Advancing the Common Good: Creating Opportunities for a Better Life for All

Everyone deserves opportunities to have a good life: a quality education that leads to a stable job, enough income to support a family through retirement, and good health.

That's why United Way's work is focused on the building blocks for a good life:

• Education - Helping Children and Youth Achieve Their Potential
• Income - Promoting Financial Stability and Independence
• Health - Improving People's Health

Advancing the common good is less about helping one person at a time and more about changing systems to help all of us. We are all connected and interdependent. We all win when a child succeeds in school, when families are financially stable, when people are healthy.

United Way's goal is to create long-lasting changes by addressing the underlying causes of these problems. Living united means being a part of the change. It takes everyone in the community working together to create a brighter future. Give. Advocate. Volunteer. LIVE UNITED.

How We Make an Impact

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• Needs Assessment - We conduct periodic evaluations of our area's health and human service needs and resources. This process includes surveying the public as well as compiling statistical data. The results are available to help others improve the effectiveness of their philanthropy.
• Vision Councils - Community and business leaders, government officials, issue experts and nonprofit directors work year-round with United Way to research and identify our community's most pressing issues.
• Programs & Agencies - We assess long-term and emerging needs, as well as gaps in existing services, by evaluating programs at local nonprofit organizations seeking funding from United Way.

We implement solutions through...

• Education - United Way knows that one person or one organization can't improve the community alone. We educate the entire community about the local issues and seek out partners that can make a positive impact.
• Smart Investments - Each year, United Way raises hundreds of thousands of dollars to invest in local nonprofit programs and initiatives. Local volunteers spend hours and hours taking on-site tours, reviewing budgets, hearing presentations and ultimately recommending where United Way dollars will make the greatest impact.
• We Take the Initiative - When United Way identifies an emerging or existing need that is unmet in the community, we tackle the solution ourselves. We have made it possible for individuals to receive food and help with living expenses, improved parenting skills and our children's ability to succeed in school, helped families stabilize their financial health, and given every local nonprofit the opportunity for technical assistance.

We measure our success...

• Outcome Measurement - We require that all organizations that receive financial assistance from United Way demonstrate how they have helped to change lives. Simple statistics aren't sufficient. We want to know that the difference we're making with your generous support is truly accomplishing long-term, sustainable impact.
• Common Sense - We use common sense and our expertise to gauge the community's wellness. Census data may tell us that the unemployment rate has improved, but we know that our community faces challenges in finding jobs that can provide a sufficient salary to pay their bills or buy a home.

We do it effectively and efficiently...

Investing resources efficiently is a top priority at United Way of Henry County and Martinsville. We are honored that our community trusts us to make smart decisions with their donations. We are committed to making the most impact with their generosity.

• United Way will keep its administrative costs as low as possible. It costs money to manage donor dollars, recruit volunteers, develop initiatives, promote collaboration and turn the lights on, but keeping our administrative and overhead as low as possible is a top priority. United Way uses only 10% for operating costs - which is much lower than the national average of 30%.
• United Way will leverage dollars when appropriate. United Way knows that the old adage of getting the biggest bang for a buck works well when applied to investing resources into our community. If we can make a small investment to help an organization or special project acquire substantial state funding, it's worth it. Or if we can provide a small grant to help an organization recruit the expertise it needs to provide its services more effectively, it's money well spent.
• United Way will use all of its resources wisely. United Way understands that it isn't just money that will help make our community strong. We utilize volunteers, in-kind giving such as computers, furniture and books, and donated expertise such as trainers, accountants, lawyers and technology experts - in addition to money - to make a positive impact in our community.