Community Healing Fund

CURRENT OPPORTUNITY

The first round of the Community Healing Fund showed great impact to the organizations who received funding and the people they serve, but United Way of Greater Knoxville and the Community Healing Fund Committee acknowledge that we need to better understand the barriers that small to medium size (under $1 million in annual expenses) Black-led organizations experience when applying for grants and create space for more community voices to speak into what peace and healing look like for our community.

The committee has created a grant process that will provide unrestricted funds to Black-led small to medium size organizations who are rooted in community and willing to work together to create a shared aspiration for the community. This shared vision will directly influence the future priorities of the Community Healing Fund and the grant process itself. Our hope is to create a more equitable and supportive grant process built directly on the needs of the nonprofits and the community they serve.

Grant Process/Timeline:
Applications Open on 11/1/22
Applications Due 12/5/2022 at 11:59 PM
All applicants will participate in a 15 minute Zoom interview with members of the Community Healing Fund Committee.
The Community Healing Fund Committee will evaluate applications and make decisions based on criteria chosen to include a variety of voices. These include:
capacity to attend cohort meetings and fully participate
willingness to build a shared vision for the community
representation from organizations doing different types of work (early care, workforce dev., etc.)
representation from organizations with a range of experience applying for grants
representation from organizations with varying degrees of connection to the United Way of Greater Knoxville
Grants will be awarded to 10-15 organizations. The amount of the grant will be determined by the number of organizations chosen and will range from $33,000- $50,000. All organizations will receive the same amount of funding.
Organizations will be notified of decisions by the end of January.
Funding will begin Feb. 2023 with an initial payout. Future payouts will be dependent on participation in cohort meetings.

THE FUND

In 2021, the United Way of Greater Knoxville, along with the City of Knoxville and Knox County governments, launched the Community Healing Fund to provide resources to Black-led organizations. During the first round of funding, the Community Healing Fund Committee received 33 applications totaling $1.9 million in requested funding. The Committee reviewed applications and granted $277,000 to 11 local organizations. Find the first-round grantees here.

The fund continues to be supported by the United Way of Greater Knoxville and is evolving to meet the needs of the community. The mission to promote peace and healing in the Black community remains the same.

Key community leaders are the decision makers in this grantmaking process. 100% of donations will go to support the agencies and organizations selected by the committee to receive funding.

COMMITTEE LEADERS

Stan Johnson

Executive Director and Founder, SEEED

Kathy Mack

Chief Youth Engagement Officer, YWCA Knoxville and the Tennessee Valley

J.D. Jackson

Chief Operating Officer, SEEED

“By investing in this fund, donors will be able to see the growth in the community through the empowerment of local Black nonprofits through capacity building and resource allocation. Resources will be directly distributed back in the community to create a brighter and more equitable future.” Stan Johnson.

United Way of Greater Knoxville’s priorities are simple: to protect and uplift organizations serving marginalized communities and giving them the resources to succeed and change lives for years to come.