Our Work: Community Impact

United Way of the Midlands (UWM) brings people and resources together to find new solutions to problems through the Community Impact model. The goal of Community Impact is to ensure community resources are targeted effectively to improve the quality of life in Richland, Lexington, Newberry and Fairfield counties in the areas of Education, Income, Health and Basic Needs. You may also click here for a one-page handout that includes all current United Way of the Midlands Community Impact activities. Key elements of the model include:
COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT — UWM addresses priority issues identified in the assessment Facing Facts. UWM is collaborating with the original Facing Facts partners, Sisters of Charity Foundation; Central Carolina Community Foundation, Central Midlands Council of Governments and the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce to update Facing Facts in 2008.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT — More than 150 volunteers organized into Community Councils and committees work with staff to identify effective program strategies, monitor changing community conditions and identify opportunities for community improvement.
COMMUNITY PARTNERS — Impact requires strong partners. UWM works with more than 80 Certified Partner Agencies that meet over 20 national standards for nonprofit performance. The health and capacity of our partners helps ensure effective programming. Through the Partners in Compassion Institute (PIC), United Way of the Midlands helps area nonprofits, both non-partners and certified partners, receive staff and volunteer training, technical assistance, and financial assistance to strengthen the organization's ability to lead, market, operate and raise money.
COMMUNITY RESULTS — UWM evaluates Community Impact-funded programs to gauge and improve their effectiveness.
Community Impact employs a variety of strategies including:
• Investing in local programs through a competitive grant process that targets specific outcomes.
• Engaging in policy, advocacy and education to effect change.
• Initiating programs to fill gaps in services or resources.