United Way of Tompkins County: Civic Engagement, Organizational Transformation and Community Impact
By mwcole
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Youth and Philanthropy Program Established
<font size="14" face="arial">UWTC's high school leadership development and grants program began. We recognized that youth are a rich and untapped community resource. Local high school students have awarded over $300,000 in grant funds. -
Focus on Community Understanding Service (FOCUS) started
<font size="14" face="arial">The middle and elementary school program reaches rural populations with community assessment and grant making for youth to make a difference in their communities. -
T. Merrell Shipherd Flexible Fund Established
<font size="14" face="arial">This fund was established to honor T. Merrell Shipherd, former Director of United Way of Tompkins County, who, throughout his life, worked to bring people together to find effective solutions to community challenges. Funding supports current, new or emerging needs in the community and efforts to improve organizational efficiency and encourage collaborations. -
New Resource Development Products
<font size="14" face="arial">Student philanthropic and leadership programs have been a basis for a longstanding and generous relationship with Park Foundation. This is also the footprint for other community engagement and product development. -
COMPASS II
<font size="14" face="arial">Area-wide assets and needs assessment directed by community members and sponsored by UWTC.
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COMPASS II - Phase II Project - Food Security
<font size="14" face="arial">Informed by COMPASS II - Food Security was identified as a critical problem that UWTC committed to address in partnership with broad-based community involvement. -
Urgent Rx Prescription Drug Program is launched
Urgent Rx provides free prescriptions and outreach follow-up to people without insurance who have an urgent health need and receive care at selected sites. Uninsured patients treated at the Cayuga Medical Center Emergency Department, Inpatient Unit Discharge and Convenient Care Center in Ithaca and at the Ithaca Free Clinic receive vouchers for prescription medicine. -
Planning and Community Impact Realignment Report to the Board
<font size="14" face="arial">Community Impact Planning Chart - Organizational Transition -
Corporate Cornerstone Partners
<font size="14" face="arial">The Corporate Cornerstone Partners Programtook effect in 2007, covering 91% of all administrative and operating expenses (for every dollar donated, $0.09 went to administrative costs). Since 2008, 100% of every gift given to UWTC's Community Care Fund, 42 member organizations, special initiatives, or another UW, goes directly to support those programs and services. -
CIODM
<font size="14" face="arial">Introduced Community TechKnowledge - CTK's Community Impact Online Data Manager to manage expanding fund distribution processes and strengthen volunteer and agency relationships. -
Campus Engagement
<font size="14" face="arial">Cornell and Ithaca College Student United Way efforts emerge. -
Hunger & Food Security Competitive Grant Process
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Grants awarded to food pantries, congregate meals and supportive services to address hunger and food security issues. Spring and Fall grant cycles are established. This fund provides access to UWTC resources for non-member organizations. -
COMPASS II-2.0
<font size="14" face="arial">COMPASS II-2.0 continues the 2003 work by re-examining the assets and needs of Tompkins County to establish our progress in addressing the most pressing issues facing residents as well as in identifying areas of accomplishment and emerging areas of need. The report is available through the United Way of Tompkins County website at Community Assessment. -
Tompkins Connect
<font size="14" face="arial">Tompkins Connect's mission is to connect, educate, engage, and inspire a diverse group of young professionals and emerging leaders in a culture of social consciousness and leadership development that will benefit the not-for-profit community. -
The Volunteer Center Launched
<font size="14" face="arial">Volunteer...LIVE UNITED - a project for the community by the community. -
Cornell University Student United Way Award
<font size="14" face="arial">The Cornell Student United Way won the first ever United Way Worldwide (UWW) Student United Way Campus Organization of the Year award. The award was presented to Alicia Hetrick (Cornell ’12) by UWW CEO Brian Gallagher during the UWW Staff Leaders Conference. -
United Way of Tompkins County Community Investment
<font size="14" face="arial">UWTC completed the transition of the Community Care Fund awards to direct community investment through seven Issue Areas:
- Basic Needs
- Child Care/Early Learning
- Crisis Services
- Financial Stability/Building Self-Sufficiency
- Health/Environment
- Seniors
- Youth Additional Initiatives:
- Student Engagement
- Urgent Rx Prescription Drug Program
- T. Merrell Shipherd Flexible Fund
- Fall/Spring Hunger & Food Security Programs -
United Way Youth Venture Launches
Youth Venture encourages youth to identify a need in their community, apply their interests and skills to develop a solution, and then carry out that solution through their Venture. United Way of Tompkins County has partnered with Ashoka’s Youth Venture, Lehman Alternative Community School and Dryden Central Schools to implement the United Way Youth Venture program. -
Education, Income and Health messaging are integrated into Campaign Marketing
The Community Care Fund Issue Areas are presented in marketing materials by Education, Income and Health. Outcomes are defined by each focus area. -
UWTC Staff Reorganization
Staff and Operational Realignment to provide enhanced resource development and community impact. -
UWTC Hosts Local Funder through the Community Impact Manager
UWTC partners with the Tompkins County Tourism Program to manage three grant programs through the Community Impact Manager to increase the Tourism's capacity for program evaluation and streamline their grant-making processes. -
Donor Stewardship includes EIH outcomes messaging
Example:
Together, our work helps:
• Our children be ready to succeed in school through quality childcare and early learning. Almost 700 children learn, play, and grow in the nine childcare programs in which United Way invests.
• Our families, friends and colleagues live healthy lives. Approximately 4,500 families, seniors, and single adults in Newfield access nutritious, quality food through the Newfield Kitchen Cupboard. -
UWTC partners with Legacy Foundation
UWTC welcomes Legacy Foundation as a partner for grant management through the Community Impact Manager.
