United Way of Wayne and Holmes Counties Grant Funding Announcement

March 30, 2021

Wooster, Ohio (March 15, 2021) – United Way of Wayne and Holmes Counties is pleased to announce the results of the 2021 Grant Funding Process. The Board of Directors unanimously approved $810,000.00 toward renewal programs that keep with United Way’s mission of mobilizing community resources to help people measurably improve their lives.

2021 Allocations for United Way of Wayne and Holmes due to the COVID-19 pandemic were presented to volunteers and the board as renewal applications. “We wanted to take careful consideration of the programs we fund and the time investment that grant applications take.” said Katie Koglman, Executive Director. “We felt due to the pandemic that this was a fair and just way to allow agencies to receive funding for 2021. Knowing we hit goal and that we would have the ability to fund new programs too, using a different application process, starting at the beginning of April.”

2021 United Way Grant Awards grants were awarded to the following agencies for specific programs that they run: American Red Cross, Anazao Community Partners, Boys & Girls Club of Wooster, Catholic Charities of Wayne County, Goodwill Industries of Wayne and Holmes Counties, Holmes Center for the Arts, Learn N’ Play, NAMI, National Inventors Hall of Fame, OHUDDLE, OneEighty, Salvation Army of Wooster, The Counseling Center, Viola Startzman Clinic, Wayne Center for the Arts, Wayne County Schools Career Center, Wooster City Schools and YMCA of Wayne County.

H. Stewart Fitz Gibbon III, United Way Board President stated “The 31 programs we have chosen to fund this year through a renewal allocation process help address some of the communities most pressing issues. These programs are financially stable, results driven and a good investment in our community. We see now more than ever that these programs are necessary and integral to the success of the communities we serve.”

Hitting goal in 2020 has also allowed United Way to raise money for other programs/emergency needs which include:

$ 21,232 to area organizations in direct designations.

$ 9,814 to other local United Way organizations in direct designations

$166,911.00.00 to the Local Covid19 Relief Fund

$8,811 to the Severe Weather Shelter

$36,000 to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

$30,000 restricted for WHIRE

$75,000.00 to the Board Restricted Fund

Grants from the Board Restricted Fund will open for new program applications in April. The details for those grants will be available on our website. (uwwh.org)

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Why we stay nonpartisan

By Katie Koglman • October 7, 2026

United We Help: Why United Way Wayne and Holmes Stays Nonpartisan Turn on the television. Scroll social media. Check your mailbox. Election season brings a steady stream of political messages, each competing for our attention and asking us to choose a side. It can be overwhelming, especially when you are trying to separate facts from opinions and decide whom to trust. At United Way Wayne and Holmes Counties, we value the trust our community places in us. That is why we want to be clear about our role during elections.We do not endorse candidates, oppose candidates, or tell people whom to vote for. As a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, we are prohibited from participating in political campaigns for or against candidates for public office. This is a legal requirement , not simply an organizational preference. Our responsibility is to serve Wayne and Holmes Counties and bring people together to help our neighbors. Nonpartisan does not mean silent We see the challenges people face every day: families struggling to afford groceries, workers facing transportation barriers, children needing opportunities to learn, and neighbors searching for mental health support. We have a role in helping our community and policymakers understand those needs. We can share information, educate elected officials, build relationships, and speak up about issues connected to our mission. We can also engage in some lobbying on specific legislation, within the limits that apply to charitable organizations. Speaking up about a community need is different from asking you to vote for a particular candidate. Can we do that? Our “Can We Do That? A Quick Guide to Nonprofit Advocacy” graphic uses a traffic-light approach to explain the difference. Green: Speak up for our community. Share stories, explain community needs, educate policymakers, and encourage civic participation. Yellow: Know the rules. Supporting or opposing specific legislation is lobbying, which comes with limits and responsibilities. Red: No candidate endorsements. We cannot support or oppose candidates, contribute organizational funds to their campaigns, or use our organizational voice to tell you whom to elect. We can encourage people to register and vote, and provide voter information, as long as those efforts remain neutral and do not favor or oppose candidates or political parties. Your vote belongs to you You may hear us discuss hunger, literacy, housing, transportation, or other issues affecting local families. You may see us meeting with elected officials to help them understand what is happening in our communities. Those conversations are about the people we serve. They are not candidate endorsements. We encourage you to ask questions, examine reliable information, learn about candidates, and make your own informed choices. The neighbors who turn to us for help have different backgrounds, beliefs, and political views. So do the donors, volunteers, and partners who make our work possible. Helping our community takes all of us. Election season will come and go. Our commitment to Wayne and Holmes counties continues regardless of the outcome. We encourage all of you to vote, and vote for who you think is the best candidate! Early voting begins October 6, 2026 through Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026 and Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. To find where you should go to vote Click Here. Go VOTE!!