Partnership Grant Process Opens on November 1

United Way of Southwest Louisiana’s Partnership Grant process begins November 1 with an online Letter of Intent (LOI). The process is open to all 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations doing human services work in a Southwest Louisiana Parish: Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron or Jeff Davis. The deadline to submit the LOI online is December 1, 2023, before 4 pm. The online portal will open on November 1 at unitedwayswla.org/partnership-grant.

“Donors fund our grants, so our Community Investment Volunteer Committee works hard to ensure every dollar is achieving results and making progress toward our goals in the four focus areas we know positively change lives,” says Denise Durel, President and CEO for United Way of Southwest Louisiana. “Each of our partner agencies has undergone a comprehensive review and aligns with our stated objectives as well as serving our ALICE families.”

Nonprofit organizations applying for the Partnership Grant must meet the requirements:

- Possess a 501(c)(3) or related status with the Internal Revenue Service

- Be in good standing with the Louisiana Secretary of State

- Serve individuals/families in our five-parish footprint

- Have a written Disaster Management Plan for operations during a natural disaster

- Services provided must fit into our Community Investment Strategy

The complete requirements can be found online at unitedwayswla.org/partnership-grant.

The online application will take an organization through the steps to complete the LOI. Once the LOI has been submitted and processed, all qualified applicants will be invited to move into the entire grant application process, called a Request For Proposal (RFP). 

United Way of Southwest Louisiana’s Community Investment Committee reviews all programs submitted for a grant by nonprofit organizations for significant alignment with identified objectives and evidence-based practices. The volunteers do a comprehensive review that rates community needs, financial accountability, equity and inclusion and the overall stability of the applicant. The Committee submits a formal recommendation to the Executive Board of Directors for final approval. 

United Way of Southwest Louisiana addresses critical gaps in the services supplied by engaging in in-house Initiatives. The objective is to work quickly to serve the most vulnerable without duplicating unneeded services. To view the Partners & Initiatives book and the Focus Areas, visit unitedwayswla.org/partner-with-us or online here.

A complete list of current Initiatives and Partner Agencies can be found online.

# # #

About United Way of Southwest Louisiana

Working with the community and many partners for 84 years, United Way of Southwest Louisiana tackles the critical human services issues facing our five-parish footprint of Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron and Jeff Davis. Our United approach is changing the odds for all children, families and individuals in the community, so we all have the opportunity to succeed. Learn more about our life-changing work at Unitedwayswla.org and follow us on social media @UnitedWayofSWLA

- Operating in the TOP 9% of all U.S. United Ways. –TOP 125 out of 1185 United Ways!
- Maintains a 4-STAR charity rating with Charity Navigator and a PLATINUM SEAL OF TRANSPARENCY with Candid (formerly GuideStar)
- Mackenzie Scott Recipient (1^st year, member of the original #UNITEDWAY46)
- LEPA Award Winner 2022 from Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness for Outstanding Service
- Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration