United Way Invests Record Amount To Non-Profit Agencies, Initiatives



The United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties announced today its plans for investing a record $1.77 million to local non-profit agencies and initiatives for the 2011 – 2012 fiscal year.

This amount includes $121,996.14 designated to non-partner agencies per donor wishes, as well as an allocable pool amount of $1,654,100 – the highest to date for the local United Way.

Cannon County agencies receiving funding include:

Cannon County Senior Center, $20,000, up from $13,900 last year.

UT Extension - 4H - Cannon, $2,000, up from $1,920 last year.

REACH of Cannon County, $22,000, up from $18,400 last year.

Cannon County SAVE, $5,000, first time allocation.

The allocable pool funding was distributed among United Way’s partner agencies by panels involving more than 80 volunteers. Since April, these volunteers have been working to allocate the amount of funding available to each of the partner agencies and initiatives.

United Way was able to fund 79% of the requests from partner agencies (up 5% from 2010), who requested a combined $2,090,713 in funding.

“We are pleased to announce that this year marks the highest amount of funding invested back to our community in our local United Way’s history,” said Brian Hercules, President and CEO of the local United Way. “United Way is impacting our local community by helping relieve these non-profit agencies from fundraising in order to allow them to fulfill their mission – providing invaluable services.”

Each spring, partner agencies present their funding request to the appropriate allocations panel. The allocations panels review agency programs and funding requests.  They consider how well the agency is managed, how justified its proposed budget is and the extent to which its services meet high priority community needs.

The allocation panels determine what amount each agency will receive from United Way to deliver proposed services.  The panels forward their recommendations to United Way’s volunteer Board of Directors. The United Way Board of Directors reviews the recommendations and then approves the final allocation amount to each agency and initiative.

The allocations process ensures a high degree of community impact through agency accountability standards. Each United Way partner agency determines its overall annual operating and program budget and calculates funds it will receive from other sources, such as grants and fees. Before reviewing these budgets, the United Way allocations panel volunteers visit the agencies.  Each panel is responsible for monitoring several agencies.

United Way also introduced a new opportunity for funding to non-profit agencies this year – a community investment grant program. The purpose of the Community Investment Grant Program is to provide funding up to $5,000 to 501(c)3 agencies. These agencies have priorities that are aligned with United Way’s community impact priorities but do not participate in the allocations process.

The community investment grant program was created in 2011 to expand the number of those served through agencies and initiatives supported by United Way. New partners through the grant program include Big Brothers Big Sisters, Cannon County SAVE, and Greenhouse Ministries. These agencies are encompassed in United Way’s 46 affiliated agencies and initiatives for 2011-2012.

For more information regarding United Way’s, partner agencies and allocations process, please visit www.uwrutherford.org
 
About the United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties

United Way advances the common good by creating opportunities for a better life for all. United Way focuses on education, income, health, and rebuilding lives – the building blocks for a good quality of life. United Way recruits people and organizations who bring the passion, expertise, and resources needed to impact the community through giving, advocating, and volunteering. The United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties is located at 615 Memorial Boulevard in Murfreesboro.  For more information, please call (615) 893-7303 or visit www.uwrutherford.org.