Fund Distribution
The Heartland United Way is committed to making a difference through programs that positively impact the most pressing issues in our communities. United Way provides partial funding to community impact programs at 16 partner agencies and other nonprofits in Hall, Hamilton, Howard and Merrick Counties that serve over 50,000 people each year. The funds are distributed in two ways – through the community investment process and the community impact grant program.
Community Investment Process
Allocation of Campaign Funds to United Way Partner Agencies
Each spring, the Heartland United Way completes a community investment process, where community volunteers determine how United Way campaign funds would be best allocated to the 16 partner agencies for the upcoming year. The volunteers play a vital role in evaluating the United Way-funded programs during day-long assessments.
The volunteers are grouped into teams to review funding requests from the partner agencies. Each team spends one day visiting two to three agency sites. The teams listen to agency presentations, review agency applications and program results, and make funding recommendations to the Heartland United Way board of directors.
The community investment process ensures that dollars donated to the Heartland United Way are distributed to the most needed programs and services each year. Through the process, the volunteers are encouraged to provide input as to which issues they think need the most attention in our communities and how campaign funds can best be used to address these needs.
Community Impact Grants
Grants to Qualifying Nonprofits in Hall, Hamilton, Howard or Merrick Counties
for New and Inventive Programs
Each year, a portion of the Heartland United Way campaign funds are made available to non-profit organizations in Hall, Hamilton, Howard and Merrick counties through the community impact grant program. The grant program funds projects that innovatively address issues in the areas of education, income and health and is designed to encourage entities to think creatively about ways to improve people’s lives and change community conditions.
Applying organizations develop new or improved strategies to help people achieve a quality education, promote financial stability and independence or improve health in our four-county area. Applicants present their program ideas to a United Way committee and can be awarded all or partial funding for the program. Grant recipients launch a year-long pilot program. Results are measured, tracked and reported to the Heartland United Way.
