Impact
I serve as a member of United Way’s Community Investment Committee, which is made up of people from area businesses and organizations who genuinely care about the community and the wonderful work United Way is doing. This committee is unique because we only meet quarterly, yet our group plays a huge role in the way United Way works.
Many know that United Way vets funded partner agencies once every three years. It’s quite a big undertaking and always proves to be eye-opening. It’s an opportunity for members of the Community Investment Committee, United Way staff, and the Board of Directors to learn more about the specific programs applying for support.
Once applications for funding have been received and reviewed, a determination is made based on goals and projected outcomes of the particular program. Outcomes are extremely important and are reviewed on a regular basis by the committee to determine if they are on target. Recently, our committee worked to streamline the outcomes reporting process which we felt was a critical component to continue receiving accurate program data.
While to some it may seem like we’re requesting more detail, we have actually compared previous reporting surveys against common questions United Way stakeholders ask to ensure we capture all the information needed to share the network’s story. Some of the reporting we request from partner agencies includes:
- Breaking down the number of families, adults, and children served by county,
- Listing three program goals and their specific results,
- Any changes they may have seen in the programming, including barriers, new partnerships, staffing, and more,
- and feedback from agencies so that United Way can better serve their agencies.
United Way has been near and dear to my heart for many years. As a former staff member serving as the campaign director, I was able to immerse myself in not only the fundraising process but also in the allocations process. Many of the programs and services provided by the funded partners wouldn’t be possible without the funding they receive from United Way.
The committee will begin the next funding process toward the end of this year. I invite you to join us as we review applications, visit programming sites, and determine where United Way dollars will next be invested. It’s a great learning opportunity and a unique way to be involved!
– Kim Voelker, Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce
