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Editorial: A new, improved focus for United Way

Charity enters new phase of a more targeted approach.

Last update: February 17, 2008 - 4:20 PM

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A CASE FOR CHANGE

"We want to make the highest impact with dollars and time. We should use resources to close the gaps and insure a healthy community.''

Lauren Segal, president , CEO Greater Twin Cities United Way.

. . .

For more information, visit unitedwaytwincities.org.

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The Twin Cities United Way is changing its ways. And, by doing so, the agency hopes to have a greater impact on the community.

Called "Agenda for Lasting Change,'' the new approach to giving moves away from simply giving grants to other nonprofits. Instead, the agency is narrowing its focus and making funding choices based on a shorter list of community needs.

Last week, the charitable agency announced the last of three phases in a five-year effort to refocus its work. To better nurture needy children and families, by 2012 the agency will strive to:

• Increase by 20 percent the number of domestic violence victims who access services.

• Boost by 80 percent the number of low-income students who read well by third grade.

• Raise the number of low-income children in quality out-of-school programs from 28,000 to 43,000 annually.

The transition began several years ago when agency leaders recognized that United Way needed to become more effective and appealing to donors. After a thorough review, the board pared down its objectives and chose areas where success is more measurable.

In its first two phases, those goals included reducing hunger, increasing economic self-sufficiency, improving health care access and preventing health problems among at-risk children.

In the past, the agency has given to as many as 200 organizations and 400 programs. That method made the charity "eight lanes wide'' but not particularly deep, as one official said.

Next month, agency leaders expect to announce that 2007 was the most successful fundraising campaign in seven years. Preliminary accounting shows that about $88 million was raised. Now that the agency is more focused, those funds will go a long way toward changing lives.

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