We are committed to investing your resources wisely. Your trust is appreciated, and we want you to know our agencies and their programs are addressing our community’s problem issues. We do this through the Community Investment Team which consists of over 100 community experts, volunteers and donors who spend hundreds of hours assessing community needs and agency program proposals.

Here’s how the Community Investment cycle works:

1. Research. Throughout the year United Way is involved in research to determine the community’s current and emerging needs along with the assets already in place to meet those needs. This information is giving to the panelists.
2. Review. On-site agency visits provide an opportunity for the panels to see the United Way funded programs "in action." That first-hand experience gives the teams a better understand of the assets and limitations of each agency and the program’s impact. In addition, United Way receives and audits the legal and financial documents of each member agency to ensure compliance with state and federal laws.
3. Planning. The forecast funding requests help the United Way Board understand the anticipated funding needs for the year ahead. This information helps determine the fund-raising goal for the fall campaign.
4. Fund Raising. We solicit the community to invest in the community. Donors are assured that funds raised go to a broad range of programs and services that impact the community.
5. Investment. United Way volunteers invest donor contributions by supporting organizations and programs that have proven they can get the results we want for our community.
6. Accountability. Organizations that receive funds from United Way are held accountable for the results they achieve. Community investment volunteers meet with the agency staff and board volunteers to review the performance and outcomes of their programs.