The City of Knoxville and Knox County have joined together to purchase grant software that will help area non-profit organizations to better identify and compete for grant monies.

The city and county are donating $15,000 apiece to the United Way of Greater Knoxville to buy eCivis Grants Network: Research 4.0, software that helps organizations find the best opportunities through a single interface.

According to eCivis about 400 cities and counties nationwide use the software to assist them in the search for funding from federal, state and foundation sources.

An information sheet prepared by the city's Department of Operations & Efficiency for City Council indicated, "This will dramatically increase the ability of local organizations to access funding other than those acquired from and/or applied for from the City of Knoxville and Knox County." 
 
"These are organizations, often working with small staffs and volunteers, that make a tremendous difference in the lives of so many people in Knoxville," said Sam Anderson, Senior Director of the Department of Operations & Efficiency. "We're always pleased when the city is able to do something that helps groups like these." 
 
The United Way will essentially act as a gatekeeper for the program and will provide local non-profits access to it at no cost - though this will be on a first-come, first-served basis. 
 
"We think this is an excellent way to identify new funding sources for programs and services for our citizens, both through non-profit organizations and through our own service departments," said Grant Rosenberg, Director of Neighborhoods and Community Development.

Users don't have to do anything including software updates, it's internet-based, and again non-profits based in Knoxville and Knox County can use the Grants Network: Research 4.0 for free. 

"We're excited about the opportunity to use this resource eCivis is bringing to the table," said Ben Landers, president and chief executive officer of the United Way of Greater Knoxville, "and we're grateful to the city and county for making it available." 
 
City Council approved the donation at its Tuesday night meeting. County Commission had previously approved the donation to United Way to purchase the grant information software.

A training session with the software is tentatively scheduled for September 2nd. The time and location is to be announced. For more information about this program please contact the United Way of Greater Knoxville at 865-523-9131.