The United Way of Greater New Bedford’s Community Building Mini-Grants Program is offering support to volunteer-based groups who want to create positive change in the community by bringing their ideas and creative solutions to life.

The 2008 Mini-Grants funding cycle is getting underway with an application deadline of Friday, April 4th.  All applicants are required to attend one of the orientation workshops, which cover the basics of the Mini-Grants Program and will provide groups with step by step tips on getting through the application process.

The Mini-Grants Program is the only local program to support all-volunteer grassroots efforts that improve community life through grant making, skill-building workshops, and networking opportunities.  Each project should improve, strengthen and build our community. 

Last year, 38 groups received funding for a broad spectrum of interests, issues and concerns, including projects focused on art, culture, history, hunger, literacy, seniors and people with disabilities.  Demonstrating an overwhelming response to the challenges that face our community today, initiatives concentrated mostly on the issues of concern such as autism, HIV/AIDS, the environment, public safety, violence prevention and youth.

All volunteer based groups with budgets under $25,000 are eligible for grants up to $2,500 for ongoing, year-long projects or a maximum of $500 for one time special events. 

“So many of our groups have demonstrated a tremendous capacity to make a real, lasting difference,” said Claudia Kirk, Community Building Mini-Grants Program Director.  “All that’s needed is the passion, desire and commitment to turn their ideas into reality.”

All applicants should attend the following free orientation session on Wednesday, February 27th at 6:00 p.m. at the Wareham Free Library, 59 Marion Road (Rte. 6). 

Pre-registration is required for all orientation sessions.  Application deadline is Friday, April 4th.  For more information and to register, contact Claudia Kirk at 508-994-9625, ext. 13 or at ckirk@unitedwayofgnb.org.  Visit the United Way website at www.unitedwayofgnb.org for details about the Mini-Grants Program. 

United Way of Greater New Bedford

United Way of Greater New Bedford works to bring together individuals, businesses and organizations to address our community’s most urgent needs.  We believe that to truly improve lives in our region, we must act collectively to impact the critical issues affecting our neighborhoods – building a better community for us all.

Through an annual campaign, we provide funding to more than 60 programs at local health and human service agencies serving residents of New Bedford, Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Freetown, Marion, Mattapoisett, Rochester and Wareham.  In addition, we administer a number of programs to address specific needs in our community.  Through the Hunger Commission of Southeastern Massachusetts we supply food to emergency soup kitchens and food pantries in Bristol County, while our Community Building Mini-Grants Program provides funding and skill-building opportunities to all-volunteer groups. In addition, our Volunteer Solutions database provides the only local online volunteer tool to match willing volunteers with nonprofits in need of support.

It takes our whole community working together to reach our goals.  Whether it requires fundraising, planning, or just getting people to work together, that’s what we do. 

We need your support!  Visit www.unitedwayofgnb.org to learn more about the different ways that you can help.

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