Community Impact aligns the investment of available financial and volunteer resources with community needs in effective and measurable ways. In short, Community Impact creates sustained changes in community conditions to improve lives. The following outlines United Way’s Community Impact strategy:

• Conduct a Community Needs Assessment: United Way assessed the community’s areas of greatest need through a comprehensive needs assessment in 2001. The study surveyed area residents, community leaders and non-profit agencies to identify the community’s Core Priorities.
  United Way is currently conducting an updated Community Needs Assessment to ensure that our funding is still aligned with our community's most pressing needs.

• Set a Community Agenda: For each area of need, local advisory councils set a Community Agenda designed to positively impact individuals and families in need. The Agenda also defines goals and objectives to provide demonstrated measurable results.

• Award Funding: United Way issues a Request for Proposals based on the Community Agenda for Core Priority. Local health and human service programs receive United Way funding after a comprehensive review process with experienced volunteers serving on the Community Impact Team. Programs funded by United Way are selected on their ability to address the needs outlined in the Community Agenda.

• Report to Community: Within five years, United Way will report results back to the community on the effectiveness of each priority.