Our partners have spoken, and United Way Suncoast has listened: to spark innovation in the social sector, we must deepen our investments in people close to the work and allow space for creativity in both new ideas as well as expanding access to existing ones. The ability of ALICE families to thrive depends on it.

In recognition of the innovative potential in the Suncoast, we are launching a new community investment opportunity: the ACE Grant. Moving into our second century of service, continuing to build trust, honoring diverse thoughts, and supporting good ideas are essential to creating a foundation for greater impact.

The ACE grant is an operational investment of up to $20,000 in organizations with an annual revenue of up to $2.1 million. The funding is designed to help unlock barriers to innovation and spark the next steps forward for:

1. Access: Services and solutions are only as effective as they are accessible. What does your organization need to effectively reach ALICE families?
2. Capacity: Barriers such as inflation and unequal resources hit community -serving organizations especially hard. What would help your organization create the time, space, or experience to expand your ability to achieve meaningful outcomes?
3. Equity: UWS is committed to challenging all factors of inequity and the impact they have on our community. What would allow your organization the opportunity to be more inclusive in your services and to whom they are delivered?

Our ACE grants will help us target areas of opportunity for our community partnerships and we actively seek both new ideas from existing partners as well as new applicants serving communities that align with our data-informed zones of focus. More detailed information on eligibility and UWS priorities can be found in the Frequently Asked Questions quick link below. Please consult this document before proceeding with your application. 

Applications will be accepted via our E-CImpact Grants portal. To access the portal, click here. New users will be required to establish their organization’s account by inputting their Employer Identification Number (EIN). Once logged in to E-CImpact, you will be able to navigate to the ACR Grant link and begin your application.

Resources to support your application:

• • • Guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions
    • Application and Reporting Questions
    • Grant Evaluation Process Summary
    • Sample Grant Terms and Agreement

Round One Funding Results

Congratulations to our Round One Recipients! We are excited to partner with these organizations and support their commitment to innovation. From implementing and integrating modern technology solutions to support their business and clients to creating additional points of access for basic services and enriching programming for a diverse range of ALICE families to provide technical assistance to remove barriers to delivering high-quality services, each recipient is helping us expand access, build capacity, and ensure equity for our Suncoast Communities.