News Release

Contact: Michael G. Gaffney, APR
Vice President, Marketing
Office: 330-643-5532
Cell: 330-701-8080

Date: December 28, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


FUNDING AVAILABLE THROUGH UNITED WAY
FOR PROGRAMS IN TWO PRIORITY AREAS

(AKRON, OHIO) – United Way of Summit County has set aside a portion of undesignated and unrestricted revenue to for distribution through an open Request for Proposal process. The organization seeks proposals for grant funding that address the following priority service areas: Economic (Financial) Stability for Families and School Readiness Children.

United Way of Summit County commissioned the Center for Marketing and Opinion Research to analyze a number of recent community research sources and to identify high priority community issues that United Way could target for increased resources and community awareness efforts to improve these conditions through positive and documented outcomes.

The research sources included the Thriving Communities Needs Assessment, a partnership including United Way of Summit County, The Akron Community Foundation, and the University of Akron; the Summit County 2010 Quality of Life report; Voices and Choices recommendations; INFOLINE requests for services; The University of Akron Summit Poll, and others.

A variety of recommendations have been under review for nearly a year, and the United Way Community Impact Cabinet recommended these two priority areas to United Way of Summit County’s Board of Trustees.

Organizations submitting proposals must:

• Provide service in Summit County
• Be tax exempt 501-C-3 health or human service organization in existence for at least three (3) years (Provide IRS determination letter)
• Be licensed by/registered with the State Attorney General as a charitable organization (Provide a copy of license/registration)
• Provide full disclosure of finances (Provide copy of latest financial audit report and IRS Form 990)
• Have a volunteer, representative board of directors/trustees (Provide list of board members and affiliations as applicable)
• Adhere to a policy and practice of non-discrimination in the provision of services (Provide policy statement)
• Certify conformity with the United States Patriot Act for receipt of funding
• Be a contributing organization to the United Way of Summit County fundraising campaign and agree to conduct employee campaign, if awarded grant
• Attend training for online submission of proposal if selected to do so following Letter of Intent
• Have computer access to submit full proposal online
• Submit requested documents as labeled attachments with the Letter of Intent
• Incomplete applications will not be considered.

The goal of the Economic Stability for Families priority area is to have families that are able to obtain and maintain employment and manage personal resources independent of public assistance. The goal of the School Readiness for Children priority area is to have children enter Kindergarten ready to succeed. Any proposal submitted must address one priority area.

A Letter of Intent to respond to the Request for Proposal must be received at United Way of Summit County’s offices (90 N. Prospect Street, Akron, OH 44304) by 4:30 pm, on Thursday, January 31, 2008.

To obtain the Letter of Intent form, and all information on the Grant Proposal Application process, call Sue at 330-643-5510. Applications will be accepted only through United Way’s Community Impact Online Data Manager by 4:30 pm, Friday, March 14, 2008.

United Way of Summit County improves lives by mobilizing community assets. For more information on any program or to volunteer, call the United Way of Summit County at (330) 762-7601, visit our website at www.uwsummit.org, or write to us at United Way of Summit County, 90 N. Prospect St., P.O. Box 1260, Akron, Ohio 44309-1260.