United Way invests $1M in grants to 46 local nonprofit programs and agencies

Rochester – United Way of Olmsted County’s board of directors recently approved a set of new and continuing grants to improve the health, education, and financial stability of individuals and families in Olmsted County. From July 2023-June 2024, United Way will invest $1,070,000 in grants to 46 nonprofit programs and agencies that support food security, housing stability, early childhood education, health access, and equitable communities. This figure includes $70,000 in grants to programs serving Dodge County residents, following the merger of United Way of Olmsted County and United Way of Dodge County in January of this year.

This will be the first year of funding for 12 of the programs, while others are a continuation of multi-year commitments. Collectively, these grants will help to provide needed services – including hot meals, eviction prevention programming, early education scholarships, medical services for underserved communities, youth programming, disability support services, and more – to an anticipated 24,000  local residents. A complete list of grant recipients is included below.

“Education, health, and financial stability are the foundations of a good quality of life, and they’re interconnected,” says Emily Johnston, Vice President of Impact and Engagement at United Way of Olmsted County. “The past years have been challenging, between the Covid-19 pandemic, a tough housing market, and rising costs of everyday essentials. It’s critical that our community continues to invest in support systems for one another so that all residents of Olmsted County can thrive.”

These investments in local programs are made possible by donors, volunteers, and advocates throughout Olmsted County. More than 5,400 individuals donated to United Way of Olmsted County last year, and community volunteers reviewed grant applications and made funding recommendations to United Way’s staff and volunteer board of directors. “Part of what makes Olmsted County a great place to live and to raise a family is our community’s enduring history of caring for one another,” says United Way President Jerome Ferson. “United Way has been working with the Olmsted County community for nearly one hundred years, and we’re honored to continue that work in both Olmsted and Dodge Counties so all of our neighbors can access the resources they need to reach their full potential.”