2010 CIR Funding Letter

2011 Supplemental Financial Worksheet

If you have any questions or concerns, please call us at 320-587-3613 or email:unitedw@hutchtel.net

Campaign deadline: March 31st, 2010.

Goal Reached: 80%

Years ago a local Boy Scout troop took on the creation of a United Way thermometer as a team project. Following its completion, it resided on the south banks of the Crow River each fall. The last sighting of that thermometer was it being placed into a storage shed. There really was no explanation or reason for it, our organization just stopped using that specific tool.

At our November board meeting, a director asked why we don’t use the thermometer anymore. The person pointed out that while we have a lot of attention around our kickoff at the county fair, most folks are not aware that we are still in the midst of our campaign in December. The board member continued that while we get a good deal of publicity from the local media, not everyone will see an ad or have the time to read a commentary. The person believed that it was a good start that an individual resident gets a mailed brochure, or a small business owner will hang a poster, but time spent thinking about United Way is minimal for most. Even for the thousands who participate in a workplace campaign each year, the commitment to a United Way presentation or special event is limited.

At that meeting we agreed that the thermometer is an effective visual piece, in that if done right, people will be curious to see just how the campaign is faring. While not everyone will read today’s newspaper, there is a good chance that folks will take notice of an eight-foot thermometer in Library Square or elsewhere in the county. Whether noticing the thermometer leads people to make a campaign contribution remains to be seen, however we feel that it certainly can’t hurt.

That leads me to the more serious nature of this commentary. As of Christmas our organization had raised $168,000, or 60 percent of our 2009-10 campaign goal of $280,000. The former total marks a $32,000 decrease from where we were a year ago, en route to raising $235,000 overall during the 2008-09 campaign. We are a long way from where we need to be and time is running out. We are so grateful to the individuals, families, businesses and corporations who have given so far, they have all been as generous as they can. Now we are appealing to those who have not, but can, afford to make a contribution before our March 31 campaign deadline.

We are hopeful that another $56,000 will come in from efforts that are currently underway in workplaces throughout the county and from national corporate campaigns that are not processed locally. However, even if those projections are realized, they will boost the campaign only to 80 percent of the need, leaving a shortfall of an additional $56,000.

What that means to our region is that help may not be available at a time when help is needed the most. All funds raised by the United Way of McLeod County remain in the area to provide grants to critical human service programs delivered by our 42 partners. If the campaign falls short, the United Way will see a drastic reduction in its ability to provide these grants. Programs that have a real impact on local people’s lives will lose vital funding, and the recipient organizations, most of which already are stretched to the limit with their own fundraising efforts, urgently need those United Way dollars.

“We felt that it was in the best interest of our partner agencies to extend our campaign through the first quarter of 2010. The last thing we want to do is to have to cut grants to agencies that are helping so many in need right now,” said Grimsley. “Despite the unwavering generosity of so many individuals, families and businesses in McLeod County this fall, we were not able to reach our goal in 2009 alone.” 

“We owe it to our partner agencies and all the people who benefit from their programs and services to press on toward meeting our county-wide need that was established this spring,” said UWMC Executive Director Paul Thompson. “By extending our deadline it will allow us to explore opportunities, that due to increased volume with a county-wide campaign, we haven’t had the opportunity to visit yet.” 

UWMC supports programs in the areas of: emergency and basic needs, health and human services, child development and community development. In 2010 the UWMC is funding 42 agencies/programs that support the organization’s mission of impacting the needs of McLeod County by building stronger, healthier communities.

 Donations to help fund partner agencies and programs supporting area residents can be sent to the United Way of McLeod County located at 218 Main Street South, Suite 124, PO Box 504, Hutchinson, MN 55350.  

(This article was written by UWMC Executive Director Paul Thompson for local newspapers)

6 a.m. A woman drops her son off at West Central Industries. She is relieved to know that he will learn skills that will provide independence and self sufficiency. 

7 a.m.  Campers at Friendship Ventures awake to another day of play, nature discovery and group activities designed to promote self-esteem, while teaching life-enhancing skills.  

8 a.m.  A first time parent is provided information from a Public Health Nurse regarding new baby care, infant/child growth and development, home safety, parenting and community resources. 

9 a.m.  A nine-year-old girl attends McLeod County Day Camp, learning leadership skills she will use throughout her life. 

10 a.m.  A volunteer from Courage Center picks up a woman in Winsted and drives to her medical rehabilitation appointment, so that she may lead a healthier, more independent life. 

11 a.m.  A third grade class participates in a series of sessions regarding their roles as individuals, workers and consumers while learning about economic and workforce issues though Junior Achievement.  

12 p.m.  A local family that does not have winter clothes receives warm coats, hats and gloves from Common Cup Ministry. 

1 p.m.  A family of four in Stewart moves into a stable home built by Crow River Habitat for Humanity volunteers. 

2 p.m.  An American Red Cross instructor presents to a Silver Lake class about emergency preparedness. 

3 p.m.  Children arrive at an afterschool program provided by McLeod County 4-H, rather than going home to an empty house. 

4 p.m.  A ten-year-old boy from a low-income family is able to participate in athletic activities through the Hutchinson Parks, Recreation and Community Education. 

5 p.m.  An elderly woman sits down to a hot meal provided by Lutheran Social Services-Senior Nutrition Program. 

6 p.m.  A toddler and her parents participate in a class that nurtures growth and development of their family through Early Childhood Family Education. 

7 p.m.  A local Girl Scout troop meets to rake leaves for a terminally ill patient. 

8 p.m.  A small group of parents who have lost a child meet to lend support to each other through Compassionate Friends. 

9 p.m.  A father attends a Parent Connection meeting for support and help in dealing with parenting issues. 

10 p.m.  Parents put their children to bed by reading the newest book they received as part of the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program. 

11 p.m.  A family does not go hungry tonight thanks to the McLeod Emergency Food Shelf. 

12 a.m.  Civil Air Patrol Cadets return from a search and rescue mission. 

1 a.m.  A young woman is checking into Shelter House to escape an abusive relationship. 

2 a.m.  The Salvation Army provides emergency assistance and temporary housing for a family who has lost their home to fire. 

3 a.m.  A young woman calls the McLeod Alliance for Victims of Domestic Violence help line to find information regarding protection orders. 

4 a.m.  A family is warm in their beds thanks to assistance provided by Heartland Community Action. 

5 a.m.  A mother in need of formula for her infant daughter calls 2-1-1 for free information and referral services. She is referred to local agency that provides assistance for low income families.

(This article was written by UWMC Executive Director Paul Thompson for local newspapers)

 After years of campaigning solely in Hutchinson, we are facing a steep learning curve as we branch out into towns that have their own history of community-giving in Winsted, Lester Prairie and Glencoe etc. We shouldn’t be surprised when we approach someone from another community for the first time about partnering with United Way, that we get a quizzical look in return. We became the United Way of McLeod County in March 2007. We fully expect that it’s going to take several years of informing folks about our partner agents and our own programs, before a majority of people know what we are about. 

Getting buy-in for our campaign and programs from individuals and businesses throughout the county that have until recently never been approached by United Way is an obstacle. Attracting a new generation of donors and volunteers is a hurdle that we are working to get over as well. One of the first steps we are taking is to bring a number of the local “community chests” under one umbrella. 

In the summer of 2008 the UWMC board reached out to the Glencoe Area United Fund to see if a partnership was feasible. After several meetings, the two boards came to the conclusion that they were in fact funding many of the same agencies and that it made little sense to run two separate fundraising campaigns just miles from each other. From those meetings emerged a new UWMC that campaigned in Glencoe and Hutchinson for the first time in 2009. The merger was viewed as a prime example of organizations coming together for the greater good of an area. We have spent a lot of time in Glencoe this fall talking to the small business owners and corporations to let them know we are now campaigning as one entity and hoping to get continued buy-in from them as we move forward. 

Another step we are taking this fall is forming a partnership with the Lester Prairie Community Chest. After nearly 40 years of volunteers going door-to-door in that community, they have asked us to help them with their efforts this year. Due to the shortened timeframe, we will be sending out a direct mailing piece to Lester Prairie residents in December. 

Of the 42 agencies/programs we are supporting financially in 2009, none are exclusive to Hutchinson residents and all have a McLeod County scope in clientele. In looking at the numbers our agencies have provided us over the years we see a pretty even split between those from Hutchinson who are receiving services, and clients from the other seven zip codes in McLeod County. Historically, a majority of the money to fund all of these county-wide programs has come from the companies, small businesses and residents of Hutchinson. We feel that this is an opportune time to reach out to folks in the other towns and ask them for assistance in funding these programs that help so many in every McLeod County community. 

Getting the word out about United Way is the biggest hurdle we face as an organization, as we continue to grow as a county-wide entity. It really comes down to us doing a better job of informing and educating folks as to what we are about as we re-introduce ourselves to Hutchinson and build new relationships in the region.

(This article was written by UWMC Executive Director Paul Thompson for local newspapers)

Soon after merging with the Glencoe Area United Fund in the summer of 2008, our board of directors began to look into what other United Ways were doing in regards to changing the way their communities viewed them. In talking to other UW boards and staffs, we realized that we needed to tweak our business model to retain our corporate partners and attract a new generation of donors. When most people think of the United Way, their sole vision is that of the workplace campaign. That is still the core of what we do and the foundation of any success we might have. However, we feel the need to try to create long-lasting community change by addressing underlying causes of the most significant local issues.

In recent years many United Ways have expanded their focus from solely fundraising to providing a proactive component called Community Impact. This approach deals with the root causes of the most serious problems and allows them to be part of the solution. The thought is to gather individuals from across community – government, business, schools, faith, non-profits and ordinary citizens – to form “Community Impact Coalitions” to address the most critical needs identified by the community. This is a task that we are carefully and thoughtfully wading into.

 We realize that a number of fantastic organizations have been working on addressing community problems in the area for years. We are not looking to latch-on or take credit for anyone’s longtime work. We just want to make sure that we are always making a concerted effort as an organization to be at the table and willing to listen and offer our resources. The Community Impact model is not just about messaging or a new allocation process. It calls for comprehensive change in our organization’s aspirations, operations, and relationships with the community.

 We understand that it is not enough to simply run a fall campaign and distribute checks to our 42 partner agencies twice a year. While we are effecting change by allocating thousands of donor dollars to help run outstanding programs, we feel the need to be even more hands on. We are in a unique position in that we have relationships with so many non-profits and business partners. We need to take the responsibility to help children and youth achieve their potential, promote financial stability and independence and improve people’s health.

 We feel that we are continuing to take the steps needed to fulfill our duties and are excited about our most recent initiatives. For example, this summer we launched Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library throughout McLeod County. Additionally, we have partnered with the Greater Twin Cities United Way to bring the 2-1-1 community help line to the area. We also have begun to do more events with our partner agencies, including working with Aveyron Homes for our first Day of Caring this fall.

(This article was written by UWMC Executive Director Paul Thompson for local newspapers)

We are overwhelmed by the tremendous generosity of individuals, small businesses and corporations throughout the area that have already given or pledged this fall and have pushed us nearer our established campaign need of $280,000. In this time of budget constraints, we are amazed at the capacity of people to give of themselves.

Traveling throughout the county making campaign presentations this fall, there have been a number of thoughtful questions raised by folks regarding the United Way and its practices. We thought this commentary a great place to answer some frequently asked questions. The following are a few of the questions we receive most often while visiting service clubs, small businesses and corporations.

Is the United Way of McLeod County a local organization?

The United Way of McLeod County is one of 1,300 independent United Ways across the country organized to help improve their communities. While we all share a common name and logo, the United Way of McLeod County, is an independent, locally controlled organization governed by a volunteer Board of Directors from throughout McLeod County.

Why Should I give to the United Way of McLeod County?

The United Way is the most effective way to direct your charitable donations to caring and well-run community programs. Volunteers carefully invest your gift in programs that have proven records of providing life transforming services in a cost-effective manner. 

How does United Way invest my gift?

Each year, over 35 trained volunteers work to carefully review the management and effectiveness of the agencies funded and use this information to determine funding levels. This information gathered from the review process is focused on results. The four key factors in these results include: program accountability, demonstrated change in peoples lives, efficiently and effectively run programs, and programs that are responsive to a changing community. 

What if I can’t afford to give?

By giving a small amount each pay period through payroll deduction, most working people can afford to contribute. Even a small contribution will help someone who might not otherwise receive help. By giving just $1 each week, you provide a night of hotel lodging for a homeless family or much needed groceries at a food shelf.

What amount of money raised goes to fund administration?

Last year our overhead costs for staff, rent/utilities, campaign materials, accounting fees etc. was 13.0% of money raised. This percentage is well below the Minnesota Charities Review Council’s recommended maximum of 30% and the Better Business Bureau’s guideline of 35% for fund-raising costs by charities.

Does United Way only help the poor?

United Way works to benefit the entire community. Examples of broad-based services include: emergency food and shelter programs for people who have been affected by a disaster such as a fire, domestic violence prevention and counseling, and family crisis and stability programs. No one knows when a tragedy will strike and when help will be needed. Each of us benefits from living in a peaceful, healthy community.

(This is an article that UWMC Executive Director Paul Thompson wrote for local newspapers)

First as the Hutchinson Area United Way and today as the United Way of McLeod County, our organization has been a part of this region for nearly 50 years.  

The UWMC supports programs in the areas of: emergency and basic needs, health and human services, child development and community development. We don’t just provide a blank check to our partners; we fund specific programs with measurable outcome objectives ensuring the funds we invest on your behalf are making the greatest impact on community needs. 

Our United Way has delivered nearly $360,000 in community investment grants to partner agencies over the last two years. Our 2009-10 campaign is underway, with a goal of $280,000. 

We realize that you may be facing financial pressures in your own home.  But, we hope you’ll give as generously as you can. We’re sure that you’re familiar with most of our partner agencies. In fact, we’re sure you know someone who has been helped by them – your neighbors, co-workers and possibly your own family. 

We need your help this year. If you work for one of the businesses that allow you to donate through payroll deduction, that is the easiest way. If your employer doesn’t offer a workplace campaign, please ask if they will start one. If you’ve received our brochure in the mail, please reply. You can also donate online or by mail to 218 Main Street South, Suite 124, PO Box 504, Hutchinson, MN 55350.

 Why Give to United Way?

It’s efficient – over the last three years administrative and fundraising costs are less than 13%

It’s local – More than 85% of funds raised are used for programs that benefit McLeod County residents

- All operating decisions are made by a board consisting of 19 McLeod County residents

It’s connected – Partners with area agencies that in 2008 provided services to over 30,000 people

It’s accountable – Each year we are independently reviewed by a local auditor

- We are subject to stringent United Way Worldwide membership requirements

Our theme this year is Give. Advocate. Volunteer. LIVE UNITED. Whether you give your funds, your voice, or your time, you are making a difference for many in McLeod County.

(This article was written by UWMC Executive Director Paul Thompson for local newspapers)