Community Impact

What is Different about Community Impact?
For many years, United Way of Windham County has been funding agency programs that provided direct services to community members who needed them. With Community Impact as a goal, that does not change. However, a new model for deciding which programs to fund and in which community initiatives to invest is in place. All investment decisions will be based on a set of target outcomes that have been identified through a comprehensive, data-informed community participation process. This process of identifying community needs, investing resources (time, expertise, money, and/or other), and evaluating our impact is ongoing and will continue to involve Windham County stakeholders.  The combination of improving lives and getting at root causes is critical to making Community Impact work.

To be successful and effective, a Community Impact Plan:

1. establishes and prioritizes community vision, goals and objectives by listening to the community;
2. tracks community trends that relate to identified community indicators;
3. builds on existing community strengths and assets;
4. addresses gaps and redundancies in services;
5. identifies multidimensional strategies needed to create community change;
6. supports partnerships and collaboration.

The Board of Directors
The role of the Board of Directors does not change. The Board sets the overall budget for the United Way of Windham County, including funding for operations, programs, and initiatives. It provides general guidance to the Community Investment Committee (see below) and approves appropriate target outcomes (WHAT goals to work towards) for UWWC investment. The board provides resources for the Community Impact Plan, including programs that work toward target outcomes, Community Impact strategies, and other community initiatives, as opportunities arise (HOW to get to the results).

The Community Investment Committee (CIC)
The Community Investment Committee oversees the community impact process and provides oversight and coordination of United Way of Windham County’s community impact efforts. It identifies and recommends outcomes for investment by UWWC.  The CIC is responsible for making recommendations to the Board for the investment of United Way resources to support a community program, activity or initiative that relates to our targeted outcomes. The CIC makes decisions based on recommendations from three Community Impact Teams, one for each identified impact area (Education, Health, and Income). The impact areas and targeted outcomes have been identified by an extensive and comprehensive, data-informed community participation process.*

The Community Impact Teams (CIT)
Each Community Impact Team is comprised of a diverse group of 8-10 volunteer community members and is responsible for developing a shared knowledge and understanding of its impact area (Education, Health, or Income). The group identifies and prioritizes community issues, and analyzes program strategies and innovative initiatives based on relevant research/data. The team monitors progress towards the results (program and community outcomes) in its assigned impact area and makes recommendations for the investment of United Way resources to the Community Investment Committee. Each team will apply a consistent set of policies and practices, being mindful of the human element of each request for support. As has been typical, UWWC will not direct agencies to provide any particular program or service. However, the CITs will decide if a program or service fits into identified community priorities.

To recap, the elements of the CITs are:

• Composed of community volunteers
• Understand history and development of impact area and contributing outcomes
• Develop knowledge and engage in on-going study of impact area and contributing outcomes
• Define the priorities for contributing outcomes
• Gain knowledge about best practices and research that is related to the team’s priorities
• Review applications from organizations seeking UW funding
• Participate in site visits to funded program (as necessary)
• Make funding recommendations to the UWWC Community Investment Committee

Impact Areas:

EDUCATION
Vision - Helping adults, children and youth to achieve their potential

HEALTH
Vision - Improving people’s health and well being
                       
INCOME
Vision - Promoting financial stability and independence
                       

*The Impact Areas of Education, Health, and Income align with the 2009 Windham County Community Assessment. The focus areas and target outcomes for each were developed and proposed by the Community Impact Teams who met from summer 2010 through winter 2011. The Community Investment Committee of UWWC recommended the final outcomes for the UWWC Board’s approval after careful consideration of community rating data and the work of each Impact Team.