Level Up & Launch Initiative
This initiative provides funding to local nonprofits in Lancaster County for innovative projects that address challenges in education, economic mobility, and health, while also offering opportunities for community matching contributions to amplify their impact.
Description
The Level Up & Launch Grant is an initiative of the United Way of Lancaster County designed to fund scalable and innovative projects that address service gaps and systemic challenges in education, economic mobility, and health. This program supports local nonprofits and allows grantees to amplify their funding through a unique matching component: for every dollar donated by the community, United Way will match it dollar-for-dollar, up to the original grant amount. This structure allows organizations to triple their funding potential and drive greater community impact.
United Way seeks to invest in projects that contribute to systemic change and expand services in the following priority areas:
Education: Projects that improve student outcomes, increase access to extracurricular activities, support adults with incomplete education, and address transportation barriers.
Economic Mobility: Programs that help individuals achieve financial stability, secure employment, break generational poverty cycles, and provide support for re-entry and recovery.
Health: Initiatives that expand access to healthcare, promote mental health, support aging populations, and address transportation challenges.
Beyond financial support, selected grantees receive capacity-building opportunities, such as participation in Project Blueprint and access to volunteer support. The grant is open to nonprofit organizations serving Lancaster County. Organizations with annual budgets exceeding $500,000 must submit a recent audit as part of their application.