United Way of Central Indiana awards $1.2 million in grants to 33 nonprofits outside its accredited network

Monday, March 3, 2025 at 10:13 AM

By Staff report

This is the first time United Way of Central Indiana opened funding of this kind to non-accredited partners.

Putnam County agencies will benefit from United Way of Central Indiana awarding $1.2 million in grants to 33 nonprofits outside of its accredited partner network, the nonprofit announced Monday.

In all, $500,000 is being awarded from United Way’s Basic Needs Fund to 27 nonprofits, and $700,000 is being awarded from the Family Opportunity Fund to eight nonprofits. Two organizations are receiving grants from both funds.

This is the first time United Way of Central Indiana opened funding of this kind to non-accredited partners.

“Nearly 40% of Central Indiana households are living in, or one emergency away from, poverty,” said Shannon Jenkins, United Way’s vice president of impact. “These grants to non-accredited organizations, guided by United Way’s strategic aim of increasing and diversifying investment in under-resourced areas, will support operations, services and programming – and outcomes supporting more people and families throughout Central Indiana.”

United Way’s Basic Needs Fund focuses on safe and affordable housing, healthy food access, transportation and health services. The Family Opportunity Fund supports integrated programming that serves both youth and adults in the same household, aimed at improving the education, financial stability and well-being of the whole family.

In October, United Way invited nonprofits in Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion, Morgan and Putnam counties not currently accredited with United Way to apply for grants.

Two committees composed of United Way staff, board members and volunteers from the community reviewed applications and selected the grant recipients. United Way received 16 applications for Family Opportunity funding and 64 for the Basic Needs Fund.

Among the Basic Needs Fund grant recipients: