Applications for United Way grants due April 28

Applications are available for the United Way of Greater Texarkana's community impact grants at texarkanaunitedway.org.
This is the first year applications have to be completed and submitted online. They will be due in by 5 p.m. April 28.
"This should save a lot of time and paper, not to mention man hours for copying and recopying," said Mark Bledsoe, United Way president and CEO. "Now people on the (community impact grants) committee can go online and look at the applications no matter where they are versus carrying around a 10-pound binder. It really should make it easier on all parties involved. It will make it easier when agencies reapply next year. They can add their current information and the program retains some of their basic information."
Nonprofit agencies applying for funding are required to attend a meeting either at 11 a.m. to noon April 11 or 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. April 13 at Texarkana College in the Truman Arnold Student Center, second floor, room A.
During the meeting, there will be a presentation by Christine Linder, United Way community impact board chairman.
"There will be two different things that meeting will focus on-the application process itself and the second part will be what requirements they need to have in place to make an application," Bledsoe said.
New agencies are encouraged to apply.
"Each year we have new applicants that do apply. As long as they're a 501 (c) (3), they've been in existence at least a year and they've had a full-blown audit, they could qualify. Those are a lot of the requirements. If they follow the basic guidelines, it's pretty simple to apply. The thing they're looking at when the community impact teams meet is that there's not a duplication of services already provided and we're looking for those long-term solutions, not a quick fix," Bledsoe said.
Requirements for funding include:
n Applications will be accepted from 501 (c) (3) organizations and other government, charitable or school-based organizations if the proposal aligns with the United Way's mission.
 Programs must demonstrate need and benefit in the United Way's service area.
 Programs must have measurable outcomes which are clearly defined and tracked for results.
 Programs must align with at least one of the United Way's focus areas of education, income and health and one or more of the target strategies.
 Programs in Bowie, Cass, Marion, Morris, Red River and Titus counties in Texas and Lafayette, Little River and Miller counties in Arkansas are eligible to receive funding.
For more information call the United Way office at 903-794-3105.

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