BRATTLEBORO — The United Way of Windham County has been awarded funding by the A.D. Henderson Foundation and the Thomas Thompson Trust for the implementation of a new strategic investment initiative, Community Impact 2020.
With Community Impact 2020, United Way of Windham County will be changing their approach to investing local dollars back in to the community.
“Until now, we've essentially taken the 'fundraise and allocate' approach to working in the community,” said Carmen Derby, United Way of Windham County's executive director. “With Community Impact, United Way will take a more proactive role in organizing the community's response to very pressing issues in the areas of health, income, and education. The goal of this new approach is to ensure that our nonprofit community is working together to solve our complex community challenges.”
Currently, all of United Way's 20 local programs have been level funded through the summer. At that time, United Way will issue Requests for Proposals to meet specific outcomes in the three impact areas of education, health, and income. These outcomes have been developed by dozens of local volunteers, who have studied current conditions and identified root causes related to the community's most pressing problems.
“We are pleased to be able to support this effort,” said Susan Monahan, grants coordinator for the Thomas Thompson Trust. “The trustees see this investment as a way to help the United Way and its team of informed volunteers to implement a strategic approach to addressing some of the area's complex challenges. Our hope is that this grant award will allow the United Way to leverage even broader community support for this important work.”
With this funding secured, United Way of Windham County is moving forward with the transition, including hiring a part-time Director of Community Investments to work with area agencies, upgrading technology and office infrastructure, and purchasing software that will help community agencies track their progress in meeting outcomes.
Through its community grant awards and programs, United Way of Windham County currently serves over 19,000 people in Windham County. Anyone interested in becoming involved, making a donation or volunteering time, talent or resources is encouraged to contact United Way at 802-257-4011, ext. 110, or visit www.unitedwaywindham.org.