Community Giving
What We Do
The needs of the Portland-Vancouver metro region are complex but there are solutions, and we all have a stake in making them happen:
- Over 550,000 people in our region live in poverty*
- Over 350,000 people have no health insurance
- A third of ninth graders will not graduate from high school on time
United Way of the Columbia-Willamette is founded on the simple premise: by acting together we can create positive change in the community that we could never achieve alone. We make this happen by using an investment strategy called Community Impact.
Community Impact is not the traditional style of charitable giving. While helping people with their needs today, it is also creating deep and lasting changes by addressing the three underlying elements that are the building blocks for successful lives and a successful community: education, income and health. A coordinated investment strategy that focuses in each of these areas is the most effective way to reduce poverty in our community.
Here’s why these areas are so important:
- A child who has adequate access to quality childcare, nutrition and health care will succeed in school and in life.
- Full time living wage employment with benefits is the key to long-term financial stability, prevention of homelessness and independence from social services.
- Access to quality health and mental health care prevents poverty, supports families and avoids costly use of emergency room services.
How We Do It
“United Way is an exceptional organization due to its ability to listen to multiple voices in our diverse community. They have the ability to see the intersections in disparities. United Way understands that often what seems to be a simple social disparity can in fact be part of a set of complex, interconnected systems. They are making those connections and making a commitment with their significant contributions. Their investments leverage real change in the places that need it most.”
Charles McGee
President/CEO, The Black Parent Initiative
United Way raises and distributes millions of dollars each year. About half of the money goes to agencies chosen by donors and about half goes to the Community Impact Fund.
How you invest is as important as what you invest in. That is the foundation of the Community Impact model. The model creates the highest return on your investment because it is based on: data driven investment decisions, funding support of best practices to address complex community challenges, performance measurement, and accountability.
United Way works with Vision Council volunteers to identify the most effective strategies and collaborations of business, non profits and community leaders. The process starts with a thorough assessment of the community's needs, an analysis of best practices research, then rigorous competitive grant process that seeks out and funds the most effective programs and collaborations of non-profits, business and community leaders.
The Value of United Way's Funding Model
Through the Community Impact model, United Way has created a high-yield investment vehicle to make positive change in our community. United Way volunteers and staff function as investment brokers who are experts in assessment of community needs, funding trends analysis, program development and evaluation.
All of this expertise comes together to ensure that strategic decisions are made on behalf of United Way donors that will provide maximum benefit to the community, guarantee a return on investment and support long-term systems change. This occurs through a strong commitment to collaboration, accountability and results which are the foundation of the Community Impact model.
* Poverty refers to 200% of the federally defined level. Source: American Fact Finder