In partnership with UVA’s Division for Community Engagement and Equal Opportunity, the United Way of Greater Charlottesville is pleased to announce the FY26 Community Excellence Award Opportunity. These funds will support non-profit human service organizations in Planning District Ten that desire to implement a strategic planning framework that centers core values, service, and collaboration to drive excellence within their organization and community. Please submit your application here by 5:00 PM on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
This program will include five 1.5-hour sessions to introduce participants to a planning framework and develop a community of practice with other awardees. After having the opportunity to build a strong foundation of knowledge, each awardee will then develop its organization’s collaborative action plan from January to March 2026 with technical assistance provided by the expert staff at UVA’s Division for Community Engagement and Equal Opportunity.
Three (3) $5,000 awards will be dispersed upon the presentation of developed plans to offset each awardee staff members’ time required to undertake this work. Technical consulting will be provided by the Division for Community Engagement and Equal Opportunity at no cost to the awardee. Each awardee is expected to complete a draft of its plan to review at a March check-in session, submit its final draft on March 24, 2026, and participate in a United Way of Greater Charlottesville’s Community Engagement and Leadership Committee awardee celebration and presentation on April 7, 2026 from 12:30-200PM. Each awardee will provide a 10 to 15-minute presentation on its plan or journey to complete it.
Each awardee must certify that a primary person will be assigned to attend each session and the presentation. Awardees may have a small team of employees participate.
Questions regarding this opportunity may be addressed to Dabney Coleman at dcoleman@unitedwaycville.org. We will also be hosting an open virtual information session on Wednesday, October 29 from 2-3PM for those interested in learning more.
What are the pillars of the community excellence planning framework?
The goal of the Community Excellence framework is to embed the power of values, ethical engagement, and co-creation into the organizational fabric to better achieve organizational outcomes. Each awardee is expected to undertake a robust self-study effort that will reflect collaboration and input from across the organization and meaningful stakeholders.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Non-profit 501(c)3 providing human service programs and governed by a volunteer Board of Directors
- Located within Planning District Ten (Counties of Albemarle, Nelson, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa and the City of Charlottesville)
- In business for a minimum of 12 months
- Must be willing to sign a basic award agreement and participate in the dates outlined above
Authorized Uses of Award Funds:
The awarded funds are intended to offset the staff time necessary to engage in development and undertake strategic organizational action planning efforts. Awardees will not be required to report on how the funds are expended.