Funding Cycle Change to Fiscal Year starting July 1, 2023
January 20, 2022
United Way of Union County is making changes to better fund agencies in 2023-24 which means extra
time for local non-profits to apply and more time for donors to donate and help fund basic needs in
Union County.
UW of Union County has changed its funding cycle from a traditional calendar year to a fiscal year to
begin July 1, 2023 and end June 30, 2024.
Traditionally United Way has evaluated grant applications in the Fall with funding starting in January.
The change to a fiscal year was driven by changes in philanthropy.
“People are now giving year-round,
” Corinne Bix, Director, said. “By moving the grant application
process to the first quarter of the year, we have a better idea of what money we can anticipate from
funding sources which typically use a fiscal year vs. a calendar year.”
Staff will continue to focus fundraising efforts in the second half of the year allowing for better grant
application support in the beginning of the year.
“This gives us more flexibility and allows for more accurate budgeting,” Bix said.
UW of Union County held a grant application workshop this week with 20 participants. As part of the
local non-profit’s affiliation with UW of Central Ohio, UW has moved to a new online grant platform.
Tessa Fite serves as the administrative coordinator for UW of Union County and led the workshop. Fite is
the former executive director of Union County Neighbor to Neighbor and has extensive experience with
non-profits and grant writing.
“As we worked to develop and improve the new grant application, we thought it would be helpful to
walk applicants through the process and allow for an open forum to field questions and get feedback,”
Fite said.
Bix said between COVID and the process of affiliating with UW of Central Ohio to strengthen back office
services, UW of Union County has been through a lot of change in the past three years.
“We have worked closely with UWCO to align processes so we can make the maximum impact in the
community by decreasing our local operating expenses,” Bix said, “All money raised in Union, stays in
Union and funds agencies and programs that are working to meet basic needs.”
Donors can still contribute and have an impact on funding for agencies who will be granted money
starting on July 1.
“There is still plenty of time to give and be a part of maximizing what will be allocated to these
agencies,” Bix said.
Gifts to UW of Union County directly fund agencies that provide shelter, food and personal needs,
healthcare and transportation. Until basic needs are met it’s a challenge for children to learn, for adults
to work and for families to succeed.
Bix said they regularly receive calls from residents who must choose between two basic needs. Examples
include someone with a job but without transportation, families who can pay their monthly rent but
don’t have enough to buy groceries, or seniors on a fixed income who are self-sufficient until they are
faced with medical expenses from an unexpected health event. Often referred to as our ALICE
population (Asset, Limited Income-Constrained, Employed) these are hard working folks who don’t
qualify for government benefits but don’t make enough money to cover essentials.
“Many of the people who call our office and the agencies we support are not bilking the system but are
doing everything possible to not request help. No one in our community should have to choose between
food or rent or between healthcare or warm winter clothes for their kids.” Bix said.
The local non-profit is excited for the year ahead and is planning educational programming to better
assist funded partner agencies. Community outreach will also be a top priority through work as the local
affiliate for The Dolly Parton Imagination Library, the annual Learn United School Supply Drive, Food
Drive, and Monster Dash 5K.
For more information about United Way of Union County and how to donate visit
www.unitedwayofunioncounty.org. For specific questions about grant applications for qualifying non-
profit agencies contact Tessa Fite at tessa.fite@unitedwayofunioncounty.org.
Local non-profits gathered at Richwood Bank in Marysville on Jan. 17 for a grant application workshop
hosted by Untied Way of Union County. UW of Union County’s grant application is open until Feb. 23.
Contact tessa.fite@unitedwayofunioncounty.org for more information.
United Way of Union County, Inc., 648 Clymer Road, Suite 313, Marysville, Ohio 43040-1661
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