Starke County organizations have a new resource to seek funding and recruit volunteers.
The Starke County Community Foundation and United Way of Porter County have partnered to expand United Way Network services to Starke County. The partnership will provide nonprofits access to more services and grant funding support, including capacity building programs, community investment grants and volunteer recruitment programs, the organizations said.
“At the end of 2021, United Funds, like ours, are no longer eligible for Indiana United Ways membership, we worked with the association to find a solution that would ensure the community wouldn’t miss out on future funding and support,” said Jacque Ryan, Starke County Community Foundation director of development. “A valuable connection was made with United Way of Porter County, and they agreed to administer the Starke United Fund so that the county could continue to benefit from United Way services.”
During the last nine years, the community foundation has distributed more than $332,000 to Starke County nonprofits through the Starke United Fund. The fund will continue as part of United Way of Porter County’s grant services and Starke County representation will serve as part of the grants committee to ensure local needs are top priority.
“We have been helping Northwest Indiana residents for more than 60 years,” said Kim Olesker, president and CEO of United Way of Porter County. “Overtime our services have expanded to support more and more residents throughout the Region (so) incorporating Starke County was a natural next step for us.”
United Way of Porter County provides volunteer, education and disaster relief services to nonprofits and residents in Lake, LaPorte, Porter, Marshall, and Starke counties.
