History and Background
United Way Hastings & Prince Edward has a long history of community fundraising and charitable investment in southeastern Ontario. Its Board of Directors has represented the local community since 1958, reflecting the organization’s longstanding role in bringing together business leaders, volunteers, donors and community partners to address local needs.
Over time, United Way HPE has developed beyond traditional fundraising into a community-impact organization that works to understand the underlying causes of social challenges and invest in programs designed to produce measurable results.
Rather than focusing exclusively on distributing donations, the organization collaborates with nonprofit agencies, volunteers, public institutions and other stakeholders to identify community priorities and develop practical responses. This approach combines financial support with advocacy, capacity building, community engagement and partnerships.
The organization’s Community Impact Strategy for 2023–2028 was informed by community consultation, research and data, including perspectives from residents, funded agencies, donors and volunteers. It guides decisions about local investments, collaboration and initiatives intended to create lasting social change.
United Way HPE supports organizations serving residents of Hastings County and Prince Edward County, including communities such as Belleville, Quinte West and surrounding rural areas. Its work reflects the understanding that challenges such as poverty, food insecurity, housing instability and social isolation require coordinated responses from multiple organizations.
Mission and Purpose
United Way Hastings & Prince Edward’s mission is to improve lives and build a stronger community for all through caring, generosity and collective action. Its vision is a community where everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential.
The organization seeks to strengthen the local nonprofit sector, improve access to essential services and address the underlying conditions that affect people’s quality of life.
Its main objectives include:
- Child and youth development: Helping children and young people access the support, opportunities and resources needed for healthy development, educational success and personal growth.
- Poverty reduction: Supporting access to food, housing, employment-related skills, financial security and other essential resources.
- Strong and healthy communities: Promoting personal well-being, social inclusion, community participation and stronger neighbourhood connections.
- Nonprofit capacity building: Helping local agencies strengthen their operations, develop partnerships and respond effectively to changing community needs.
- Community collaboration: Bringing together donors, volunteers, businesses, government bodies and charitable organizations to address complex social issues.
- Measurable social impact: Supporting programs that demonstrate their contribution through outcomes, indicators, data and program statistics.
- Advocacy and systemic change: Working with community partners and decision-makers to address root causes and improve the conditions affecting local residents.
These objectives are reflected in the organization’s Advocate, Invest and Mobilize approach, which combines social advocacy, strategic funding and collective action.
Governance and Structure
United Way Hastings & Prince Edward is an independent, community-based charitable organization governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and supported by professional staff. Its governance structure brings together local leadership and community experience to guide fundraising, investment decisions and strategic priorities.
The Board of Directors provides oversight and approves funding decisions under the organization’s established processes. Its members bring experience from business, education, finance, public service, community development and other professional fields.
The organization describes itself as volunteer-led and staff-driven. Volunteers contribute to the review and assessment of funding applications, while staff manage the application process, support funded agencies and coordinate community-impact activities.
United Way HPE emphasizes transparency, integrity, inclusivity, financial accountability and responsible stewardship of donated resources. Funding applications are evaluated against established criteria to ensure that investments align with community priorities and that organizations receiving support can demonstrate financial sustainability and effective program delivery.
The organization’s funding process involves staff review, community volunteer assessment and final approval by the Board of Directors. This structure is intended to promote consistency, community participation and accountability in allocating charitable funds.
United Way HPE also works with local nonprofit agencies, businesses, government partners, donors and volunteers to develop collaborative approaches to community challenges.
Funding and Grants
United Way Hastings & Prince Edward raises funds through charitable donations, workplace fundraising campaigns, individual giving, corporate support and other fundraising initiatives. It uses these resources to invest in eligible local programs and strengthen organizations working to improve community well-being.
Its funding model includes several streams designed to address different organizational and community needs.
Community Impact Fund
The Community Impact Fund supports programs delivered by eligible nonprofit charitable organizations that address pressing social issues in Hastings County and Prince Edward County. Funding is intended to help organizations implement specific programs with measurable outcomes and demonstrable community benefits.
Applications must align with one of the organization’s three priority areas: helping kids be all they can be, moving people from poverty to possibility, or building strong and healthy communities.
The annual funding process includes online applications, eligibility screening, staff review, citizen review, interviews or follow-up questions where applicable, and final approval by the Board of Directors.
For the 2026–2027 application cycle, the published programme details state that applications opened on October 23, 2026, and are due by December 11, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. The minimum program funding request is CAD 5,000, and the stated funding term is one year. Applicants should consult the official page for the latest requirements and any updates.
Anchor Agency Fund
The Anchor Agency Fund provides flexible operational funding to selected nonprofit organizations. Unlike grants restricted to a specific activity, this funding stream is designed to help eligible agencies cover essential operating expenses, strengthen organizational capacity, retain staff and respond to changing community needs.
The initiative reflects United Way HPE’s recognition that strong nonprofit organizations are essential to delivering reliable community services.
Its pilot programme has supported organizations working in areas such as housing, community care, disability services, children and youth, employment skills and community development.
Innovation Fund: Small Grants
The Innovation Fund supports organizational capacity building and collaboration between community-based organizations.
Its funding streams include organizational capacity grants and collaboration grants. Depending on the applicable guidelines, support may help agencies undertake strategic planning, strengthen governance, improve administrative systems, provide staff training or establish partnerships that improve service delivery.
Collaboration grants are designed for two or more community organizations working together to achieve measurable outcomes, develop community-wide initiatives or improve operational efficiency.
According to the official website, Innovation Fund applications are accepted annually until the available funds have been allocated. Eligible organizations should check the current status before applying.
Budgeting for Impact
Through Budgeting for Impact, United Way HPE supports selected community programs and collaborative initiatives that directly address local priorities. These may include initiatives led by the organization itself or delivered in partnership with local agencies.
Examples include Backpacks for Success, Day of Caring, the Bridge Integrated Care Hub, Period Promise and Leadership Development Services.
Eligibility Requirements
Organizations seeking funding generally need to demonstrate that they:
- Provide services to residents of Hastings County and/or Prince Edward County.
- Align with United Way HPE’s Community Impact Strategy and values.
- Are governed by a volunteer Board of Directors.
- Have audited annual financial statements or an accepted review engagement.
- Demonstrate financial stability, organizational sustainability and a genuine need for support.
- Meet the applicable Canada Revenue Agency qualified-donee requirements.
- Comply with the Ontario Human Rights Code in service delivery, employment and governance.
The organization generally does not fund for-profit businesses, primarily political organizations, foundations, unions, professional associations, arts organizations, medical research, hospitals, long-term care facilities or educational institutions. Restrictions also apply to religious advancement within funded programs and to major capital expenditures that do not directly support program delivery.
Eligibility can vary by funding stream, so applicants should consult the relevant investment guidelines before preparing a proposal.
Major Programs and Initiatives
United Way HPE supports a range of community programmes and collaborative initiatives intended to reduce hardship, improve opportunities for children and youth, and strengthen local services.
From Poverty to Possibility
This priority focuses on meeting the basic needs of people experiencing financial hardship and helping individuals and families move toward greater stability.
Activities supported under this pillar may address food insecurity, homelessness, transitional housing, employment-related skills, financial security, transportation and access to essential services.
Funded organizations provide practical assistance to residents facing economic challenges, while partnerships help identify gaps in services and improve access to community resources.
All That Kids Can Be
This priority aims to ensure that children and youth receive the support they need to develop, succeed in school and reach their potential.
Programmes may address mental health, healthy development, life skills, youth leadership, educational engagement, substance-use prevention and access to safe recreational opportunities.
United Way HPE also supports initiatives that help young people participate in community life and develop the skills and confidence needed for the future.
Strong Communities
The Strong Communities pillar focuses on personal well-being, social inclusion and the strength of local neighbourhoods.
Initiatives may support older adults, people with disabilities, individuals experiencing isolation, community transportation, housing services, food access and community participation.
The objective is to help residents remain connected to their communities and access services that support independence, safety and well-being.
Backpacks for Success
Backpacks for Success is a United Way HPE initiative that helps eligible children prepare for school by providing backpacks filled with school supplies.
The programme seeks to reduce financial barriers for families and ensure that children have access to essential materials at the beginning of the school year.
Day of Caring
Day of Caring brings volunteers and community partners together to support local organizations through practical assistance and community service activities. It helps strengthen relationships between workplaces, volunteers and nonprofit agencies while responding to local needs.
Period Promise
Period Promise addresses period poverty by helping improve access to menstrual products and encouraging community awareness of the barriers faced by people who cannot reliably afford essential menstrual supplies.
Bridge Integrated Care Hub
The Bridge Integrated Care Hub is among the community initiatives associated with United Way HPE’s Budgeting for Impact work. It reflects the organization’s role in supporting collaborative approaches to complex social needs and connecting residents with services.
Impact and Examples of Work Funded
United Way Hastings & Prince Edward measures its impact through the programmes it supports, the people reached by funded agencies and the outcomes reported by community partners.
Its website reports programme-level results across the organization’s three priority areas. These figures illustrate the breadth of services supported in the local community.
From Poverty to Possibility: The website reports 20 funded programs, 15,285 people impacted, 73,606 food boxes, hampers and essential items provided, and 8,405 nights of accommodation in transitional housing.
All That Kids Can Be: The website reports 13 funded programs, 3,631 children and youth helped, 216 youth leading change in their communities, and 2,108 visits to youth drop-in centres.
Strong Communities: The website reports 32 funded programs, 12,771 people impacted, 15,795 trips provided through transit and driver programmes, and 8,030 seniors assisted to remain independent.
These are figures published on the organization’s website and should be interpreted according to the reporting period and methodology used by United Way HPE.
Examples of the organization’s wider community impact include:
- Food security: Supporting local food banks, meal programmes and community organizations that provide essential food supplies to individuals and families.
- Housing stability: Investing in agencies that help people access housing support, transitional accommodation and services for individuals experiencing homelessness.
- Children and youth: Supporting learning, development, mentoring and youth engagement programmes that help young people participate in their communities.
- Older adult independence: Supporting community care, transportation and other services that help older residents remain independent and connected.
- Nonprofit organizational capacity: Providing flexible operational support and small grants that help local agencies strengthen governance, planning, staff training and service delivery.
- Community collaboration: Encouraging nonprofit organizations to work together on shared problems, improve efficiency and achieve measurable outcomes.
The organization’s 2024–2025 annual report also describes an Anchor Agency Funding pilot launched in 2024 to provide unrestricted operational support to eight local nonprofit organizations. The initiative aims to help agencies cover core costs, retain staff and respond to emerging needs, while developing a more evidence-based approach to measuring the impact of core funding.
These initiatives demonstrate how community fundraising can support both direct services and the organizational capacity needed to sustain them over time.
How Nonprofit Organizations Can Apply for Funding
Eligible nonprofit organizations serving Hastings County and/or Prince Edward County can explore United Way HPE funding opportunities by following these steps:
- Visit the official funding pages and identify the programme most closely aligned with the proposed project.
- Review the relevant funding guidelines, priority outcomes and eligibility criteria.
- Complete any required pre-qualification steps and create an account in the e-CImpact online application system.
- Prepare a project description that identifies the community need, target population, planned activities and expected measurable outcomes.
- Provide the required financial statements, organizational details, budget and other supporting documentation.
- Submit the application by the stated deadline and respond to any requests for interviews or additional information.
Applicants should demonstrate how the proposed programme contributes to one of United Way HPE’s three priority pillars and how its results will be measured.
The organization emphasizes evidence-informed planning, financial accountability and sustainable service delivery. Funding is competitive, and meeting eligibility requirements does not guarantee an award.
Conclusion
United Way Hastings & Prince Edward plays an important role in strengthening local communities through fundraising, strategic grants, nonprofit partnerships and community-impact programmes. Its work focuses on reducing poverty, helping children and youth reach their potential, and building strong, inclusive communities throughout Hastings County and Prince Edward County in Ontario, Canada.
Through the Community Impact Fund, Anchor Agency Fund, Innovation Fund and initiatives such as Backpacks for Success and Period Promise, the organization supports both frontline services and the long-term capacity of local nonprofit agencies.
For eligible charities and community organizations, United Way HPE offers opportunities to seek programme funding, strengthen organizational capacity and collaborate with other service providers. Applicants should review current funding guidelines carefully, as deadlines, eligibility criteria and available resources vary by programme.
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