United Way of PEI Invites Letters of Intent for 2020-22 Funding

The United Way of Prince Edward Island is pleased to announce this grant opportunity focused on breaking the cycle of poverty – to prevent people from entering poverty, and lift them out for good.

The focus of our Community Investment Program is children, youth and their families who are living in, or at risk of living in, poverty. 

Our vision is that “all Island children and youth have hope for a bright future”. Our young people are the future of our Island communities, and we want them to grow into happy, healthy, independent and contributing adults. To do that, they need a level playing field.

New this year, the United Way is inviting eligible organizations to submit a Letter of Intent for an initiative that fits the funding criteria. The Grant Review Team will, after reviewing the Letters of Intent, select and invite several organizations to complete and submit a full funding application.

Funding Grant Details:The funding period is between April 1^st 2020 and March 31^st2022

•  The maximum amount of funds for each program/initiative is $30,000/year, for 1 or 2 years
•   Organizations may submit up to two Letters of Intent, however the maximum number of applications approved for funding through this grant process will be one/organization
•   The grant may be used to support existing and/or new initiatives
•   Letters of Intent are being accepted until 4:00 pm, Thursday, August 22^nd, 2019.
•   Letters of Intent should be submitted in person, by mail or email, to:

o   Director, Community Impact

United Way of Prince Edward Island

180 Kent Street, PO Box 247

Charlottetown, PE, C1A 7K4

grants@peiunitedway.com

Letters of Intent:

·         Letters of Intent (no more than 3 pages) should include:

•   Confirmation statement that the organization meets the eligibility requirements
• A description of the current/proposed initiative, including name, general description, approach/activities, and target population
•   Explanation of how this initiative aligns with the UW focus areas, grant priorities, goals and activities
• Signature of at least one person with signing authority of the organization.
  
  

General Eligibility Requirements:

The charitable organization sponsoring, or leading, the project must meet all of the following criteria:

• The applicant must be a registered charity (with its own CRA number), one of CRA-approved donees, or have a registered charity as its sponsor
• The applicant must maintain a volunteer board that meets regularly
• The applicant must have an Annual General Meeting
• The applicant must provide financial statements (e.g. audit or review engagement) that meet the requirements of the Canada Revenue Agency (https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cd-dgc.nsf/eng/cs05010.html)

The charitable organization leading/sponsoring the project, AND the applicant community/resident group (if different from the lead/sponsoring charitable organization), must meet all of the following criteria:

• The activities proposed by the applicant must benefit residents of PEI
• The applicant’s primary focus and mandate must be within the social services sector
• The applicant (or partner sponsor organization) must be financially stable
• The applicant must carry sufficient liability insurance to cover the proposed program/project seeking United Way funding
  
  

Our (United Way) Focus on Poverty:

We will provide resources to established registered charities that:

• are aligned with our investment priorities (success in schools, emotional/physical well-being, community engagement and leadership, transition to adulthood)
• will directly support those living in, or at risk of living in, poverty
• are inclusive of people with lived experience in their design and delivery
• have proven and/or innovative programs

 We will focus our efforts on several priority populations, those most at risk of living in poverty:

• Indigenous individuals and families
•  Newcomers to Canada
• People living with disabilities
• People with little or no education
• People living with mental health and addiction challenges

And we will keep a lens on the “routes to poverty”:

• Generational (people born into families living in poverty)
• Transitional (people experiencing situations that put them at risk including: illness, changes in ability, violence, family break-up)
• Marginalized groups (people whose circumstances put them at risk including: Indigenous individuals and families, people living with disabilities, people with low/no education, newcomers to Canada, people who are low-paid, seasonal/unpaid workers, people living with mental illness, people identifying as LGBQT2+)
• Those living on the edge (people receiving social assistance, people receiving disability assistance, people working near minimum wage and below livable income)
  
  

Our Focus on Children, Youth and their Families:

Feedback and Support:

United Way of PEI staff are available to answer questions about the process, focus areas and United Way outcomes.

For further information or support, please contact:

 David Webster

 Director, Community Impact/ 211

  grants@peiunitedway.com