Your Role in Community Impact

Get involved in the process. Volunteer for the United Way’s funding distribution and help evaluate community issues and determine where United Way grants will be distributed.

Special to the Statesman Journal - February 4, 2009
By: Mikki Trowbridge, Director of the Volunteer & Mentor Center

Ever wonder how United Way determines which community agencies they fund?  Ever thought about how you would distribute money in the community if you had the opportunity?  Well here is your chance to experience the process first hand and have your voice heard in determining which agencies will be funded over the next two years.
 
Between now and May, the United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley will be gearing up for its 2009 – 2011 funding cycle.  Every two years, non-profit agencies across Marion, Polk, and Yamhill Counties apply for funding from the United Way through an intensive grant application process.  A volunteer Audit Resource Team reviews the agencies’ audits and financial information to produce a financial report on each agency to be reviewed by Volunteer Funding Panels.  The Funding Panels then review the financial reports and the agencies’ applications, discuss program effectiveness, and develop recommendations of funding allocations to be presented to the United Way’s Community Impact Council.  The United Way is currently looking for volunteers to sit on both the Audit Resource Team and the Funding Panels.

Audit Resource Team volunteers must be a CPA, CMA, CFO, CEO, accountant, or bookkeeper with experience in budget preparation, audits, financials, and accounting for not-for-profit organizations.  Time commitment includes an initial team meeting in March with about 8 to 10 hours of review meetings in April. 

Funding Panel volunteers simply need to be interested and involved in community solutions, be open minded, willing to participate in the citizen review process, and have an understanding (or at least a willingness to learn about) and appreciation of the policies and philosophy of the United Way.  Time commitment includes a two hour training in March and then 8 to 10 hours of panel meetings in April. 

Volunteer participation is critical to the fund distribution process.  It is important to the United Way and the success of its mission that community members play a key role in distributing the money that is raised through work place campaigns, corporate donations, and individual giving.  The United Way relies on individuals to financially invest in our community, and then to invest their time and talents to make sure that the community is impacted for lasting change.  You’re invited to come play a key role in this process and improving the lives of individuals and families across the Mid-Willamette Valley. 

Become a Funding Panel or Audit Team Volunteer

Mikki Trowbridge is the Director of the Volunteer & Mentor Center of the Mid-Willamette Valley.  She can be contacted at 503-363-1651, or by email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).  The Volunteer & Mentor Center is a program of the United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley. Visit them online at www.givebacktoday.org.