Greenwich United Way sees record number of grant requests by Ken Borsuk

Greenwich United Way CEO David Rabin, right, speaks beside First Selectman Fred Camillo at Town Hall in September. The Greenwich United Way has seen a record number of grant requests coming from community agencies.

GREENWICH — As it reviews a record number of applications for grants, the Greenwich United Way says it is seeing the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the nonprofit organizations that help the community.

“The need, clearly, has increased,” Greenwich United Way CEO David Rabin said. “The sheer volume of grant applications has shown that. This is the most I can ever recall seeing — and we will do our best to fulfill the needs of these organizations and the Greenwich residents they serve as best we can.”

While the grants committee makes tough recommendations about which organizations should receive grants, Rabin said he hopes residents will continue to step up and support the United Way, a nonprofit agency.

“It’s all about how much money we raise,” Rabin said. “That drives everything. It’s what determines how much we can give out in grants. ...

“Greenwich residents always step up during times like these,” he said. “Now more than ever, we are counting on Greenwich to help us help Greenwich.”

The grants are put out through the Greenwich United Way’s annual community investment process. The deadline for applications was Nov. 9, and starting next week, the grants committee will review each of the 28 applications, which Rabin called “a record.”

The committee is made up of Greenwich United Way board members. There is a team process involving 20 volunteers who go through the grant applications and do what Rabin called a “deep dive” into each applicant’s financials and program.

In the past that has meant a site visit, but that will probably not be feasible this year because of the pandemic. Instead, there will be Zoom visits and discussions as part of the evaluation process.

The volunteers will then make presentations to the grants committee, which will make its recommendations to the Greenwich United Way at its Jan. 20 board meeting. The board will vote on the recommendations, and grants will be issued in February and June.

Rabin did not say who has applied for grants, but he said there has been a greater call for help from agencies that support education services, provide mental health services and deal with food insecurity.

In past years, the Greenwich United Way has issued grants to Kids In Crisis, Jewish Family Services, YWCA Greenwich, River House Adult Day Center, the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich and more.

When evaluating the applications, Rabin said the Greenwich United Way is looking for organizations that will do the most good for people who need the help.

“The Greenwich United Way is here to ensure that every member of our community has the opportunity to be healthy, educated and self-sufficient,” Rabin said. “That’s what we focus on.”

The Greenwich United Way launched its annual campaign in September, and it is ongoing.

“People can call me to learn why it is important to give to the Greenwich United Way,” Rabin said. “It’s important because we do the work so you don’t have to. We do the deep dive. We find out where the money is needed the most. We see the program budgets and ascertain how the money is spent by the organizations that receive the grant. We scrutinize that very, very closely to ensure we are prudent stewards of our donor dollars.”

Donations to the Greenwich United Way can be made by visiting www.greenwichunitedway.org, sending a check made out to the Greenwich United Way at 500 W. Putnam Ave., Suite 415, Greenwich, CT 06830, or calling Rabin at 203-612-9593.