Letter from the Vice President of Community & Collective Impact
At the end of last year, we wrapped up our Community Investment Process, which is how United Way makes funding decisions and invests in programs across our community This process takes almost a whole year to complete, and in this issue, we are celebrating the results of all that hard work
As you’ll see inside, almost 1.5 million dollars are being invested in 75 programs across Spartanburg, Cherokee, and Union Counties!
To ensure that your donation is invested wisely, these programs were assessed by issue area experts to determine how effective they will be at addressing our community’s most pressing concerns: economic mobility, access to healthcare, and educational opportunity.
Funding the most effective programs is just one of our strategies to meet our Bold Goal. Our approach to increase the number of selfsufficient families in our community also includes:
Serving families directly through our Community Resource Coordinator program, Collaborating with local partners through groups like our Homeless Task Force, Uniting the community through initiatives like Prepared to Thrive, and more!
When you invest in United Way of the Piedmont, you are helping thousands of local families reach self-sufficiency It takes all of us to make this type of community transformation possible.
I invite you to join us in celebrating the successful completion of the Community Investment Process and the amazing work you are helping to fund. I hope you see how this process is just one piece of the greater work you make possible by supporting United Way
Vice President of Community & Collective Impact
United Way of the Piedmont
Learn how program investments are made by United Way
Hear from the grant decision-makers serving on Vision Councils
Find out how to further your impact in our community
THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PROCESS
Investing in local programs to increase local impact
Everything we do at United Way of the Piedmont is directed at meeting our Bold Goal: to increase the number of self-sufficient families in our community by 10,000.
We help families directly through initiatives like our Community Resource Coordinators, the Homeless Prevention Fund, and the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program
We also help families indirectly by making significant investments in local nonprofit programs that are moving the needle on increasing self-sufficiency We make these funding decisions through our Community Investment Process
HOW IT WORKS
This process is led by issue area experts and community leaders who serve on one of five Vision Councils (hear from three council volunteers on the next page).
These volunteers review applications for funding from local nonprofit programs, conduct site visits, and make final funding recommendations to United Way's Board of Directors.
Funding recommendations are carefully considered and made based on organizational strength and program performance. Once these recommendations are approved, we get the immense privilege of granting local programs dollars that will advance their work to help families thrive. See the results below!
United Way is investing
$1,485,356
in 75 local programs
To see full list of investments, visit www.uwpiedmont.org/fundedprograms
When you donate directly to United Way, you are ensuring that your dollars are going where they are most needed. For over 85 years, we have been the community's trusted philanthropic advisor, directing donor dollars into efforts that yield the highest results. You can trust that we will always meet our community's most pressing needs with the most effective solutions.
Community input & data assessment Community Impact Agenda funding priorities set Funding information sessions Letters of intent to apply accepted Programs invited to apply Application review & site visits by Vision Councils Q&A sessions with each program Funding recommendations & board approval Funding is distributed & community-wide impact grows!
“I learned that the United Way Community Investment Process is a thorough and informed process. From site visits to agencies requesting funding, to the proposal reviews and final decision making, board members are afforded the tools to make fair and informed decisions on selecting what organizations should receive funds.”
- Timika Wilson, Union County Vision Council
"The programs the Economic Mobility Vision Council recommends for funding assist members of our community become self-sufficient. These programs focus on long-term change with measurable impact.
Participating in this process has allowed me to better appreciate how the United Way exercises responsible stewardship in allocating its philanthropic dollars. It is an honor to be part of the United Way’s Community Investment Process. I truly believe it makes a difference."
- Ginger Shuler, Spartanburg Economic Mobility Vision Council
"Serving on a Vision Council allows you to really get to see not only the work of United Way firsthand, but also the work of the many nonprofits who are seeking funding.There are many dedicated groups doing great work in Cherokee County, and making funding decisions is not easy. Working together with a group of smart, dedicated individuals, we were able to make funding decisions that would have the most positive impact on our community."
- Reed Brown, Cherokee County Vision Council
Make an Impact with Us
Help families reach self-sufficiency by supporting our work: www.uwpiedmont.org/give
Read about our 2022-2032 Community Impact Agenda strategies that are supported by the Community Investment Process at www.uwpiedmont.org/agenda.
Make a greater impact through company involvement, leadership giving, and donor networks. Email Amanda Richardson at arichardson@uwpiedmont.org to learn more.
What did you learn by serving on a Vision Council?
UNITED WAY UPDATE
COFFEE & CONVERSATIONS
March 21 at Spartanburg County Public Library Headquarters
PREPARED TO THRIVE BOOK DRIVE
March & April
COMMUNITY HEALTH AWARENESS DAY
April 22
Find these and more on our website: www.uwpiedmont.org/events
EVENT SPONSORS
PRESENTING
PLATINUM
AFL
Denny's
Milliken & Co.
Spartanburg Water
GOLD
BMW Manufacturing
Contec
Duke Energy
Lockhart Power
SILVER Bank of America
Boulier, Thompson and Barnes
Inman Mills
Keurig Dr. Pepper
Piedmont Natural Gas
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System
The Timken Company
Truist
William Barnet & Son
BRONZE
Clayton Construction
Coldwell Banker Caine
McMillan Pazdan Smith
MP Cloud Technologies
Park National Bank
Synovus
Wells Fargo
SPRING 2023
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