Case Study: Uniontown Area YMCA Capital Expansion
Client: Uniontown Area YMCA
Industry: Non-Profit, Community Development
Location: Uniontown, Fayette County, Pennsylvania
Project Value: $9.4 Million Capital Improvement & Community Health Expansion
Engagement: April 2025–Present (Ongoing)
Challenge
The Uniontown Area YMCA serves as a critical community health and wellness hub in Fayette County — a historically underserved region of southwestern Pennsylvania. But the facility was facing serious infrastructure challenges: aging mechanical, electrical, and life-safety systems; limited ADA accessibility; and outdated interior spaces that could no longer meet growing demand for childcare, senior wellness, aquatics, and community health programming.
The YMCA's leadership recognized the need for a comprehensive capital improvement initiative, but the path forward was complex. A prior feasibility study had determined that the original $17 million campaign goal was overly ambitious, estimating a realistic private fundraising range of $2–3 million supplemented by $2 million in public funding. Existing RACP (Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program) grants totaling $15 million were tied to separate governmental sponsors with unclear execution status. The board needed a unified campaign strategy, grant infrastructure was minimal, and the organization needed experienced guidance to navigate multi-source public funding, build stakeholder alignment, and translate community need into competitive applications.
Solution
Nicholas Daly Creative Services was engaged as Capital Project Consultant, providing end-to-end grant strategy, compliance management, stakeholder engagement, and campaign infrastructure development.
Strategic Assessment & Campaign Planning
Conducted a comprehensive landscape analysis of existing funding commitments, state and federal grant status, feasibility study findings, and donor prospects. Developed a phased capital campaign strategy that aligned private fundraising, public grants, and federal financing into a realistic, executable plan. Created a board activation roadmap with education, training, and defined fundraising roles for each member.
Grant Writing & Federal Appropriations
Authored and submitted FY2027 Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) applications to three congressional offices — Senator John Fetterman, Senator Dave McCormick, and Congressman Guy Reschenthaler — each requesting $1,000,000 to support critical infrastructure improvements. Managed the full submission lifecycle including narrative development, budget documentation, and compliance with each office's application requirements.
Letters of Support & Stakeholder Coordination
Orchestrated a coordinated outreach campaign to secure letters of support from key community stakeholders, including PA State Senators and Representatives, the County Board of Commissioners, Local Hospital partner, Economic Development Council, and the County's Community Foundation. Drafted templated outreach emails, managed response timelines, and compiled all materials for submission.
USDA Rural Development & RACP Management
Prepared USDA Community Facilities pre-application package, including SF-424 federal assistance forms, board resolutions, conflict disclosures, and credit-elsewhere certifications. Coordinated with USDA Rural Development to secure a letter of interest confirming YMCA eligibility for Community Facilities financing (~$3.36M loan). Managed ongoing RACP and LSA grant alignment to ensure the capital project scope remained consistent with original grant purposes.
Case for Support & Campaign Materials
Developed comprehensive Case for Support document articulating the YMCA's mission, community impact, project scope, and investment rationale. This living document serves as the foundation for board presentations, donor conversations, and public outreach throughout the campaign.
Prospect Development & Donor Strategy
Built a Top 25 prospect cultivation plan informed by the feasibility study's confidential prospect data, board member input, and one-on-one interviews with community leaders. Identified key donor families and institutional partners, mapped EITC (Educational Improvement Tax Credit) and NAP (Neighborhood Assistance Program) opportunities, and developed a naming rights framework for facility spaces.
Ongoing Results
Since engagement began in April 2025, the project has achieved significant forward momentum across multiple funding and campaign dimensions:
Three FY2027 Congressional appropriations applications submitted (Fetterman, McCormick, Reschenthaler), each requesting $1,000,000 for infrastructure improvements
Six letters of support secured from elected officials, healthcare institutions, economic development organizations, and community foundations — building a well-rounded submission anchored in local government support, healthcare alignment, economic development validation, philanthropic backing, and a federal financing pathway
USDA Community Facilities pre-application advanced, establishing eligibility for ~$3.36M in federal loan financing
RACP grants clarified and aligned with current project scope across two governmental sponsors
Case for Support developed and actively used for board engagement and donor cultivation
Board activation roadmap implemented, transforming a tentative board into an engaged campaign asset
Capital campaign strategy established with phased public/private funding targets and a clear timeline from quiet phase through public launch
EITC and NAP tax credit strategies identified for discrete program elements including childcare and equipment
