United Way of Perry County Opens 2026 Grants; Applications Due Feb. 27

United Way of Perry County opened its 2026 grant application cycle on Feb. 2, inviting nonprofit organizations that serve Perry County to apply through Feb. 27. The short, 26-day window is aimed at directing community-donated dollars into programs that address local priorities in youth opportunity, financial security, healthy communities, and community resiliency.

Eligibility is limited to nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations serving Perry County; groups without 501(c)(3) status may apply through a fiscal sponsor that meets IRS requirements. The United Way’s guidelines emphasize collaboration - partnerships and collaborative program models are strongly preferred - and encourage applicants to focus requests on what is actually needed. The grant program does not require matching funds and does not set a minimum or maximum award amount; funding decisions will be made based on demonstrated need. Applicants should note that multi-year requests and salary costs are not eligible expenses under this cycle.

The grant priorities mirror longstanding United Way activities in the community. Programs such as the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, the Angel Store, and Stuff the Bus illustrate how past investments have targeted childhood literacy, holiday support for families, and school readiness. Local organizations that have received United Way funding in prior cycles include Perry County Food Coalition, Anderson Woods Summer Camp, Perry County 4-H, and Tell City Regional Arts, among countless others. Those examples underscore how small and mid-sized nonprofits in Perry County have relied on United Way grants to expand services and fill gaps in local social supports.

For organizations weighing where to seek support, the United Way’s cycle differs from other local funders. The Perry County Community Foundation, for example, operates on a different calendar and uses tiered request levels for community grants. Applicants should consider each funder’s rules and timelines when planning requests and partnerships.

The application is available online through the United Way of Perry County’s 2026 grant documents page, which lists GUIDELINES and the Grant Application (opens February 2nd). Completed applications are encouraged to be submitted online by the Feb. 27 deadline. For questions or to discuss fiscal sponsorship and eligibility, contact Lacy Dutschke, Executive Director, by calling (812) 547-2577 or emailing unitedwayperry@gmail.com.

What this means for Perry County is practical and immediate: community nonprofits that run early education, job training, mental health access, food and housing programs, and emergency assistance have a narrow window to secure one-time support that can sustain core services this year. Expect grant decisions to follow the review of submitted applications; applicants should pull required documents and partner proposals together now so projects are ready for review.