Community Investment Strategy

1. Understanding our community's needs

The first step was to gain a deeper understanding of the prevalent, critical and emerging issues local people face and the services and resources they need to succeed.

• United Way conducted a comprehensive Community Needs Assessment to identify and prioritize needs across our 16-county region and within our five key impact areas.

• Leveraging existing data, community engagement, and qualitative and quantitative data, the Community Needs Assessment included a public survey to learn about the residents of our region and their vision for the future.

• We commissioned four institutions to collaborate on the Community Needs Assessment to ensure quality, credibility and accountability. These institutions are: Brown School Evaluation Center at Washington University in St. Louis; University of Missouri–St. Louis’ Community Innovation and Action Center; USI with InvestSTL, an initiative of the St. Louis Community Foundation, Community Builders Network of Metro St. Louis, and WePower; and Allie Chang Ray, Mutare Network. Each partner had a specific role in conducting and completing the Assessment.

2. Selecting local nonprofits to support

With a greater understanding of the needs across our region, United Way can direct funding and support where it will help local people most.

• Aligned with the Community Needs Assessment results and funding priorities, United Way has opened an online application process for local organizations.

• Utilizing trained staff and community volunteers, all applications will be reviewed and scored through a weighted formula that includes depth and breadth of services, outcomes and impact, alignment with community needs, and a diversity, equity and inclusion lens.

• Selected nonprofits will begin receiving funding in 2021 through a three-year grant cycle, and annual funding will be dependent upon availability of unrestricted funds, nonprofit performance and community need.

3. Monitoring partner outcomes and impact

We are a steward of the community’s dollars, and we don’t take that lightly. United Way will continue to require monitoring and reporting of impact for non-profit partners to ensure quality and accountability.