Community Investment

Investing in our Future The United Way of Summit County Community Investment Process United Way of Summit County is making a real difference in the lives of real people. By focusing resources and relying on local expertise, we are able to provide solutions for the most critical needs in our community. Hundreds of local volunteers determine how to multiply the value of your donation and make the biggest impact on our communities. When you give to United Way, you help make life better for all of us, and help make our cities and towns better places to live. United Way is a community builder. Although United Way is perhaps best known for our annual fundraising campaign, our real impact is within the organizations and the programs funded by United Way. These programs provide services to those in need all year-round. United Way funded organizations are continually at work improving and building our community. Each year, United Way relies on teams of volunteers from our community to determine how to distribute the donations to United Way among these local programs & services. This vital and rewarding role lets you decide which of our community’s needs are most pressing and which programs will best fulfill these needs. Community Investment volunteers allocate millions of dollars to local agency programs, but the agencies often require funds beyond the reach of United Way’s resources. The volunteers must decide what programs should be funded and what portion each should receive. Volunteers work to ensure that United Way donations are spent wisely and well. Agency programs, budgets, and outcomes are studied in detail and weighed with the needs in the community to assure that the safety-net of services continues to build our community. Community Investment Decision-Making Tools
Background Research Tool One Service Descriptions & Outcomes How does any agency’s program fit into the community’s total picture? To answer that question, United Way collects facts and compiles summaries to help volunteers make more informed decisions. For example, a service description for Child Day Care will detail the number of licensed centers and registered homes, the types of day care needs that have not been met, goals to be accomplished and funding sources for the service. Volunteers use these descriptions and outcomes to learn more about the service’s goals, objectives and actual accomplishments.	First-Hand Experience Tool Two Agency Presentations It is important that volunteers get a complete picture, so they tour the agency and get an agency presentation. Agency volunteers and staff members provide answers the committees must have before they make decisions on the following questions. • How many clients would the program serve? • What are the administrative costs? • How much United Way support is needed? • What did the program accomplish with previous United Way funds? • What type of client does the program serve?	Community Opinion Tool Three Needs Assessment Survey Since community donations should be invested with community opinion in mind, United Way relies on surveys that are conducted every few years. The surveys ask such questions as: • How important do you think this problem is locally? • Do you think enough is being done about this problem? • How much of a problem has this been for you or anyone in your family? • Has your family sought help with this problem?

Frequently Asked Questions What are the Impact Areas?

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