Our Community Investments

United Way of the Plains invests in programs that tackle our community’s most pressing needs.

United Way’s core investments in local nonprofit programs are made through three grant opportunities: Opportunity on the Plains, Promise on the Plains and Impact on the Plains. Each investment opportunity supports our work to advance the common good in our focus areas of health, education, financial stability and basic needs.

OPPORTUNITY ON THE PLAINS

Opportunity on the Plains is the largest, annual grant investment program from United Way of the Plains to help meet the most pressing needs in our community. It provides grants to health and human service programs in our focus areas of health, education, financial stability and basic needs. Learn more about this investment program and the 2024-2025 grant recipients in our blog post.

Opportunity on the Plains is the largest, annual investment program from United Way of the Plains to help meet the most pressing needs in our community.
Promise on the Plains works to reduce inequities in the Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) nonprofit sector by assisting in building organizational capacity to help foster a more just and inclusive community.

PROMISE ON THE PLAINS

Through Promise on the Plains, United Way of the Plains invests in charitable organizations that provide opportunities for everyone in south central Kansas to thrive. Grants help close gaps and disparities in traditionally underserved communities while also building organizational capacity. Grants worth $2,500 to $10,000 intentionally support and enhance the efforts of these organizations while also advancing the work of United Way in the areas of health, education, financial stability and basic needs.

United Way awarded grants to 15 local organizations in 2023. Read the full press release here.

IMPACT ON THE PLAINS

Impact on the Plains, United Way’s social innovation competition, invites nonprofits to pitch their ideas for bold solutions to community issues in a “Shark-Tank”-style event. The top program applicants in the areas of health, education, financial stability and basic needs present their program to a panel of diverse community judges at a live event. This investment program promotes an entrepreneurial ecosystem in the nonprofit community and transforms how complex social issues are addressed.

Impact on the Plains was held Sept. 19, 2023. Read the press release, highlighting the recipients. Learn more about Impact on the Plains.

Impact on the Plains, United Way’s social innovation competition, invites nonprofits to pitch their ideas for bold solutions to community issues in a “Shark-Tank” style event.

OUR FOCUS

Our focus is on health, education, financial stability and basic needs—the building blocks for a good quality of life and a strong community. Click below to learn more about what we’re doing, the programs we invest in and our lasting impact in each area.

Icon of a heart and heartbeat for health and wellbeing.
Health
Icon of an apple sitting on top of a school textbook.
Education
Financial
Stability
Basic needs addresses access to food, shelter, safety and utility assistance.
Basic Needs