Community Investment Grant

Grants to Central Texas organizations and agencies to improve the lives of community residents. Funding is intended for programs that address the building blocks of life and advance the common good in the following areas of focus: financial stability, basic needs, education, and health.

United Way of Central Texas (UWCT) believes a healthy community learns well, earns well, and lives well. Partnering with agencies in the community that focus on goals and outcomes in the areas of education, financial stability, health and basic needs – the building blocks for a good life – the United Way will work to create long-lasting changes that inspire hope and create opportunities for a better tomorrow. They have invested heavily into programs and initiatives advancing the common good in these areas, which are the four key pillars to the United Way's Community Impact Model.

Focus Areas:

- Health: The United Way of Central Texas endeavors to promote a healthier community. Along with their partners in the Bridges to Wellness and Health collaborative strategy, UWCT addresses the issue of health care access, including connecting people to health services through free clinics and prescription drug financial assistance. Accomplishing these goals decreases medical costs assumed by community hospitals, insurance rate payers, and taxpayers - particularly by reducing unnecessary emergency room visits.

- Financial Stability: UWCT focuses on lasting income solutions (that go beyond charity) to help people build skills and education necessary to get, keep and advance in a good job. They work to offer financial wellness, coaching and planning to help people better manage income, savings and assets. Through the SOAR Collaborative, they strive to promote self-sufficiency among low- to moderate-income populations in Central Texas through an incentivized savings and financial literacy program. Special savings accounts assist low income people through a matched savings and financial education program. Boost Accounts reward the monthly savings of people who are trying to buy their first home or pay for college. Participants are required to attend financial literacy classes. In addition, the VITA program offers free tax help to lower income families, persons with disabilities, the elderly, and limited English speaking taxpayers who need assistance in preparing their own tax returns.

- Education: UWCT funded programs have been driving increased access to early childhood education programs through local collaborations. They seek lasting solutions that build educational opportunities for all. They look at the big picture to assess which resources are lacking or need strengthening, then address those gaps to keep kids on track to graduation and beyond. The UWCT also supports after school programs. Community programs engage youth and provide learning, enrichment, and leadership opportunities. These are designed to support their academic success, increase high school graduation rates, improve overall development, enhance self-esteem, improve relationships with peers and adults, and promote declines in negative, risk-taking behavior.

- Basic Needs: UWCT is investing in Basic Needs programs to help people overcome crisis, lay the groundwork for independence and help families at risk of foreclosure or eviction stay in their homes.