2019 Agency Allocations - Spending Donor Dollars

 

 

United Way’s support for Logan County’s human service needs will rise above $828,000 in 2019, an 11 percent increase over this year, after the non-profit’s Board of Trustees approved funding recommendations at its last meeting of the year.

 

45 programs of 30 Funded Agencies will be the beneficiaries of $631,873 in the first wave of United Way dollars.  An additional $60,939 is being earmarked for the Community Impact Fund and $25,000 for Youth Allocations for use throughout 2019.

 

In addition to agency funding, $111,000 has been earmarked for four internal United Way projects, including a new LIVE UNITED @ Work Financial Wellness program that will be rolled out in January at participating workplaces, the Dolly Parton Imagination Library early childhood literacy program, the Community Care Day corporate volunteer work day in May, and the Stuff the Bus school supply drive in August.

 

The announcement caps a two-month process in which United Way volunteers reviewed funding requests and determined how to best spend donor dollars.  Though United Way is closing in on achieving its $1 million fundraising goal, agency requests exceeded the amount available to spend by a quarter million dollars. 

“Despite the booming economy we have locally and the growth we’ve experienced as a United Way, this was a year in which we still had a record number of requests, 59 to be exact,” said David Willoby, a United Way Allocations Committee volunteer.  “Despite low unemployment and rising wages, there are still growing needs in our community.”

 

“This year was difficult,” said Jackie Elson, a United Way Allocations Committee volunteer.  “There was not enough money to give to each request.  Each requester had a story.  And with those stories was a love and passion of the services each agency was bringing to the community.  The Allocation Committee, upon discussion and consensus, was able to fully fund 29 programs.  An additional 10 programs will receive increased funding.  And with the charitable contributions, The United Way was able to fund three new agencies for 2019.”

 

Those include Caring Kitchen, a homeless shelter in Urbana that serves as an overflow when the Logan County Homeless Shelter is full; the Logan County Healthy Living Coalition; and the Summer Autism Academy.  A new program of the Logan County Sheriff’s Office to provide educational opportunities for youth incarcerated at the Juvenile Detention Center.  

 

Most of United Way’s support will be focused in five areas of emphasis:

United Way’s Allocations Committee volunteers interviewed representatives from each agency requesting donor dollars, reviewed pages of documentation and engaged in extensive discussion before making its recommendation to the United Way Board.     

 

“We start the discussion on every agency by asking how it fits with the Community Needs Assessment,” said Nita Wilkinson, a United Way Allocations Committee volunteer.  “While this is not the be-all, end all of the decision, it does weigh the heaviest.   Using the needs assessment ensures that we are meeting the biggest needs of the county.  I love that this committee can have good and thoughtful discussions, and that they are all willing to participate and listen to each idea.”

 

“The role of being good stewards of donor dollars is taken extremely serious by the allocations committee,” said Tim O’Rielley, Allocations Committee Chair.  “The agencies are thoroughly vetted, their operations, financial status and how they perform.  Also making sure the funds are being used as intended.  It’s a very deliberate process deciding on how the funds are allocated. There are tough questions of the agencies and different viewpoints and discussions on each agency. All the agencies do a fantastic job and are very passionate about their cause which makes it a tough call.” 

 

 

United Way Programming Amount

United Way fights for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in Logan County.  Since 1955, United Way of Logan County has raised more than $23 million to support the specific social service needs of our community.  

 

91 cents of every dollar given goes directly to programming with nine percent going to fundraising and administrative costs, well above the Better Business Bureau standard of a 65-35 split.  In fact, United Way is an accredited charity of the BBB, meeting all 20 Standards of Charitable Accountability established by the watchdog group.  The standards evaluate a charity’s financial accountability, governance and oversight, effectiveness measures, and fundraising and informational materials.