With more money, United Way increasing its funding to some agencies

Most agencies funded by the United Way of Southeast Missouri will get a boost this year in their annual allocation.

The United Way will distribute $101,573 more this year than last, with a total of $794,968 going out to groups that serve the community in the United Way's impact areas of education, income and health.

"We have restored many agencies to the funding levels they are requesting with a collective emphasis on providing basic needs and improving the graduation rate," said executive director Nancy Jernigan.

In 2009, the United Way had 23 percent less to distribute than in 2008 because of a drop in donations.

About 80 percent of the agencies benefiting from the United Way will be funded at or above the same level as last year, Jernigan said.

The organization receiving the largest chunk of United Way Funding is the Salvation Army for its emergency services, meals and summer camp programs. This year the Salvation Army will receive $82,300, a $4,000 increase from last year.

Habitat for Humanity will see the biggest increase in funding compared to last year, receiving an additional $22,000 for a total allocation of $40,000. That is enough to fund the construction of one home, Jernigan said.

Other increases compared to last year include Success by Six, with an additional $15,000 for a total of $35,000, the Safe House for Women, with an additional $8,000 for a total of $18,750. New Vision Youth and Family Services received an additional $5,000 to double its allocation from last year to provide counseling to at-risk students. The Boys and Girls Club received an additional $7,000 for its after-school program, for a total of $37,000.

The American Red Cross received the full amount it requested, $50,000, an increase of $2,500.

To receive United Way funding, organizations must submit applications with information about the programs the money will be used for as well as data on those served and the programs' success rates. The applications are reviewed by a committee of United Way board members and local residents.

In the past, application was an annual process, but agencies receiving funds this year will not have to reapply again until 2013.

Their funding for the next two years will be based on a designated percentage of the total funds available after each fundraising campaign is completed, Jernigan said.

"Hopefully this will give them an incentive to help us in our campaign. If we raise more, they get more," Jernigan said.

A one-year funding cycle is not long enough to measure the outcomes of programs receiving United Way funds and also consumes a significant amount of staff time for both the funded agencies and the United Way, she said.

Another change in this year's allocation process is that the United Way is holding back about 25 percent, or $171,000, that will be awarded to agencies providing tutoring, mentoring and parent involvement. Those are strategies identified by the United Way's Education Solutions Team that members believe will help students succeed in school.

Within the next month, the United Way will put out a request for proposals for those services and local agencies will have the opportunity to submit plans to meet these needs, Jernigan said. Other United Ways have used that process, she added.

Some cuts

Agencies receiving a cut in United Way funding in 2010 include the Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland Inc., which will receive $8,000 less, and the Cape Girardeau and Jackson public school children's funds, used for helping students in crisis situations, receiving $2,000 and $6,000 less, respectively.

United Way officials would not comment on the reasons for the cuts, saying they preferred to discuss that with the agencies affected.

As a result of the work of agencies funded last year, the United Way estimated that 699 families received assistance with basic needs, 1,103 children were involved in after-school life skills programs and 2,933 seniors received nutritional meals. A total of 2,721 seniors were provided services that allowed them to live independently, and 20 families avoided home foreclosure.

The organization's 2010 campaign raised a total of $1,142,858. Before the amount available for local programs is determined, money is set aside for administrative costs, a natural disaster emergency fund and national United Way dues,

The United Way's natural disaster emergency fund gave $2,500 to the Salvation Army this month to provide temporary lodging for the homeless. Those funds have been used in the past to assist victims of tornadoes.

mmiller@semissourian.com

388-3646

Pertinent Address:

430A Broadway, Cape Girardeau, MO

2010 allocations

Salvation Army $82,300

American Red Cross $50,000

Habitat for Humanity $40,000

Boys & Girls Club $37,000

Success by 6 $35,000

Community Caring Council $31,665

APPLE $26,000

CASA of Southeast Missouri $25,000

Girl Scouts $25,000

Boy Scouts $25,000

4-Sight Counseling $20,000

Youth United Way $18,886

Lutheran Family & Children Services $15,000

Safe House for Women $18,750

Graces Women's Council $13,900

Jackson Senior Center $13,000

Cape Public Schools Children's Fund $13,000

Hoover Eldercare Center $12,000

Saint Francis Medical Center $11,050

Cape Area Family Resource Center $10,000

New Vision Youth & Family Services $10,000

Visiting Nurse Association $10,000

Jackson R-II School District Children's Fund $9,000

Mississippi Valley Therapeutic Horsemanship $6,129

Southeast Missouri Hospital Foundation $6,000

Cape Girardeau County 4-H $5,000

Jackson Ministerial Alliance $5,000

Scott City Ministerial Alliance $5,000

Bollinger County Children's Fund $4,000

River Corridor Connections $3,000

Scott City Children's Fund $2,500

Scott County R-IV Children's Fund $1,635

Teen Challenge $1,007

4-H Perry County $323