United Way of Sandusky County Community
Impact Agenda OVERVIEW

Our Commitment to Sandusky County

The United Way of Sandusky County is committed to advance education, safety, and health in our community. The goal is to create a healthy community where every child succeeds in school and every individual and family achieves financial stability. To accomplish these goals, the United Way will mobilize our community to give, advocate, and volunteer.

Our Approach

The United Way’s Board and staff members have been preparing and transitioning the organization to embrace a comprehensive approach to solving community problems called “collective impact.” This ongoing approach engages the entire community (individuals, groups, and organizations) in the work of solving community problems.

Our Process

To determine our community priorities, strategies for change, and investment areas for funding, our Board considered the following:

• Information gained during collaboration with community groups and coalitions
• Community-wide data provided by the Community Health Assessment, Census, and United Way First Call for Help data
• Knowledge from social service providers
• Expert advice and best practice models in each focus area
• Current available funding and resources
• Gaps and overlaps in current programs

Questions and Answers – Regarding the Community Impact Agenda

Why did the United Way make this change?

It is no longer enough for our United Way to raise and distribute funds. Our focus is to make a positive impact on Sandusky County.

• People in our community need quality jobs
• Many of our neighbors are living a sedentary and unhealthy lifestyle
• People in our community are struggling to overcome addiction to drugs and alcohol

Why is this approach different?

The United Way of Sandusky County is embracing a comprehensive approach to solving our community’s problems called “collective impact.”

• This approach engages the whole community – individuals, groups, and organizations – in the work of solving community problems
• The United Way is mobilizing our community to give, advocate, and volunteer in finely focused areas where we can bring about real change
• Each strategy will have an expected outcome

How did you choose these strategies over others?

To determine the United Way’s community priorities, strategies for change, and investment areas, the Board considered the following factors:

• Information gained during collaboration with community groups and coalitions
• Community-wide data provided by the Community Health Assessment, Census, and United Way First Call for Help data
• Knowledge from social service providers
• Expert advice and best practice models in each focus area
• Current available funding and resources
• Gaps and overlaps in current programs

Is the United Way equipped to bring about such dramatic changes?

The United Way, with its tremendous community support, is perfectly positioned to catalyze social change. It has the ability to:

• Engage the community and set a vision for change
• Invest its dollars in focused strategies
• Mobilize our community volunteer and advocacy efforts for a cause
• Align and convene community partners, funders, and organizations to execute community-wide plans
• Purposefully measure and evaluate the outcomes of our efforts