Pathways Home Phase 2: From Housing to Whole Living RFP

PATHWAYS HOME OVERVIEW

Pathways Home exists to transform foster care and criminal legal systems so that young people have the housing stability and support they need as they transition into adulthood. A Pathways Home core principle is that housing stability is step zero. Without housing stability, it is more difficult to engage in education or maintain employment. Stable housing creates the conditions for successful education completion, employment, and long-term independence. 

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

Pathways Home is a housing initiative of Greater Twin Cities United Way (GTCUW). Now in its second phase, Pathways Home supports young people exiting foster care and the justice system in achieving sustained housing stability and long-term well-being by connecting housing supports with culturally rooted Whole Living Skills (WLS) approaches. WLS refers to the practical skills, supports, and relationships young people need to live independently, navigate systems, and remain stably housed over time.  

This RFP funds the integration of housing supports and WLS, not either component in isolation. Funded organizations will be expected to help young people get or maintain housing while also building the skills, supports, relationships, and systems-navigation capacity needed for long-term stability. Funded organizations will advance the following two strategies:  

• Strategy 1: Whole Living Skills (WLS) connected to housing stability Provide, refine, and evaluate WLS programming that directly supports young people in obtaining, maintaining, or strengthening housing stability.  

• Strategy 2: Improved systems coordination and connection Strengthen coordination among community organizations, housing partners, and formal public systems so young people experience more consistent, connected support as they transition to adulthood.  

GTCUW anticipates awarding roughly $1,000,000 to 10 community-based organizations located in the nine-county metro area that are working directly with young people exiting foster care or incarceration and have a connection to housing, with each organization being awarded $100,000 total over two years. Organizations will apply through a two-step process consisting of a written application followed by an interview with selected organizations. Written applications are due by Friday, August 28^th, 2026, at 5:00pm CST in your online grant portal. Please visit our website to begin your application.  

KEY DATES FOR APPLICANTS

Applications are due by Friday, August 28, 2026, at 5:00 pm CST in our Grants Portal. Please note that any questions need to be submitted to RFP@gtcuw.org before 11:00 am that day.

FUNDING ELIGIBILITY

Organizations must meet the following requirements to apply:  

• Your organization or lead organization (for partnerships) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization or has a fiscal sponsor who is a 501c3.  

• Your organization's budget for the current fiscal year must be $250,000 or higher.  

• Organizations must operate within the Greater Twin Cities United Way nine-county service region (Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Washington).  

• Your organization works directly with young people ages 16-24, especially those 16-20 years of age.  

• Your organization works with young people who are transitioning out of foster care and/or the justice system.  

• Your organization provides or partners to provide both Whole Living Skills programming and housing supports for young people transitioning out of foster care and/or the justice system. If the organization provides only one of these services, the proposal must include a formal partnership with an organization that provides complementary service. The proposal should also describe how the applicant coordinates, or will coordinate, with relevant public systems involved in young people’s transition planning and ongoing stability, such as child welfare, corrections, probation, courts, education, workforce, health care, county, or other public agencies. Letters of partnership or other documentation of key partnerships will be required.  

Important Note on Financial Review: Your organization must meet the financial standards for Greater Twin Cities United Way funded partners based on a review of financial documents such as your most recent financial statements, form 990, and audit (if your organization is required by law to complete an audit) in order to receive funding. Organizations required to complete an audit are highly recommended to have a “clean” (unqualified) audit opinion to be considered for funding under this RFP. Please note that organizations are only eligible to receive a maximum grant size of up to 20% of their overall organizational budget. You will be asked to share the following financial documents if invited to the second phase of application.   

• Last three years of 990s  

• Most recent organization budget or forecast  

• Most recent board-approved audit  

• 501c3 determination letter  

• If not funded by Greater Twin Cities United Way before, W9  

Please note: Each year, Greater Twin Cities United Way will conduct a financial health assessment of nonprofit partners to help ensure we are responsible stewards of the funds entrusted to us by our supporters. This assessment helps us more fully understand the complex issues and constraints facing our partners, and better positions us to proactively engage organizations who may be facing significant financial challenges.  

For any special considerations related to these criteria, please contact us at rfp@gtcuw.org to determine your eligibility.   

APPLICATION PROCESS

How to Apply- Greater Twin Cities United Way Grants Portal     

Non-profit organizations applying for this RFP must submit an online application by 5:00 pm CST on August 28, 2026.   

IMPORTANT: To access this RFP, please use one of the following sets of directions:  

To sign up as a New User of the GTCUW Grants Portal:  

1. Check to see if you have an existing account by entering your work email as your username and your password. If your email is recognized and you need a new password, click Forgot User ID or Password?  If your email is not recognized and you need to create an account, proceed to step 2.  

2. If you need to create an account, fill out this form to get started. It may take our team 3 business days to get your account up and running. You can also use this form to sign up to receive access to any open GTCUW RFPs. If you already have an account, please refer to the next set of directions for Current Users on how to receive access to open GTCUW RFPs.  

3. Once your account has been created, you will receive an automated email from RFP@gtcuw.org directing you to log in to your Grants Portal account.  

4. After creating your account, you can log in here. You may want to bookmark this page for future use.  

For Current Users, here is how to sign up to access open GTCUW RFPs:  

1. Log in to your online Grants Portal account. If you don’t have a login, refer to the above instructions on creating one.  

2. First check if you already have access to your desired RFP(s).  

1. After logging in to your Grants Portal account, navigate to the Applications/Reports tab at the top of the web page to check which RFPs you currently have access to.  

3. If you don’t see your desired RFP(s) available in the Applications/Reports tab, navigate to the Sign Up for Open RFPs  tab and sign up for the Full Lives RFP. It may take our team 3 business days to process this request and for you to see the requested RFP(s) in your Applications/Reports tab.  

Please refer to our info sheet for further details on how to navigate your Grants Portal account and reach out to RFP@gtcuw.org with any questions.  

All applicants will submit a written application in their online Grants Portal.  To make applications easier to draft, we are providing a Word template of the application. However, applicants MUST submit their application information in their online Grants Portal. Applications will be scored by a team of Greater Twin Cities United Way staff and community reviewers with knowledge of systems-involved young people and housing against an assessment rubric.  

Virtual conversations: Top-scoring organizations will be invited to participate in a conversation to discuss their work in more detail and learn more about the Pathways Home initiative. Prior to these calls, GTCUW will provide a detailed agendas and discussion questions. Invited applicants will be expected to share a simple proposed Pathways Home Phase 2 project budget at least two days prior to the conversation. GTCUW will share a budget template with invited applicants. Financial compliance documents that include Form 990 and most recent approved board budget will be asked for during the virtual conversation period as well.   

Applicants that do not score highly on their application will be notified the week of September 14th, 2026, that they are no longer being considered for this funding opportunity.  Prior to these calls, detailed agendas, discussion points, and insights into the selection process will be provided to ensure transparency and facilitate productive discussions.

APPLICATION RESOURCES AND OTHER QUESTIONS

During the application period, Greater Twin Cities United Way staff are available to answer your questions and assist with your application.     

• The Pathways Home Program Officer will hold a live Q&A on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, at 11 AM. You can find the video recording of the session link and the slide deck from the session link.   

• Four opportunities for office hours will be held by appointment with the Pathways Home Program Officer the following dates from noon – 2 PM CST. Click on the date to sign up for a 30-minute slot:
  • Thursday, August 13   
  • Tuesday, August 18   
  • Thursday, August 20   
  • Thursday, August 25   

• Please see our Frequently Asked Questions with link. We update this document on a frequency basis.  

• Please refer to our info sheet for further details on how to navigate your Grants Portal account, and reach out to RFP@gtcuw.org with any questions.  

• Contact us at rfp@gtcuw.org and a Greater Twin Cities United Way staff person will respond to your question within 3 business days.   

Thank you for your interest in this Pathways Home funding opportunity. We look forward to learning about your work! 

If you have any questions about our timeline or review process, please reach out to us at RFP@gtcuw.org.