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United Way president asks Charlottesville for up to $50,000 to expand Prosper pilot
Summary
United Way of Greater Charlottesville asked the City Council to consider restoring and increasing funding for its Prosper program, which offers up to $2,500 per participant for career training and entrepreneurship. United Way says $50,000 would fund roughly 20 local residents next year; councilors asked for additional materials before any vote.
Robbie Cooper, president of United Way of Greater Charlottesville, asked the City Council on May 5 to consider adding up to $50,000 to the nonprofitto expand Prosper, a program launched in February 2025 that gives one-time grants of up to $2,500 to working residents for career development, certifications or entrepreneurship.
Cooper told the council the Prosper pilot aims to support roughly 20 Charlottesville residents per year. "It's really about scalability and funding," she said, explaining United Way raised private philanthropy to launch the program and that the city provided an initial award. Cooper said the United Way did not take an administrative fee for Prosper and that most of the money goes directly to clients.
The nonprofit described existing wraparound work: early learner scholarships, emergency-response rent and utility assistance, vehicle repair grants up to $2,500, and a Driving Life Sport partnership that can provide down-payment assistance on vehicles. Cooper said United Way currently administers programs serving hundreds of local families and that Prosper is a targeted addition for households earning above the social-safety-net threshold but still struggling to achieve stability.
Councilors pressed for specifics about prior and proposed city contributions. Cooper said United Way received $31,500 from the city in the first year; the Vibrant Community Fund process recommended allocating $14,805 for FY26. "Fifteen thousand isn't going to get us very far," she told councilors, adding the $50,000 figure would allow the program to serve 20 residents next year. City staff said any supplemental funding at this stage would likely come from the council's strategic initiatives fund, which the presenter noted was sitting at roughly $364,000 based on prior allocations.
Vice Mayor Brian Pinkston and councilors asked whether the program could scale or accept alternative transportation requests (for example, cargo bikes); Cooper said United Way would consider alternate transportation models and is open to working with local vendors if demand appears. Cooper also cited two client examples to illustrate the program: one recipient who received support for an EMT certification and a second who used a small grant to buy a laptop and market a nonemergency medical transport business.
There was no vote on funding at the May 5 meeting; councilors requested follow-up materials and a check-in to determine whether they want a future action item. "There's no vote tonight, of course," Cooper said. The presentation concluded with the council thanking United Way and noting next steps would depend on whether councilors direct staff to place a funding item on a future agenda.
What happens next: United Way will provide additional information to council staff; councilors indicated they may consider allocating supplemental funds from the strategic initiatives fund but did not commit to an amount or a timeline at the May 5 session.
