Community Impact Process
Each year United Way invites area non-profits to join as a partner in making our vision for the community come to life: a community where all are empowered to achieve their potential through education, financial stability, healthy lives, and equity. We make an impact in our community by partnering with organizations and launching our own projects and programs. All of our work aligns with our areas of focus and our priority areas.
As a Community Impact Agency, organizations receive volunteer support, marketing support, training opportunities, and monthly funding from November - October. United Way raises these dollars through the organization's annual campaign. Agencies must apply each year to be a Community Impact Agency. Following is information regarding United Way's Areas of Focus, Areas of Priority, standards of Community Impact Agencies, evaluation criteria, application instructions, as well as a timeline for the 2023 Community Impact Process.
United Way’s Areas of Focus
United Way’s four areas of focus are education, financial stability, healthy lives, and equity. These are the four building blocks for a good quality of life and a strong community. If all individuals were empowered in these areas, they would be able to achieve their potential. United Way funds and implements projects and programs that correlate with these three areas of focus.
Education – United Way supports programming and services that help ensure students stay in school and are college or career ready at graduation. Additionally, United Way supports programs that provide education later in life to ensure individuals have the education needed to become self-sufficient and employable.
Financial Stability – United Way supports job training, financial education, and financial coaching programs. These programs can help individuals find balance or even just make ends meet among all the stress. United Way also supports programs that provide financial stability for families in times of uncertainty – programs that provide financial support so individuals can make it through uncertain times without losing their homes, jobs, and more.
Healthy Lives – United Way is building healthier, more resilient communities by ensuring individuals have access to healthcare, quality food, and more. Another component of a healthy life is safety and security – United Way finds safety as a key component of living a healthy life.
Equity - United Way strives to support programs that break down barriers that create societal gaps. United Way strives to create systems that are fair and inclusive. It is necessary to focus on race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status, as well as other intersectional identities to end the historical, social and systematic inequalities that exist in our service area.
United Way’s Priorities
To make the United Way’s mission and vision come to life, there are two specific priorities that have been identified by the United Way’s Board of Directors. United Way will work to fund and implement projects and programs that relate to these two identified priorities.
Supporting Critical Services - Individuals must have access to food, water, shelter, security, health, and safety. United Way prioritizes providing critical services to ensure the basic needs of individuals are met.
Providing Opportunities for Upward Mobility - It is our goal at United Way that individuals can become self-sufficient. United Way prioritizes opportunities to promote upward mobility. We want individuals to have opportunities to gain the knowledge and skills they need to be independent through educational programs, mentoring, skill development, and connections to opportunities. We want individuals to have access to the resources they need to receive support and gain the confidence and skillset to become accountable for themselves and independent.
Community Impact Timeline
March 21: Application opens on United Way Website
April 3: Overview of Community Impact Process Meeting – United Way Office & Zoom – 1:30pm
**email director@unitedwaymta.org if you would like a calendar invite to this meeting**
April 10-21: United Way Executive Director offers one on one reviews of applications
April 28: Application closes at 11:59pm
May: Community Impact Committee Reviews Applications
May 12-26: Community Impact Committee Tours Agencies & Visits with Organization Leadership
Mid-June: Organizations learn of Community Impact Agency selections
COMMUNITY IMPACT OVERVIEW MEETING
- WHEN? Monday, April 3rd
- TIME? 1:30pm
- WHERE? United Way Conference Room or Zoom
**The United Way Conference Room is not handicapped accessible unfortunately, however Zoom is available and the meeting will also be recorded and shared!
