United Way making changes to better serve community

United Way of Putnam County is making changes to its organizational practices and overall framework during the coming months in order to broaden the organization’s reach and respond more effectively to community needs.

The changes, which began this summer following a full assessment by the board of directors, will define which county wide priorities United Way seeks to impact through its community partners and promotes a greater need for financial support to meet the needs.

“Communities are not static, there is constant change,” board President Cathy Tipton said. “Our community’s needs are changing, our nonprofit sector is changing and charitable giving in our community is changing. United Way must be responsive to these changes and, going forward, we need to be strategic enough to do the most good where we are most needed.”

Over the past several years, the United Way of Putnam County has experienced a decline in funding, in an attempt to change this trend the board of directors has developed a plan to become more strategic with the resources in order to drive results and develop new relationships with funding partners.

Recently the United Way notified the following organizations that they have been selected as community partners during the coming year.

• The Putnam County Senior Center

• Imagination Library

• The Castle

• Lakeland Center

• Johnson Nichols Health Clinic

• Putnam County Youth Development Commission

• Beyond Homeless

• Family Support Services of West Central Indiana

• Mental Health America

• Putnam County Comprehensive Services

• Summer Enrichment Program

In recent years, United Way has prioritized funding in three areas: education, income/financial stability and health. Going forward, United Way will strategically invest in five priority areas: Basic Needs, Youth Education Success, Financial Stability, Health and Neighborhoods.

While the United Way has supported such programs for years, they have been bundled in other priority areas where they often did not fit well.

The board will be working with partner agencies to improve outcome reporting, engaging them in the community campaign and increasing the role of each agency within the United Way framework.

The search for a new community director for the organization is now under way. The position will be responsible for the leadership of the organization, including coordinating and driving fundraising activities, managing the employee contribution campaign and developing community events to support the United Way. For more information or to apply, persons are encouraged to email resume@unitedwayofputnamcounty.org.

“We are excited for the changes coming to our United Way,” Tipton added. “The current board is focused on not only sustaining the United Way in Putnam County, but growing its level of impact to new heights.”