Somebody has to have the big picture in mind. Somebody needs to be looking at things from the 30,000-foot level, says Carl Zapora, president of United Way of Snohomish County.
While companies and organizations across the country have dabbled in fads, tossing out the traditional way of doing things for a more “community” or “customer-oriented” approach, our local United Way has successfully made a case for turning the community approach into something traditional.
“What matters is change in human conditions that we’re able to bring to the community,” Zapora said.
Call it a paradigm shift. Instead of filtering its generous donations through local agencies, the umbrella agency has decided to change the filter. It now looks at things through a community-impact lens and that has changed how it manages the money people give – not only to make it go further but to show people exactly what is being accomplished.
That’s what donors want, the United Way says. No surprise, really. It’s exactly what taxpayers want – accountability. And there’s nothing like accountability paired with tangible results to instill confidence in a community.
If your company has a United Way campaign each year, you’re familiar with the envelope that makes its way to your desk or mail slot. You flip through the brochures and fill out a form telling how much you’d like to have deducted from each paycheck. This year, as you prepare to make your contribution decision, keep in mind the three areas of impact United Way is working on; children, families and the larger community.
If you haven’t heard the specifics, here’s a summary. United Way is on a mission to make sure kids from birth to age 18 have a decent shot at being healthy and developing to their full potential. The agency focuses on the Success by Six program that finds ways to make sure those goals become reality and measure the success.
At the family level, the agency is helping dozens of families become self-sufficient in programs that partner them with businesses and help them set and reach goals, such as buying a home or getting an education.
And in the near future everyone will benefit from the unveiling of the 211 system, which links callers with various service organizations so they can get the help and information they need.
As you get ready to determine what you’ll give this year, it’s good to know an organization as responsible and effective as our local United Way knows how to turn the big picture into reality.
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