Jonesboro, AR — (JonesboroRightNow.com) — June 26, 2025 — United Way of Northeast Arkansas announced on Thursday that $275,000 of allocated funding was being distributed to 16 nonprofits across the region for 2026.
Allocated funding means the selected nonprofits receive monthly funding from January 2026 to December 2026. Nonprofits apply during 2025, are first approved by committee, and then funding appropriations are finalized by United Way’s board of directors.
Funding for the nonprofits is made possible through corporate sponsors, in-kind partners and employee giving partners and fundraising campaigns, such as the Stuff the Bus initiative and Day of Caring.
“Our mission at United Way is that we work side-by-side with our community. We collect and invest our local and human financial resources, and we do this because we target critical needs right here in Northeast Arkansas,” said Heather Coats, United Way of Northeast Arkansas executive director. “Thank you to all the funded nonprofit partners that work so hard; they do the boots on the ground work to take care of our community members.”
The following nonprofits received funding:
- Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship: $6,890
- To fund its Single Parent Scholarships
- Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for Children 2nd Judicial District: $14,360
- To fund its advocacy for child crime victims
- CASA for Children 3rd Judicial District: $1,500
- To fund its advocacy for child crime victims
- Cherry Valley Food Pantry: $10,000
- To be used for feeding the hungry
- CityYouth Ministries: $15,000
- Funding for its Building Blue Bridges program, allowing a police officer to be on-site and mentor attendees
- El Centro Hispano (The Hispanic Center): $23,000
- To fund La Escuelita, the center’s after-school programming, and Hispanic Emerging Leaders Program ACT-prep class
- Family Crisis Center: $35,000
- To fund free mental health therapy
- Food Bank of NEA: $40,000
- To be used for its Backpack Program
- Hope Found of NEA: $10,000
- Funding for new community educators in its Voices Against Trafficking Program
- Helping Neighbors Senior Pack: $14,000
- Funding for supplemental food for needy seniors
- Helping Neighbors Kids Pack: $18,000
- Funding for supplemental food for needy kids
- The Hope House/Sure Foundation: $10,000
- Funding for its Hope House Food and Hygiene Program
- Jonesboro Church Health Center: $20,000
- Funding for its program managing chronic illnesses in underserved communities
- Legal Aid of Arkansas: $11,000
- Funding for Recover Strong with Legal Assistance
- Mission Outreach: $15,000
- Funding for its Getting Back to Work program
- NEA Children’s Advocacy Center: $19,250
- Funding for Professional Resources, Outreach, Training, Education, Court and Travel (PROTECT) program
- The Learning Center: $12,000
- Funding for new Academy of TLC Middle School, serving second through sixth graders with autism
Representatives from each nonprofit were present. They thanked United Way for its support and spoke about how the funding would help their various programs.
“The work you do is affecting 10 people, 50 people, but what you really do is priceless, because you’re affecting all of us,” Coats said. “It even affects the people that don’t know them. It affects me because I live in this community and so when it makes the community stronger, it affects me as well.”
Also presented at the ceremony was a $150,000 check allocating funds for various United Way programs and initiatives, as well as Community Connect.
“This is just a financial commitment, it’s not everything, but it’s a commitment to our community through our United Way direct services and initiatives for 2026,” Coats said.
Jonesboro mayor Harold Copenhaver was present at the ceremony. He thanked United Way and the nonprofits in attendance for their work in Jonesboro and greater Northeast Arkansas.
“You serve from the heart, and this is what makes United Way who they are, and it makes you an even better individual because of what you do for all of our community,” Copenhaver said. “Working together is the key. And I will say thank you to you and your staff and the board of United Way for your continued commitment to all of Northeast Arkansas.”