Granite United Way Announces $14 Million in Support
Granite United Way’s Board of Directors have announced that $14 million in support will be delivered to local communities throughout New Hampshire and Windsor County, Vermont this year. This impressive figure is a result of the recently completed grant funding process led by more than 140 volunteers across the state who committed more than 13,000 local volunteer hours to the process. Statewide, the grant funding process and donor designations awards $4.6 million to more than 500 non-profit programs that provide important services. Additionally, Granite United Way initiatives provided $1 million in community investments such as literacy initiatives, free tax preparation, 211NH and other critical services.
Granite United Way’s is thrilled to partner with agencies to provide services to thousands of individuals and families, with the ultimate goal of advancing the common good for all members of our communities. These partners address needs in the areas of education, income and health, helping individuals and families establish and maintain the building blocks to a good life.
"Granite United Way continues to work with local volunteers in identifying needs within each of our regions, including Merrimack County," said Gary Long, Chair of Granite United Way Board of Directors. "Our local volunteer decision-making teams are embracing the strategic goals we’ve set as a Board of Directors to further the impact we’ve seen happening with donor investments."
In addition to the volunteer-led grant funding process, Granite United Way has played a key role in several critical initiatives that combined bring in $8.7 million into the community. Examples of these initiatives are the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program that returned $6.3 million in federal tax refunds this year to struggling families throughout New Hampshire and Windsor County, Vermont. Granite United Way also worked closely with its 211NH initiative and Familywize to secure more than $2 million in prescription drug savings for New Hampshire residents.
Granite United Way’s fundraising and investment processes are local to each of their six regions. In each region, Community Review Team volunteers carefully reviewed funding proposals and visited agencies in order to assess each program and their long-term impact. These well-trained teams are comprised of community members and industry experts who donate countless hours to United Way and engage in thoughtful decision-making about the best investments for their community.
"Our volunteers engage in thoughtful discussions and work collaboratively to determine the best use of funds," said Gordon Ehret, Granite United Way Board Member and Upper Valley Community Impact Committee Chair.@ "The volunteer teams invested in programs that will affect outcomes in the areas of education, income, and health."
Programs such as the day care for low income families at Merrimack Valley Day Care in Concord and The Upper Valley Haven are among the many non-profit programs that will be awarded funding this year.
"United Way funding enables Merrimack Valley Day Care to provide quality child care services to low income working families in the Concord area. For many of these families the parents would not be able to retain employment without the sliding child care fee scale made possible by United Way." Said Mary Jane Wallner, Executive Director of Merrimack Valley Day Care.
"An application to United Way takes hours of preparation and requires us to be absolutely thorough in what we’re asking for, why, and how we will measure our success. A@I’m not sure people realize how carefully United Way shepherds the money it receives from the community. We are always grateful to receive United Way support because it means we’ve met some very high standards." Said Sara Kobylenski, Executive Director of the Upper Valley Haven.
Volunteers and agency partners are key to the success.
"We continue to work with local volunteers and agency partners to provide the most effective and impactful investments in each of our communities," said Patrick Tufts, President and CEO of Granite United Way. "This process ensures that every dollar donated to United Way is translating into positive change in the community. We’ll continue to work with these teams as we implement our Strategic Plan goals over the next few years. By targeting our investments we will be creating measurable change throughout New Hampshire."
To further demonstrate the impact of United Way programs on the communities served, funded programs must report quarterly on progress towards their goals. Program goals must align with the local goals and critical needs identified in community needs assessments conducted by United Way.
In addition to workplace campaigns, Granite United Way collaborates with several corporate partners to ensure that community needs are met. One example of this collaboration is with Citizens Bank Foundation which donated $75,000 to the previously mentioned Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program that benefits low to moderate income families. This year program volunteers helped file more than 4,400 tax returns for struggling families, generating more than $6.3 million in federal refunds back to the local economy. VITA sites were located across the state.
"By collaborating with corporate partners we are able to leverage those donor dollars. Together with our volunteer support we’ve seen the needle move on some critical issues." said Patrick Tufts, President and CEO of Granite United Way. "A great example is when VITA volunteers provided tax preparation guidance to struggling families about the Earned Income Tax Credit, combined with the Child Tax Credit. Between 2010 and 2012, the VITA program helped contribute to lifting 17,000 NH residents, including 9,000 children, out of poverty each year, on average, according to the Center on Budget & Policy Priorities."
The next application date for Granite United Way is September 2014.