To respond to the changing environment, United Way of Yellowstone County (UWYC) has transformed from primarily a fund raising and allocating organization to an organization that is committed to achieving significant community impact, through an integrated model of community development and resource development strategies.  This working paper outlines the new structure, activities and policies necessary to successfully implement our transformation and achieve measurable impact.

United Way of Yellowstone County has taken great pride, for more than sixty years, to inspire collective action to create lasting positive change for the Yellowstone County area.  Our commitment today continues as we harness the power of collective generosity to invest in strategies and partnerships which create an environment where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.

To initiate this process UWYC board approved the formation of two Impact Councils to guide this work and three areas of focus. 

IMPACT COUNCILS:
Helping Children and Youth Achieve Their Potential
Promoting Financial Stability & Independence for Families and Seniors

In, March 2010, our Board of Directors affirmed the targeted issue of School Readiness.  Over the next year, through a series of open community conversations and key stakeholder meetings UWYC and the community will determine how best to focus our efforts to achieve measurable community impact.

Additionally, the Impact Council members will continue over the next two years, to explore and identify potential targeted issues.    They will collect and review data.  They will bring together a broad constituency of service providers, business leaders, funders, and other interested individuals.  The data and conversations will help UWYC more clearly define the desired targeted outcomes and strategies that will focus our work. 

Drawing on our history, we will continue to invest in a network of direct service agencies that provide programs/services in the areas of Education, Income and Health; we will invest in community collaborations and partnerships that work within Education, Income and Health; and we will continue to invest in United Way of Yellowstone County's - led strategies that address unmet need.

Looking to our first strategy of investing in a network of direct service agencies, United Way of Yellowstone County is proud to welcome all non-profit organizations providing direct services that help to further the stated Impact Area Goals to apply for funding from our Community Care Fund through a Request for Proposal allocations process. 

United Way of Yellowstone County distributes funds to support the direct service programs of agencies across Yellowstone County who are delivering outcomes in support of our Impact Area Goals. The work of United Way of Yellowstone County is to achieve measurable impact for children, families and seniors. 

Helping Children and Youth Achieve Their Potential

Children are able to grow physically, emotionally, socially, intellectually to their potential by having:

• On-going relationships with caring adults;
• Safe places and activities, especially during non-school hours, where young people can learn and grow;
• Effective Education
• Opportunities to give back to the community through service.
• Are healthy and avoid risky behaviors

Promoting Financial Stability & Independence for Families and Seniors

Individuals and families, including the aging, disabled and other vulnerable populations, are able to maintain their physical, emotional, economic and social well-being through strategies focused on:

• Provide emergency access to basic needs.
• Connecting people to resources for longer term solutions.
• Eliminating barriers to achieving and sustaining economic self sufficiency and independence.
• Providing access to care and support to promote and maintain physical and mental well-being.
• Opportunities for involvement and social interaction to help reduce social isolation, maintain maximum functioning and community integration.