United Way of Central Indiana opening its accreditation process

Accreditation allows nonprofits to apply for United Way grants, access training and resources

United Way of Central Indiana is opening its accreditation process to nonprofits interested in joining its network of accredited community partners.

Accreditation allows nonprofits to apply for United Way grants and access training, resources, and programs to grow their organizations.

Applications are open now through 5 p.m. on Feb. 23.

United Way accredits nonprofits in the human services sector that work to tackle the most complex issues in local communities and align with United Way’s issue areas of basic needs, early care and learning, economic mobility, and safe, and affordable housing.

In opening the accreditation process, United Way conducted an analysis to identify current needs in the community and gaps in services. This year, United Way is only accepting accreditation applications from organizations that address these areas of alignment in the following counties and ZIP codes:

  • Organizations in Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Morgan, and Putnam counties must address: two-generation services; adult or youth workforce development or workforce pathways (education or credential obtainment); safe and affordable housing; food; or transportation.
  • In Marion County, organizations must be serving the zip codes of 46218, 46201, 46222, 46225, 46226, 46241, 46224, 46203, 46216, 46227, 46219, 46235, or 46208 and address: safe and affordable housing; or adult or youth workforce development or workforce pathways (education or credential obtainment).

To be eligible, an organization must be a legally authorized nonprofit incorporated in Indiana or a nonprofit with its own governing or advisory board organized as an identified part of another organization incorporated in the state. Organizations must have been incorporated for at least five years and employ at least two full-time employees.

Applying organizations are required to attend one virtual application workshop:

  • 4:30 to 6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 29
  • 10 to 11:30 a.m. Feb. 7

To RSVP to a workshop, email accreditation@uwci.org.

The accreditation process involves a site visit and evaluation by a team of United Way staff, board members and volunteers. They assess a nonprofit’s financial health, governance, strategy and innovation, sustainability, and diversity and inclusion, among other things. Eligible organizations applying for accreditation must participate in an in-person site visit the week of April 22.