Let’s DO GOOD Together
UFCU is passionate about changing lives and strengthening communities. We’re pleased to partner with nonprofit organizations that make a difference in the areas of higher education, employment in the trades, housing that’s stable and affordable, and financial health.
Apply for a Grant
Our Ideal Nonprofit Partner
We believe we can make the most change with our partners when our goals and capabilities are aligned. Our ideal community partners meet the following criteria:*
- Share our mission of financial health, and especially make progress in our key areas of quality education, trades employment, affordable housing, and financial health
- Can engage our employees as volunteers, partners, and donors
- Demonstrate positive outcomes in the communities where our Members live and work
When more of us do well, we all do better.
Learn more about our Vision & Mission
Minimum Criteria for Applicants
Programs eligible for UFCU grant funding must meet the following minimum criteria:
- Must involve a 501c3 nonprofit organization with tax-deductible contribution status or a faith community with nonprofit status. We partner with organizations that share our view of collaborative and inclusive service without excluding anyone on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, ethnicity, nation of origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, or any other factor not relevant to a person’s eligibility for service or ability to contribute.
- Serve people living in greater Austin (Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson counties) or greater Galveston (Galveston county).
- Address one of UFCU’s four impact areas: quality education, trades employment, affordable housing, or financial health.
Scoring Criteria for Applicants
Beyond the minimum requirements, UFCU scores applicants based on how well they meet the following criteria:
- Articulate a clear plan for
o The impact area their program addresses
o The services that will be provided and how they will be provided
o The expected client impact
o The timeline for using the funding
o Any deliverables to UFCU
o The measures of success in outcomes
- Offer a clear business benefit to UFCU or introduction to relationships in a strategic market for UFCU.
- Have a board and staff leadership demographically representative of the people they serve.
- Offer volunteer opportunities for UFCU employees to engage in the project or the organization’s overall mission.
More points are awarded to applicants who share clear, long-term community value for services provided and describe their roots in our community.
Completing the Application
All proposals must be submitted quarterly (by March 31, June 30, September 30 or December 31) and include the following documentation:
- Grant application (completed online, required)
- Overview budget for the project (sent via email, required)
- Organization’s most recent IRS Form 990 (sent via email, required)
- Supporting documentation such as a presentation, annual report, or other sources that convey more about the request (optional)
The maximum award for a single grant is $25,000. Grants are awarded for periods of 1–3 years. Please submit only one application per quarter.
How Grant Partners Are Selected
At the beginning of each quarter, a Community Impact team member will review each application to determine if it meets the eligibility criteria. Eligible applications are evaluated by at least three reviewers using our grant program scoring rubric. Partners will be notified of their status within the first month of each quarter.
We invite you to complete the 2023 Quarterly Grant Application. To assist you in preparing for the application, you can download a PDF preview here. If you have any questions, please contact Monica Williams, Manager, Social Impact at mwilliams@ufcu.org.
Apply for a Grant
*UFCU Grant Application Terms and conditions apply. Review the complete terms.