United Way Announces New Funded Partners, Doing More with Less
United Way of Southeast Missouri, UWSEMO, has announced its funded partners for the 2026 to 2028 funding cycle. The organization opted for a two year funding period following a strategic shift toward a new model focused on helping working families and individuals move from striving to thriving.
The grant application was announced and open to all area nonprofits for three weeks. Organizations applying for funding must provide services within UWSEMO's four county service area of Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Perry, and northern Scott counties. Partners must complete a thorough application that outlines how their programs align with United Way’s focus areas and goals and agree to return annual results, called Outcomes Reports. Once the grant closed, UWSEMO's Community Impact Committee and Board of Directors reviewed all applications to determine which programs will receive funding and the percentage of donations each will receive based on the previous year.
This year, 32 applications were reviewed and scored by UWSEMO volunteers. Nine programs that had never received UWSEMO funding were invited to give presentations to the public, donors, and UWSEMO’s CIC and board. The work and goals of another 19 programs that previously received funding were also shared, along with UWSEMO’s 4 internal programs. These include First Call For Help information and referral service, Read to Succeed early literacy program, United We Work transportation program, and United for Childcare, which connects and supports parents, employers, and childcare providers.
According to UWSEMO Executive Director, Elizabeth Shelton, feedback following the event was very positive, and United Way plans to host more events that will help educate the community about the many nonprofits supporting Southeast Missouri. Shelton also explained that the volunteers had to make some very difficult decisions.
“Like many nonprofits, we are faced with declining donations and increasing need. Our volunteers made the very difficult decision to discontinue funding some large organizations that have been wonderful long time partners. Instead, we are giving to smaller programs that will feel a much bigger impact from a smaller donation. The question we had to ask was: Will this program or organization still function without our support or can our help act as seed money to grow a critical program?”
The five new organizations joining the United Way network include Grace UMC Warming Center, Perry County Senior Center, Street Level, South Side Farms, and Saving KidSight. Returning as funded partners serving UWSEMO’s four county footprint are Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Missouri, Cape Girardeau Adult Education and Literacy, FosterAdopt Connect, Grace Recovery’s Work Life Program, formerly One City, Jackson Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry, Jobs for America's Graduates, Little Whitewater Food Pantry, Mississippi Valley Therapeutic Horsemanship, Oral Health Coalition of Southeast Missouri, Safe House of Southeast Missouri, The Cottage Domestic Violence Shelter, and Voices for Children/CASA of Southeast Missouri.
In addition to receiving funding, UWSEMO network partners benefit from being invited into supporting businesses to discuss their work and recruit volunteers, to attend year round networking and educational meetings where they share resources and receive education specific to nonprofits, and the increased awareness that comes from partnering with a globally recognized and regionally respected nonprofit.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 11, 2026
Media Contact: Elizabeth Shelton
573 270 4556
United Way of Southeast Missouri
Elizabeth.Shelton@unitedwayofsemo.org
16 North Spanish Street, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701
573 334 9634
UnitedWayofSEMO.org