Description of the Community Impact Model

Community Impact Council

The Community Impact Council has the following responsibilities:

• Oversees the Impact Areas and committees.
• Ensures the communication between the Impact Areas and the Financial and Audit Review Committee is consistent and helpful.
• Acts as a forum for discussion of issues across Impact Areas. 
• Ensures meaningful interaction between the Impact Areas and the Outcomes Advisory Committee.
• Reviews the visions and priority outcomes of the Impact Areas and submits recommendations to the Board of Directors.
• Ensures progress is being made on priority outcomes by providing investment guidelines, reviewing investment decisions and reviewing the strategic plans of the Impact Areas.
• Reviews the L.I.F.E Study (community assessment) and prioritizes needs.
• Updates the Board of Directors and prepares recommendations for board approval.

Impact Areas

The Impact Areas are responsible for:

• Determining priority outcomes,
• Evaluating outcomes of the funded programs,
• Developing strategic direction,
• Conducting specific needs assessments and identifying unmet needs,
• Encouraging partnerships, collaborations and initiatives,
• Advocating for public policy changes,
• Making investment decisions.

Outcomes Advisory Committee

The Outcomes Advisory Committee is responsible for:

• Overseeing and coordinating the alignment of program outcomes to respective Impact Areas,
• Reviewing the priority outcomes of the Impact Areas and ensuring that definitions are consistent and reportable to the community,
• Reviewing the mechanics of program outcomes,
• Providing the overall expertise needed for United Way to successfully proceed with outcome measurements,
• Providing a link between the committee and the Impact Areas by having at least one member of the committee serve on each Impact Area.

Financial and Audit Review Committee

The Financial and Audit Review Committee will:

• Review agency audits, management letters, 990 forms and mid-year reports annually,
• Determine if there are any significant changes in an agency's financial position and provide a concise summary to the appropriate Impact Area.
• Provide technical assistance and financial consultation to the Impact Areas as needed.

The Financial and Audit Review Committee does not review budgets or make investment recommendations as that can more appropriately be carried out at the Impact Area level based on regular contact with the funded programs.

Community Readiness

The Community Readiness Committee is a subcommittee of the Community Impact Council.  It is responsible for focused funding (grants), overseeing initiatives and providing capacity building opportunities for partner agencies.

New Role of Volunteers

The volunteer role within the community impact model is greatly expanded and enhanced.  The involvement is year round.  Emphasis is placed on knowing the issues, being aware of other community resources, understanding the gaps in services and developing strategies to address unmet needs.  Subject matter experts are sought for participation.  There is greater interaction between the volunteers and the funded programs in each impact area.

Agency Participation

The relationship between United Way and the funded programs is defined as a "partnership."  Agency representatives are invited to sit on the Community Impact Council and on the Outcomes Advisory Committee.  Agency representatives also participate in the Impact Areas, providing issue education and expertise.  However, they do not participate in investment decisions.