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Volunteers are needed to review local funding requests

3 min read
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United Way of Washington County often states that the most important work we do is the reviewing, vetting and visiting of every charity that applies for United Way funding. All funds raised through the United Way Campaigns from September 2016 through April 2017 will be allocated locally through Community Impact Grants. We believe we owe this due diligence to our contributors, who trust us to invest their hard-earned dollars into the most effective and efficiently run local agencies. January marks the beginning of the 2017-19 Community Impact Grants funding cycle. Unmet community needs in Washington County have been identified and prioritized. Only those programs and services addressing United Way’s three focus areas of financial stability, education and health will be considered for funding. All local charities interested in applying for funding are invited to attend a mandatory meeting 3 p.m. Jan. 18, 2017, at the Cameron Wellness Center, where specific dates and details regarding the funding process will be outlined.

Local citizens interested in volunteering to serve one day on a review panel are asked to contact United Way at 724-225-3310 or barbara@unitedwaywashco.org to volunteer. Between 45 to 60 volunteers are needed for one day from April 19-28. Each panel will be assigned to review several applications and to make site visits as a group for interviews with agency staff, program directors and clients. During the 2015-2017 Community Impact Grants process, Southpointe volunteers from Columbia Gas, Mylan, Noble Energy, Norton Rose Fulbright, Community Bank, Bowles Rice, Range Resources and WesBanco were among the panel members volunteering their time. We would like to expand the volunteer base to include additional Southpointe employees and companies. No special skills or areas of expertise are needed. The common sense opinion of the average community member is what makes the citizen review panels unique. The agencies seeking funding know they will face a tough financial review and a series of questions concerning community need and community impact as the volunteers strive to uncover the strengths and weaknesses of each application.

Each panel will be chaired by a past or current United Way board member, experienced and adept at leading the panel review. A brief orientation for the panelists will be held on April 5, 2017. Each panel will be charged with making funding recommendations to United Way’s Community Services Committee, the committee will approve or amend the recommendations based on available funding raised during United Way’s Campaign. Final recommendations will then be submitted to the board of directors. During the last grants process running form July 1, 2015, through June 30, 2017, $551,000 was invested locally. The grants are awarded for two years. Funding in the second year is dependent on the success of United Way’s Annual Campaign and the adherence to the terms of their agreement with United Way by all grant recipients.

For a full list of current Community Impact Grants, please visit our website at www.unitedwaywashco.org.

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