Giving the gift of joy this holiday season
Holiday Helping Hand, a collaborative effort between the Poughkeepsie Journal and the United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region, is designed to provide a small amount of assistance to Dutchess County individuals and families who might otherwise have little or nothing for the holidays. Funds are given to local organizations to purchase gifts, food and/or parties for children or seniors, or utility grants for families in need.
What can funds be used to purchase?
Funds from the grant may be used to purchase any of the following:
- Holiday gifts
- Assistance with utility costs for families
- Food baskets
- Holiday parties for eligible individuals/families
Holiday Helping Hand prohibits the purchase of items that could prove detrimental to the health and/or safety of the recipient. Items prohibited for purchase include tobacco and alcohol products and/or items promoting violence (toys, videos, etc.).
Eligibility & Requirements
- Be a 501(c)(3), not-for-profit, tax-exempt, charitable organization
- An IRS letter of determination of tax-exempt status must be submitted with the application
- Serve Dutchess County residents with grant funding
- Have the capacity to conduct the program and to submit a final report to the United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region
- Meet the Counterterrorism Compliance guidelines in the application
- Be able to provide a primary and secondary interview contact who are able to be interviewed by the Poughkeepsie Journal reporter about your program
Apply for funding today:
Notice of Available Funding: Holiday Helping Hand United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region and the Poughkeepsie Journal are pleased to announce the Holiday Helping Hand grant program for the 2025 holiday season. Holiday Helping Hand is a joint project of the Poughkeepsie Journal and United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region designed to provide a small amount of assistance to Dutchess County individuals and families who might otherwise have little or nothing for the holidays. Funds are given to local nonprofit organizations to purchase gifts, food and/or parties for children or seniors, or utility grants for families in need. In-person events will need to follow all state regulations to maintain safety for all involved. United Way will accept applications for funding starting on October 6, 2025 through October 24, 2025. Please visit http://www.uwdor.org/hhh for grant guidance and access to the United Way egranting portal, which will be made available on Monday, October 6. For more information on United Way please visit www.uwdor.org. All questions should be sent to ci-inbox@uwdor.org
Click here for more information about grant regulations.