ALL ABOUT COMMUNITY — The United Way of Jefferson County is accepting applications from area nonprofit agencies interested in becoming a partnering agency for the 2027 funding year. Executive Director Marci Snyder-Crawford, shown reading to children attending one of the Sycamore Youth Center’s many after-school programs, believes in transforming how the community cares for one another and believes in building a relationship that more than just about financial support. -- Contributed

STEUBENVILLE — As the calendar turns to February, a new door of opportunity is opening at the United Way of Jefferson County.

The organization that serves as the backbone of the community is officially accepting applications for local nonprofit agencies that are interested in stepping into the role of becoming a partnering agency for the 2027 funding year.

While the requirement for any interested organization is to be a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving the residents in Jefferson County, the United Way’s executive director, Marci Snyder-Crawford, is invitating agencies to become involved in something much deeper and more involved than just paperwork.

According to Snyder-Crawford, becoming a partner agency is less about a transaction and more about a transformation in how the community cares for one another.

She emphasized how the relationship is about “far more than just financial support.

“It is about standing together as advocates for those who struggle in local neighborhoods, as well as those who are struggling across the county,” Snyder-Crawford exclaimed.

“Being a United Way partner agency isn’t just about funding,” she continued. “It’s about becoming part of a collective mission. Our partners gain visibility, credibility, collaboration and a seat at a table filled with other organizations who care deeply about this community. Together, we become advocates for our neighbors and for those who need a voice.”

This “seat at the table” Snyder-Crawford speaks of offers a unique vantage point, allowing agencies to collaborate on events and grants, while benefiting from shared marketing and community exposure that helps to expand their reach.

Snyder-Crawford often refers to these partners as the heartbeat of the United Way’s work.

She noted they are the ones who are “on the front lines every day meeting real needs.”

“By coming together under the United Way umbrella, these organizations become more connected and better equipped to show up for their neighbors in a way no single entity could do alone,” she concluded.

The call for applications is open and extended to nonprofit organizations of all sizes — whether they are long-established pillars of the community or newly-formed groups that are looking to make their mark.

This call for being a partner agency is intended as a genuine invitation for those making a difference to walk alongside the United Way in a spirit of growth and shared purpose.

For those organizations ready to take that next step in advocacy and service, information, along with the application, are available.

To register, visit the agency’s website at unitedway-jc.org by scanning the QR code found on outreach materials being shared throughout the county or by going to form.jotform.com/260265609753159.