United Way of Southeast Mississippi (UWSEMS) invests donor dollars into the community through a community investment process. Two types of grant opportunities are available - Partner Agency Grants and Community Development Grants. These grants must address critical needs in Forrest, Lamar, Marion, and Perry in the areas of youth opportunity, healthy community, and/or financial security (specifically those that meet the goals and outcomes outlined in United Way of Southeast Mississippi's strategic plan). View UWSEMS's impact area goals.
Partner Agency Grant:
United Way’s Community Impact Committee and Board of Directors allocate funding to high-performing, nonprofit organizations that provide programs and services aligned with United Way's focus areas of youth opportunity, healthy community, financial security, and community resiliency.
United Way Partner Agencies must:
- Provide services to Forrest, Lamar, Marion and/or Perry counties.
- Be incorporated and registered as a charity with the MS Secretary of State.
- Have a volunteer board of directors or advisory council that meets at least quarterly.
- Have been in operation for at least (1) year and be able to demonstrate a reasonable degree of continuity and an economical, effective, and efficient operation.
The Partner Agency grant application process for the April 2025-March 2027 investment period has closed. Applications for the next Partner Agency grant cycle of April 2027-March 2029 will open in the Fall of 2026 and may only be open to current Partner Agencies.
Community Development Grant:
United Way of Southeast Mississippi offers small development grants (up to $5,000) to nonprofit organizations or community groups conducting projects to benefit a nonprofit organization. The nonprofit organization must be located in Forrest, Lamar, Marion, or Perry county and must be registered as a charity with the MS Secretary of State. Projects must address a community need in one of the following areas: youth opportunity, healthy community, and/or financial security. Projects addressing needs directly related to United Way of Southeast Mississippi's impact area goals will be prioritized for funding. These funds are restricted to one-time expenses or short-term projects and are not designed for ongoing program expenses, event sponsorship, or capital campaigns. Applications will be reviewed by the Community Impact Executive Committee in the first week of each quarter (July, October, January, and April). A nonprofit organization can only receive one approved initiative grant per fiscal year (April-March).
Click here to log-in and access the Development Grant Application.