muskoka.
The initiative focuses on seven priority areas identified through years of community consultation and poverty-reduction work across the region. Those priorities include housing stability, transit and mobility access, food security, mental health advancement, employment opportunities, system navigation, and equity against structural oppression.
Vaughan said the emphasis on collaboration is intentional, noting that many of the issues connected to poverty are too complex for any one organization to solve on its own.
"Partnership is super important because ... when you're working in poverty reduction, you really can't do any of this work alone," Vaughan said. "And we know that if we can bring organizations together that are doing this work, that we can have an impact that's just so much, much deeper."
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The priority areas were selected using information gathered through four years of work with the Simcoe County Poverty Reduction Task Group, along with community consultations and local data.
While all seven priorities are considered important throughout Simcoe County and Muskoka, Vaughan said local communities are best positioned to determine which issues require the greatest attention in their own areas.
Under the program, applications must include a minimum of three partners, with proposals typically led by a registered charity or a non-profit organization working alongside a registered charity. United Way is also encouraging what Vaughan called "uncommon collaboration," where organizations partner with groups that may not traditionally be involved in social-service projects.
Funding decisions will be made by United Way's Community Engagement and Investment Standing Committee, a volunteer group that reviews applications and recommends successful projects.
Successful applicants will also receive ongoing support from United Way throughout the life of their projects. In addition to annual reporting requirements, the organization plans to provide guidance, capacity-building opportunities and regular check-ins to help projects remain on track.
"We're building relationships with the projects and the partners, and we are supporting them," Vaughan said. "We're doing all kinds of things to walk alongside the project so that we can ensure success at the end."
More information, eligibility requirements and application materials can be found through United Way Simcoe Muskoka. Virtual information sessions and weekly office hours are also being offered to help prospective applicants navigate the process.
The current funding round marks the third time United Way Simcoe Muskoka has offered the collaborative grant program. Vaughan said lessons learned from previous rounds have helped make the application process more accessible for organizations looking to make a difference in their communities.
