United Way of Northern Santa Barbara County (UWNSBC) Neighbor-to-Neighbor Response program is a proactive campaign designed to help families and nonprofit agencies cope with the current economic crisis. This initiative has three components 

·         A 45-day public campaign to seek financial contributions, needed household items, and volunteers; and to inform residents in need about available emergency and financial stability resources

·         A fund to distribute grants to eligible non-profit entities

·         Online and printed resource lists made available in partnership with 2-1-1 to connect families in need to services and tools to help build long-term financial stability 

THE NEIGHBOR-TO-NEIGHBOR RESPONSE FUND 

Monetary contributions will be made directly to the Neighbor-to-Neighbor Response fund. The purpose of the fund is to help individuals and families who are severely impacted by the current economic crisis by assisting with both short-term emergency needs and long-term financial stability. The fund will consist of three types of grants: 

  Emergency/Crisis Assistance Grants (75%)
Provide assistance to nonprofit agencies experiencing a significant increase in demand for basic needs
and/or crisis services, including: rental/foreclosure, emergency shelter, utilities, and transportation (bus
tokens, gas cards)

Long-term Financial Stability and System Advocacy Grants (25%) Provide assistance to nonprofit
agencies that assist individuals and families in gaining the knowledge, skills, and tools that contribute to
long-term financial stability including: financial/credit counseling and education, Earned Income Tax
 Credit outreach, benefits enrollment, and advocacy

APPLICATION PROCESS

Eligibility
Applicants must certify that they meet UWNSBC's "Funding Eligibility Criteria." An electronic copy of this form must be submitted with the application. Current UWNSBC partners do not need to complete this form.   Funding Eligibility Requirements

Grant Amounts
Grant requests must be between $1,000 and $5,000. Organizations may submit more than one application, however the maximum amount an individual agency can receive will be determined based on the total amount raised, and will not exceed $25,000. 

Application Process
The Neighbor-to-Neighbor Response grant application form is electronic and should be filled out and submitted through our website. Once completed, you will receive an email containing a copy of the application with your entries for your records. 

Application Deadlines
Deadline for grant request submissions is each Friday of the 45-day period at NOON:
March 6, 13, and 20
April 3, 10, and 17

Grant Review
Grant requests will be reviewed each Wednesday by an ad hoc committee comprised of UWNSBC's Advisory Councils and by a UWNSBC Board committee. Notice will be provided each Thursday and funds will be disbursed the Friday following the application submission via electronic transfer or checks will be available for pickup at UWNSBC’s Santa Maria office after 2PM.

Criteria
UWNSBC recognizes that there will be significantly more requests and needs than can be met by the funds and that it will be important to provide grants that are of sufficient size to have a meaningful impact. This means that there will be some worthy programs/agencies that do not receive grants.  

• Applicant must meet UWNSBC eligibility requirement

• Grant must meet one of the specified needs listed above

• Applicant must be able to provide number of people to be impacted by the grant

• Grant recipient must agree to provide UWNSBC with documentation on how grant was utilized

 Use of Grant Funds
Grant funds may not be used for cash payments to individuals (though rental assistance paid to a landlord may be acceptable). No more than 10% of the grant may be used for administrative expenses.

Reporting 
Grant recipients will be required to submit brief progress reports (stories and program statistics) on a weekly basis during the 45-day campaign in order to maintain public momentum. Also, a final report will be required after the funds have been expended. Failure to comply with the reporting requirements may jeopardize future funding.