United Way donations top $1 million, process of awarding funds begins

Another United Way of Southeast Missouri fundraising campaign has come to an end and now the process of determining which community programs will receive funding begins.

The United Way's 2009 drive raised an estimated $1,142,858, with pledges still trickling in.

"We want to have the greatest [community] impact with the resources we have," said United Way executive director Nancy Jernigan.

On average the United Way receives requests from community organizations totaling $1.3 million, according to John McGowan, United Way director of community impact.

After money is set aside for administrative costs, a natural disaster emergency fund and national United Way dues, between $600,00 and $700,000 is available to distribute to local programs.

Over the past few years, the United Way has gone through several changes that have affected which programs receive funding.

"Now it's all outcomes based," Jernigan said. "We no longer fund agencies, we fund specific programs within agencies."

Applications for United Way funding are submitted online and organizations are required to list the numbers of individuals served by the program seeking funding, along with how the program fits into one of the United Way's focus areas: education, income, health and community engagement.

The United Way's Allocations Committee determines how much the organization has available to invest in community projects and its Community Impact Committee determines what programs receive the funds.

These groups are guided by a United Way priority structure created after a community needs assessment conducted in 2002, Jernigan said.

However, if United Way donors specify their contribution to go to a particular organization, then those funds are passed directly to them, McGowan said.

About half the funds allocated by the United Way go to educational programs.

Education has been the United Way's primary focus, resulting in the formation of the Education Solutions Team in 2009.

"We have spent the last few years learning everything we can about the education process," Jernigan said. "We are identifying strategies we think will make a difference."

Education came to the forefront after Cape Girardeau Central High School's graduation rate steadily dropped for several years in a row, she said.

Of the remaining half of available funding, about 20 percent goes toward helping families meet basic needs, 20 percent goes toward improving health conditions for seniors and victims of abuse, and 10 percent goes to programs that encourage community involvement through volunteerism.

The United Way's administrative costs for the past year were about 15 percent of the total raised, McGowan said.

The United Way is currently accepting applications for funding and will make its awards in late July.

In 2009, the United Way began making its quarterly payments to local agencies based on the fiscal year from July 1 through June 30. As a result of this change in structure, no new agencies were allowed to submit applications for funding last year. A group of about 60 community volunteers take on the task of reviewing the applications received. This volunteer panel includes United Way board members, employees who take part in workplace fund drives, and other individuals in the community.

"The staff guides the process, but the volunteers really make the decisions on who gets what funding," McGowan said.

Volunteers receive training and a matrix to use when rating agencies based on outcomes and community impact.

Each agency also sends a representative for an in-person question-and-answer session with the volunteer application review panel.

Those interested in volunteering for the application review committee should contact the United Way at 334-9634.

Over the past few years, the United Way has broadened its vision from focusing only on fundraising to working to mobilize the community and create lasting changes as a result.

The organization is paying more attention to community attitudes now as well.

"We don't just want to treat the symptoms," Jernigan said. "We want to improve the underlying causes."

The agency also is working to get people more involved in helping in other ways besides opening their checkbooks.

"Money isn't the only resource that affects issues," she said. "It's about relationships too."

Later this year, the United Way will unveil a new volunteerism section of its website to connect people with opportunities to serve throughout the community.

mmiller@semissourian.com

388-3646

Pertinent Address:

430A Broadway, Cape Girardeau