Liz Cotter Schlax
Capacity Building Grant

United Way of Southern Maine is pleased to announce to the opening of the Liz Cotter Schlax Capacity Building grant, an annual $10,000 award to a Southern Maine organization that aligns with our eligibility criteria and community goal areas. This funding opportunity was developed to honor Liz Cotter Schlax, former President and CEO of United Way of Southern Maine and recognize her for her leadership, vision, and decade of service. This low-barrier funding opportunity is open to organizations with an annual budget up to $750,000. It will support broad organizational capacity building—an essential but often underfunded need in our community— helping organizations grow, innovate, and sustain their critical work. Examples of this work include: training board or staff members, supporting strategic planning process or long-term visioning, investing in new or upgraded technology, strengthening financial systems, or developing fundraising strategies.

Applications for this funding opportunity will open September 24, 2025, and close October 22, 2025. Funding decisions will be announced in late November. The funding period for this investment will be January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026

NOTE: Funding applications for United Way of Southern Maine’s Giving Circles will open in the Spring.  Please check back for more information and an updated timeline.

Apply Now

Eligibility Requirements

NOTE: In order to be eligible, your organization must be able to say “yes” to all of the following questions.

  • Our organization is a non-profit 501(c)(3) federal tax-exempt organization, public school, municipal entity, Indian Tribal government or can demonstrate a legal relationship with an established 501(c)(3) acting as our fiscal agent.
  • Our organization certifies that all United Way funds and donations will be used in compliance with all applicable anti-terrorist financing and asset control laws, statutes, and executive orders.
  • Our organization operates consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and ordinances. Compliance with this policy by agencies shall be a pre-condition of United Way funding.
  • Our organization’s annual budget is less than $750,000.
  • Our organization is able to provide the required financial documents as listed below.
    • Applicants with an organizational budget between $250,000 – $750,000 in the preceding year can either submit an audit, or a review of financial statements, or answer a series of questions that detail some of their financial processes.   
    • Applicants with revenues in the preceding year of less than $250,000 are required to submit an IRS Form 990. 
  • Our organization and all partners represented in the application confirm endorsement of Thrive2027’s (Thrive2027.org) three, ten-year goals.
  • Our organization is requesting $10,000.
  • The program for which we are seeking funding serves Southern Maine, defined as residents of York County and Cumberland County minus Brunswick and Harpswell. Applicants must use any funding received to serve the community in these areas.
  • If awarded, a representative from the organization commits to serving on the Liz Cotter Schlax volunteer review committee for the two years following their investment. 

Timeline

  • Applications open – September 24 – October 22; (CISC meeting – 9/5/25; packet- 8/22/25)
  • Funding period – January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026
  • Applications to volunteers for review/scoring – October 24
  • Application scores due 11/7/25
  • Decision Making meeting November 12 (CISC meeting – 10/3/25; packet – 9/18/25)
  • Review & Recommendation committee consisting of Liz Cotter Schlax, the current UWSM Board Chair, UWSM CEO, plus two additional volunteers:
    • Year 1 = Chair Emeritus & Vice Chair
    • Year 2 = Chair Emeritus & Year 1 Award Winner, UWSM CEO
    • Year 3 & Beyond = Past 2 Awards Winners, UWSM CEO
  • Announcement week of November 24

for general questions

Picture of Karen Stephenson

Karen Stephenson

Director, Community Investments
kstephenson@uwsme.org