WATERLOO, IA – Cedar Valley United Way announces $2,009,517 in investments in the Cedar Valley for the 2018-19 funding year. The funding was made possible by gifts to Cedar Valley United Way’s 2017 campaign.
Of the investments, $1,633,637 was awarded in strategic investment grants to 60 community programs at 38 local nonprofits that address needs in the areas of education, income stability, health, and emergency and basic needs. These areas are the building blocks for a good life—a quality education that leads to a stable job, enough income to support a family through retirement, and good health. Our goal is to create long-lasting change to prevent problems from happening in the first place.
Strategic investment grants were chosen by community impact team volunteers in each area who reviewed the applications as well as data addressing community needs to determine how United Way could make the largest impact with its community investment.
In addition to aligning with United Way’s target areas, the primary goal in determining which organizations will be invested in is to identify those that are most effective at delivering results that make a measurable difference. Programs needed to show strong, assessable outcomes and an impact that has proven results in the community. After deciding which programs will be funded by United Way, community impact team volunteers evaluated how much financial support to give programs. The volunteers then focus on the targeted community needs of each funded program, the number of individuals the program will serve and how funds will advance the common good.
A complete listing of the 60 programs receiving strategic investment grants is available at www.cedarvalleyunitedway.org/partners.
Additional investments include:
- $50,000 in social innovation grants directed at breaking the cycle of systemic poverty. Social innovation grant applications will be reviewed per need, and recipients will be announced as the grants are awarded. Organizations interested in social innovation grant funding may contact Debbie Roth at debbie.roth@cvuw.org for more information.
- $37,053 in designations to Cedar Valley United Way initiatives including the Books for Babies project, Cedar Valley’s Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, local book drives and Women United.
- $20,600 for 2-1-1 Information and Referral Services, a resource available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week that connects people to human service and health resources in the community.
- $25,000 with SuccessLink for a Data Management Project to advance the development of a community-wide data system.
- $10,000 to United Way’s Community Partner Fund to assist in responding to community needs as they arise. Previous investments in this area have included nonprofit board education and training, disaster response, and inclusion initiatives.
- $88,000 for community services work, a partnership with area labor unions to leverage support for community programs
- $80,000 was invested in The Legacy Society Fund, which ensures United Way the ability to sustains programs, react to future crisis, provide a cushion for tough economic times, provide tax benefits and savings and honors a loved one or family member.
- $145,227 will be distributed in donor directed designations to other 501(c)3 organizations as part of United Way’s work to encourage charitable giving.
To learn more about Cedar Valley United Way and our work in the community, visit www.cedarvalleyunitedway.org.
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