Amount
$25,000–$50,000 per program annually (multi-year commitments common).[13]
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United Way of Buffalo & Erie County – Community Investments
Timeline
2025–2028 cohort active; next full RFP expected early 2028. Monitor for interim initiatives.[14]
Effort & Priority
Effort: 6 | Priority: Must Pursue
Success outlook: High (future cycle).
Match
No formal match; requires full program budget disclosure and alignment with outcome indicators.[14]
Why United Way
United Way provides steady, multi-year funding across Healthy Families, Financial Stability, and Youth Success—BUL’s flagship areas. Maintaining funded status boosts credibility with corporate and foundation partners.[13]
Readiness Actions
- Track and report outcomes using United Way’s indicator framework; keep dashboards current.[14]
- Participate in coalitions, trainings, and pitch events to remain visible between RFP cycles.
- Steward program officers Amy Reynolds and Laureen Fournier with quarterly updates.
Reporting Expectations
- Quarterly metric submissions tied to focus-area scorecards.
- Annual narrative and financial reporting (audits, DEI data, board lists).
- Readiness for site check-ins—document stories and client testimonials throughout the year.
ROI & Value
A representative $30K annual investment requires roughly 50 staff hours to pursue, landing near $600/hour in immediate return; the standard three-year funding cycle pushes that to about $1,800/hour while keeping BUL visible with key corporate and philanthropic partners.
Future Opportunities
United Way intermittently releases special initiatives (Pitch10, donor-advised grants). Keep topical project concepts (e.g., digital equity, mental health supports) ready for rapid submission.[14]
Next Steps
Deliver strong stewardship on current funding, keep outcomes aligned with United Way metrics, and line up coalition partners early so 2027–2028 renewal discussions start from a position of strength.[13]