CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO. – United Way of Southeast Missouri invites the community to take part in its selection process for nonprofit programs seeking funding in the 2026–2028 grant cycle. Community members are invited to attend program presentations on March 26 at 4:00 p.m. at the United Way office, 16 N. Spanish Street in Cape Girardeau.
The presentations will feature some of the nonprofit programs that have advanced in the application process and are being considered for inclusion in United Way’s next two-year partner network. Due to the number of applications, only programs that are new to UWSEMO’s network will present.
Information on previous funded partners will be shared in a slide presentation. Each funding cycle, United Way of Southeast Missouri (UWSEMO) opens applications to qualified programs serving at least one county in its service area: Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Perry, and northern Scott. Programs must complete a detailed application and participate in a rigorous review led by community volunteers who serve on the Community Investment Committee (CIC) and the UWSEMO Board of Directors.
CIC members review and discuss every application before making recommendations to the board. “We are frequently asked how partners are determined. This year we wanted to open the process to anyone who is interested in learning more about our investment strategy and some of the programs that support it,” explains Elizabeth Shelton, Executive Director.
After the presentations, CIC volunteers will devote many hours to reviewing the programs and recommending which should become United Way partners for the 2026–2028 funding cycle. The committee will also recommend the percentage of community donations each program should receive.
Due to the time demands of an April 23 fundraiser, Power of the Purse, programs selected to join the United Way network will not be notified until early May, followed by a public announcement. As part of the United Way Worldwide network, UWSEMO invests in programs (not agencies) that show strong results and have the greatest impact on success in life.
Funded programs focus on four key areas: Youth Opportunity, which includes education and mentoring; Healthy Community, which supports nutrition and physical and mental health; Community Resiliency, which provides safety net services during times of crisis; and Financial Security to lead families and individuals to financial empowerment.
Programs that support self-sufficiency and move people toward income security are of special interest as the organization continues to invest in efforts that address barriers to employment affecting our workforce and regional economy.