United Way Northwest Indiana Awards $759,500 in Community Impact Grants
Grants will support 12 organizations and sustainable programs focused on youth, health, and financial stability across Northwest Indiana
United Way Northwest Indiana has awarded $759,500 in Community Impact Grants to 12 organizations working to strengthen communities and expand opportunities for individuals and families across Northwest Indiana.
The grants were selected from more than 109 applications, totaling more than $9.5 million, for projects addressing community needs throughout United Way Northwest Indiana’s five-county service area. Each funded program aligns with one of United Way Northwest Indiana’s key areas of focus: Youth Opportunity, Healthy Community, Financial Security, or Community Resiliency.
Nearly half of the funding, approximately 45%, will support programs focused on healthy communities, while 35% will support youth opportunities, and 20% will support financial stability.
“Community change happens when organizations have the resources to address the needs they see every day,” said Chris White, President and CEO of United Way Northwest Indiana. “These grants allow us to invest in organizations that are already working alongside our neighbors, while strengthening programs that can continue to serve our communities well into the future. We are grateful to every organization that applied and to the donors and partners who make this investment possible.”
2026 Community Impact Grant Recipients
YOUTH OPPORTUNITY
Appleseed Childhood Education
Paths to Quality 4: Increasing access to high-quality early childhood education through quality improvement support.
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Northwest Indiana
Scholarship Programming: Providing scholarships to expand access to high-quality programming for youth across Northwest Indiana.
Building Blocks Childcare
Building Strong Futures: Expanding access to quality childcare and early learning opportunities.
The Growing Patch Learning Center
Equipment and Supplies for New School Year: Upgrading equipment and supplies to support a safe, high-quality learning environment for the new school year.
FINANCIAL STABILITY
Center for Workforce Innovations
Fast Track to Top Jobs Bootcamp: Delivering a workforce readiness bootcamp to connect individuals with in-demand careers and pathways to economic mobility.
HEALTHY COMMUNITY
Community Help Network
Buddy Bags Program: Providing food-filled Buddy Bags to support individuals and families facing food instability.
Community Services of Northwest Indiana
Summer Lunch Sack Program: Providing nutritious meals to children during the summer months.
Crossroads YMCA
ALICE Family Access Subsidy Program: Expanding access to YMCA programs and services for ALICE individuals and families through financial assistance supporting youth development, healthy living, and family well-being.
Food Bank of Northwest Indiana
Regional Food Access and Agency Support Initiative: Expanding regional food access and strengthening agency capacity to better serve individuals and families across Northwest Indiana.
Hilltop Neighborhood House
Emergency Food Access and Navigation Liaison Network: Increasing access to emergency food and connecting individuals and families to additional support services through a navigation liaison network.
Meals on Wheels Northwest Indiana
Feeding Families Program: Delivering nutritious meals to homebound individuals and families in the Gary community.
NWI No Child Hungry
Buddy Program: Providing weekend food support to students to help reduce childhood hunger.
Together, these grants represent an investment in programs that help children access opportunities, connect individuals and families with resources, strengthen food security, and create pathways toward greater financial stability.
“While we are pleased to partner with 12 outstanding organizations and the programs they lead, the demand for funding far exceeds what we are currently able to provide. We received requests totaling millions of dollars and were able to fund less than 10% of the amount requested. That speaks to both the tremendous need across Northwest Indiana and the dedication of organizations working to help our neighbors thrive. We are actively working to grow available funding and expand the Community Impact Grant program in 2027 so we can support more of this important work,” White said.
For more information about United Way Northwest Indiana and its community initiatives, visit unitedwaynwi.org.
###