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The
Heart of Illinois United Way aspires to empower the community through
programming that will achieve positive change. United Way is determined
to serve the counties of Marshall, Peoria, Putnam, Stark, Tazewell, and
Woodford by bringing together area leaders from business, labor,
government, health, and human services to strive towards what really
matters – the organized capacity for people to care for one another.
Together, we are shaping our community.
United
Way assists in funding 112 different programs from 45 different social
service and health agencies. To ensure that money goes directly towards
specific needs in the community, the United Way makes certain that each
organization in which they invest is a nonprofit, tax-exempt, charity
operated by volunteers. Each agency is required to submit an annual
independent financial audit and must provide services at a reasonable
cost; agencies must also maintain a policy of non-discrimination.
United
Way’s fundraising and administrative costs are the lowest of voluntary
fundraising efforts in our community. For every dollar raised, 90.3
cents is channeled into community programs for people in need. The
Better Business Bureau guidelines state that a fundraising organization
can use 35 percent for administration and fundraising costs. At United
Way, only 9.7 cents of each dollar pays for campaign expenses and
year-round administration. These figures demonstrate how significant
meeting the necessities of central Illinois is the Heart of Illinois
United Way.
United
Way uses an allocation method to guarantee that a variety of non-profit
organizations receive funding in order to address community problems
that a single entity cannot manage. The staff and volunteers at United
Way invest their time to coordinate, co and execute programs that will
most economically and efficiently meet overall needs of central
Illinois.
Together, we are strengthening community foundations.
The four
focus areas of United Way are youth, families, self-reliance, and
health. The urgency of addressing these areas in central Illinois is the
reason why the dollars raised through United Way are guaranteed for
thorough and effectual programming.
Thus,
there are 80 volunteers who compose the Community Care Fund. This group
comes from diverse segments of the six serviced counties to decide on
the allocation of fund for community programming. These volunteers
assure that the fund is being well observing United Way member agencies.
They monitor financial and programmatic information, meet with agencies
to discuss program results, and visit agencies to see program sites.
The United Way understands people living in the community are the people
who know quite well what issues and programs to focus our joint efforts
towards.
Heart of
Illinois United Way evaluates requests for funding by three sets of
criteria. In the first set, an organization must show that they are:
well managed, have diverse funding sources, seek out opportunities for
collaboration, and provide successful client-based outcomes. The second
set assesses programs by: whether or not the program serves at risk
populations, if the program is focused on prevention, if the agency
providing the program is fiscally sound, if the agency provides
scholarships and sliding-fee scales to address clients’ carrying ability
to pay for services, and if the agency effectively utilizes volunteers
in their programs. The last set of criteria evaluates programs on how
the relates to the annual Community Assessment.
In 2006,
the Heart of Illinois United Way campaign raised $8.525 million. That
campaign enabled day-care and after school programs for our youth,
emergency food and shelter programs for the homeless, scouting programs
for young people, treatment to substance abusers, programs for senior
citizens, and much more.
Together, we are giving hope.
The
United Way is a good investment because it strives to solve the problems
of the community that matter. The United Way builds partnerships,
forges consensus, and leverages resources to make a considerable
difference in central Illinois.
Making a
difference is all about people like you and me - people who care about
the good of our youth, families, special populations, and senior
citizens. The United Way understands that by demonstrating heart-felt
leadership, unity and enthusiasm for a common goal, and the rarity of
genuinely caring for people. Together, we are effecting positive,
communal change the lives of our neighbors, friends, families, and even
ourselves.
Together, we are reminding each other of what really matters. |
