The Underserved Communities Foundation (UCF) is currently seeking grant proposals for funding from eligible organizations providing programs addressing gaps in services and programming for underserved communities within El Paso County in alignment with UCF priority areas.
Donor Name: Underserved Communities Foundation
State: Texas
County: El Paso County (TX)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 03/22/2024
Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
UCF is committed to reducing poverty by empowering the underserved.
Priority Areas/Economic Development Pillars
UCF understands that the key to a thriving society lies in the development and empowerment of underserved communities. Underserved communities are not areas or zip codes within a city, they are individuals and families facing additional barriers preventing them from breaking the cycle of poverty. UCF partners with these individuals, families, and nonprofit organizations to identify and fill in gaps in services in underserved communities.
- Affordable/accessible credit and savings: financial inclusion, a key component for personal economic development, means individuals have access to useful and affordable financial products that meet their needs. People need the ability to establish and develop credit while savings offer the opportunity to establish security. Financial education and literacy is the key to financial well-being.
- Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, & Accessibility: UCF believes in the purposeful and intentional implementation of systems, practices, and actions that promote justice, representation, and fairness to provide equitable access to opportunities and resources for underserved communities.
- Education: often referred to as the great equalizer, high-quality and equitable education equips people with knowledge to understand themselves holistically, the world they live in, and the knowledge to enhance their lives.
- Employment: Employment provides the opportunity for individuals to produce income and contribute to the economic development of their communities.
- Environment: The environment and its adequate management of resources provide its communities with life support, natural resources for production and consumption, and supplies amenities.
- Food Security: Food insecurity is characterized by the lack of access to nutritious, safe, and sufficient quality food. At times families experiencing food insecurity reduce food intake and normal eating patterns are disrupted due to lack of money and other resources for food.
- Health: Promoting physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being (to adapt and self-manage) is essential to human development.
- Housing: UCF is committed to facilitating and ensuring that underserved communities have a place to live in such as a house, apartment, lodging, or shelter.
- Technology: With its constant improvement, technology and continuous access to newer technology plays a part in almost all aspects of people’s lives. Access to technology can significantly improve people’s efficiency, particularly in the areas of employment, educational opportunities, and access to competitive credit and savings.
- Transportation: Transportation provides access. The better transportation is for an individual or family being efficient public transportation or personal vehicle, the better the opportunity to access other forms of economic pillars such as education, employment, health, food, and more.
Eligibility and Selection Criteria
- Non-profit organizations with a tax-exempt status of 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and organized and operated for charitable purposes are eligible to apply for UCF funding. Each project proposal cost should be between $5,000 to $10,000 annually.
- UCF has a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging. Therefore, UCF seeks to facilitate and simplify the application process in an effort to provide an equitable opportunity for fund-seeking organizations committed to delivering services specifically to underserved communities. Furthermore, UCF highly encourages interested applicants to attend virtual sessions aiding in the grant process and answering questions. Interested candidates for funding may not lobby for their proposal with any UCF Board of Directors or staff. Any attempt to do so will result in the disqualification of the proposal. Incomplete applications will not be considered for funding.
For more information, visit UCF.
