United Way of Greater Chattanooga today announced its Catalyst Fund partners, committing a total investment of $686,000 to 21 local nonprofits that are bringing bold, new ideas to life for families and the broader community. Five of these organizations are receiving United Way funding for the first time, selected through an open and competitive grant process. This investment empowers partners to pilot breakthrough solutions and connect with a wider network of funded organizations to amplify their impact.
The Catalyst Fund is part of United Way’s broader commitment to supporting both immediate and future needs of ALICE households, defined as Asset Limited, Income Constrained, and Employed. These grants empower nonprofits to take risks and explore new models that could reshape how services are delivered across the region. Funding decisions were made through a rigorous process involving more than 60 trained volunteer reviewers and the United Way Board of Directors.
“In times of uncertainty, innovation is not a luxury; it’s a necessity,” said Abby Garrison, Vice President of Community Investments at United Way of Greater Chattanooga. “The Catalyst Fund is our way of saying: try it. Test it. Learn from it. We believe in our partners’ creativity and their deep understanding of community needs. This fund is designed to unlock that potential.”
The Catalyst Fund recipients include: Bethel Bible Village, BetterFi, Chattanooga Autism Center, Chattanooga Room at the Inn, Children’s Advocacy Center, Communities in Schools of Catoosa County Inc., Dynamo Studios, East Lake Expression Engine, Friends of the Zoo, Hope for the Inner City, KELCURT Foundation, LIFT Youth Center Inc., Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit, Purpose Point Learning Academy, Rabbit Valley Farmers Market Inc., RISE Chattanooga, SPLASH Youth Arts Workshop, Tennessee Nonprofit Network, The AIM Center, The Pop-Up Project, Two Bikes Chattanooga.
To see the full list of funded partners across all community investments, visit unitedwaycha.org/fundedpartners.