United Way of Abilene created the Abilene United Fund to assist nonprofit agencies actively working to assist vulnerable individuals or families disproportionately affected by disaster events in our local area. Currently, this fund is addressing needs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the winter storm of February 2021.

Disaster events for the purpose of this fund may include natural or environmental disasters, such as epidemic or pandemic virus outbreaks, floods, tornadoes, winter storms, wildfires, earthquakes, industrial chemical spills, or similar disaster events that affect large geographical areas and populations.

Grants to agencies will be awarded to organizations that have deep roots in our community and have programs that are proven to meet the needs of vulnerable individuals and families among the local residents of Abilene, Texas and the 19 counties of West Central Texas known as The Big Country.

Agencies receiving grants must establish eligibility guidelines that seek to benefit individuals and families with annual household income below the Stable Annual Income levels relative to family size published in United Ways of Texas’s A.L.I.C.E. data by county.

United Way of Abilene will work with the Big Country Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (Big Country VOAD) to proactively identify potential grant recipients, solicit guidance on potential recipients from community advisors, and recommend final awards.