United Way partners with donors, agencies and community members to create measurable change in our community through the Community Investment Process. Partner Agencies receive funding for programs meeting critical needs. Agencies participate as full partners in the Community Investment Process and work with community members to collaboratively address desired community level outcomes and strategies.

How to Become a Partner

Partnership with the United Way of Harrisonburg & Rockingham County is available to 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations providing health, education, and human services to residents of Harrisonburg & Rockingham County that meet the Standards of Partnership set forth by the Board of Directors. The United Way would like to attract and solicit the participation of the best service providers as potential partners to ensure the widest possible pool of agency programs and services addressing important community needs.

Eligibility for partnership will be established by the United Way based on a comprehensive review of financial, program and operating conditions of the applicant agency and the documented need for the type of program(s) the agency is providing in Harrisonburg & Rockingham County. This Certification process will take place upon submittal of the organization's initial application and every two years thereafter. Partners annually submit a program application for funding under the United Way's Community Priorities.

Step 1

Organizations submit a Letter of Intent in response to this Request for Proposals from the United Way Vision Council. The Letter of Intent must demonstrate how the proposed program will help meet the goals set forth in the Community Priorities.

Step 2

The United Way Vision Council annually reviews the Letters of Intent and informs organizations if their program has been accepted for the full Community Investment Process. This acceptance allows organizations to apply for certification; upon receiving Certification an agency is eligible to receive funding from the United Way Community Fund.

Step 3

The United Way Certification Committee will review the applicant organization to determine if the organization meets the stringent set of criteria set forth in a Board-approved quality control standard. Certification is established by a comprehensive review of financial, operating and other conditions of the provider upon its initial application and every two years thereafter. This will be supplemented by update reviews annually, or whenever key events at the provider (such as change in management or strategy) warrant it.

Step 4

Those organizations who have had their Letter of Intent accepted and have received certification will be considered for funding by the Community Investment Teams with program funding to be decided by the Team for approval by the United Way Board and payout from May through April.