In direct response to rising demand and growing funding gaps across the nonprofit sector, United Way of Greater Chattanooga is committing $600,000 through its Bridge Fund, a resource that supports local organizations providing food, shelter, healthcare, transportation and more to neighbors in crisis.
As nonprofit partners face tightened budgets amid increased community need, the Bridge Fund offers a flexible, responsive solution to help ensure frontline services remain accessible when families need them most. These investments also prioritize frequent referral partners of the 211 Helpline, reinforcing United Way’s commitment to connect individuals with critical services in real time, said officials.
“We’re hearing clearly from our nonprofit partners: the need is urgent, and flexible funding is scarce,” said Abby Garrison, vice president of Community Investments at United Way of Greater Chattanooga. “This Bridge Fund investment is a direct result of what we heard and shows the United Way is responding not only with empathy, but with action.”
The Bridge Fund is part of United Way’s broader Community Investment funding model, which channels donor dollars through three types of grants that meet both immediate needs and support long-term change.
A diverse group of more than 60 trained grant reviewers, in collaboration with the United Way’s Community Investment staff and a dedicated Community Investment Committee, read and scored every application for funding that was submitted. These volunteers and staff provided their recommendations to the United Way’s Board of Directors, which voted to accept those recommendations.
For this grant cycle, the Community Investment Committee was co-chaired by Paulo Hutson, United Way board member and co-founder of A Medida Communications, and Ben Staples, United Way board member and senior vice president of People & Culture at CBL Properties.
“This is what responsive, community-centered philanthropy looks like,” said Mr. Staples. “We listened, we evaluated, and we acted together.”
“It’s not just about a one-time grant,” added Mr. Hutson. “It’s about sustaining the relationships and services that so many families depend on, especially during moments of crisis.”
Results from United Way's recent survey of local nonprofit organizations made it clear they are facing a myriad of growing pressures, from staffing constraints to increased caseloads to budget shortfalls. The Bridge Fund helps close these gaps, particularly for organizations that are directly serving local ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) households. These families often live just above the federal poverty line—earning too much to qualify for assistance but not enough to cover basic monthly expenses. Data released earlier this month indicates that 41,566 such households exist in Hamilton County as of 2023, the most recent year for which data is available.
This work aligns with United Way’s 2030 Impact Agenda, which is focused on optimizing regional resources, strengthening strategic partnerships, and increasing transparency to build stronger outcomes for families in the region. By addressing both short-term crises and long-term community needs, United Way ensures every donor dollar leads to meaningful change, said officials.
To see the full list of funded partners, visit unitedwaycha.org/fundedpartners.
Visit unitedwaycha.org/give to donate.