Health and Human Service Program Funding Announced
United Way of East Central Iowa’s Board of Directors this week approved allocations for its Community Impact Partner Fund and will distribute $6,310,992 to help those most in need within its six-county service area. This represents an increase of $236,239 over last year’s allocation. The increased funding is a result of the communities’ generous contributions in United Way’s record-breaking 2007 campaign.
Funds will be distributed for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2008, to all of United Way’s 34 current partner agencies as well as 10 new partner agencies. As part of an ongoing effort to align allocations to most directly address community needs and produce measurable results for our donors, some agencies will see increases in funding, while others will receive less funding than they have traditionally.
“This funding realignment brings increased accountability and the opportunity to make essential improvements in the health and welfare of the community. Most importantly, it allows us to deal with issues the community identified as most critical,” says Lois Buntz, President & CEO of United Way of East Central Iowa. “We have a transition plan in place to assist those organizations that will experience the most change in program support.”
United Way of East Central Iowa received requests for over $10 million in funding this year. Three funding review teams, consisting of over 40 dedicated community volunteers, evaluated all requests; each with a different focus area (children and youth, families and basic needs). Each of the teams spent hundreds of hours over the course of several months reviewing program applications, asking questions, examining follow-up responses and conducting interviews and agency visits. Teams make recommendations which are then reviewed by a steering committee. That committee submitted its funding plan to the United Way Board of Directors for approval.
“We need to make sure that we are putting community contributions where they can help address the underlying causes of these problems and achieve measurable results. We believe that our community will be stronger if we can reach those individuals and families that are the most vulnerable, increase the capacity of nonprofit organizations, and unite the caring power of our community partners to improve people’s lives”, said Marc Gullickson, chairperson of the United Way Board of Directors.
Donations to United Way of East Central Iowa stay in local communities to help people living in Benton, Cedar, Iowa, Jones, Linn and Washington Counties.
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