Community Investment

Have you ever wondered what happens to the money raised during Great Rivers United Way’s annual campaign? Community Investment is Great Rivers United Way’s granting program — our process for directing your gifts to our community’s greatest needs.

New for 2025, Great Rivers United Way will have two granting cycles, one each for two priority areas: 1) basic needs (food, shelter, and safety) and 2) mental wellbeing. We will be recruiting community volunteers to read and rate basic needs grant applications this fall. These volunteers will determine how Great Rivers United Way funds are distributed.

Being a Community Investment Volunteer is a great opportunity to help decide where our funding goes! As a Community Investment Volunteer, you will:

• Review and score applications submitted by local nonprofits
• Work independently, and then come together with other volunteers to share your thoughts
• Make important decisions on investing donated funds
• Increase your knowledge of community needs and resources
• Be a part of a process that makes a big difference in your community

As a Community Investment Volunteer, you will give approximately 11–14 hours of service to the community:

• 1.5 hour virtual training on how to review grant applications
• 7–10 hours of reviewing and scoring applications online on your own time
• 2.5 hour virtual panel, during which you will discuss and rank your assigned programs with other volunteers
  • There are generally several panels dates to choose from; you will sign up for one

If you have any questions or would like to be notified when recruitment begins, please contact Liz Evans, Community Impact Director, at levans@gruw.org or (608) 796-1400, ext. 105.