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A New Model for Long-Term Solutions
Ed Timberlake, chairman of the Central Florida Board of Seaside National Bank & Trust and former chairman of Heart of Florida United Way, recently introduced Community Impact, a new business model for United Way, intended to address our region's most pressing health and human service challenges. Timberlake chairs the Steering Committee, which is made up of prominent business and community leaders in Central Florida. The following Q&A explains more about this new initiative.
What is Community Impact?
It is an expanded way for United Way to address the growing health and human service needs in Central Florida. For 69 years United Way has been supporting programs that have helped improve hundreds of thousands of lives. We’ll build on that foundation to create new and lasting solutions – ones that go “upstream” to the root of community problems.
What do you mean by going “upstream”?
Research shows the best way to help the most people is to focus on root causes. For example, if we can keep someone from losing their apartment in the first place – through job training, affordable housing initiatives or other means – we save money and the toll on a human life. It’s more about prevention and long-term solutions.
Is Community Impact unique to Central Florida?
No, it’s a national initiative begun over five years ago by United Way of America, and it’s already having measurable impact on the communities that have made the transformation.
How will Community Impact differ from United Way’s current model?
In addition to the traditional fundraising and support of direct services we’re known for, we’re expanding our role – adding a second approach focused on mobilizing diverse people and resources through partnerships that go beyond pledged dollars and program support.
Whether that requires public policy work, recruiting volunteers or convening and collaborating with key partners, we’ll start by engaging the community to identify Central Florida’s top priorities at this crucial time.
How will you involve community, agencies and other stakeholders?
Through ongoing communication, ranging from random telephone and online surveys to focus groups and town hall-type meetings. The process will be very interactive and transparent. We’ve been meeting with partner agencies, elected officials, community leaders and stakeholders. This is a community-focused process.
Will agencies or their programs be affected?
We fully expect that many of the programs we currently fund will fit into the priority issues that will be identified by the community. However, until the community engagement plan is completed, we have no way of knowing what those will be.
Are local agencies aware of this move to Community Impact?
Yes. Heart of Florida United Way held a meeting with agency executive directors and their board chairs in June 2007, where the vision for this transition was laid out. The agencies learned that it would be June 2009 before any funding changes take place – no decisions have been made beyond that. Agencies will be part of the process and will be invited to participate in many ways as we move ahead.
Are there any other benefits to moving to Community Impact?
Yes. It will position us to draw down more dollars from outside the community. When we focus our efforts and target our resources, it allows us to strategically and effectively go after monies from national foundations, government sources and others.
Who is involved in developing this plan for change?
A small group of very strong strategic thinkers in Central Florida makes up the Steering Committee. Most of them know community needs and the United Way well, having served as board members or in other community leadership positions. As the movement goes along, more and more people are being invited to participate.
In addition to Ed Timberlake, Steering Committee members include:
- Mark Brewer, president/CEO, Community Foundation of Central Florida
- Robert H. (Bob) Brown, president/CEO Heart of Florida United Way
- Stoddard Crane, vice president, business growth, Darden Restaurants (retired)
- Stephanie Howell, client development and marketing manager, Baker & Hostetler
- Margaret Linnane, executive director, Rollins Philanthropy & Non-Profit Leadership Center
- Jacob Stuart, president, Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce
- Donna Templin, manager of operations projects, The Walt Disney Company
Why United Way and Why Now?
We have the volunteers, expertise, plan and commitment. By working through United Way, the intention is to magnify each individual and company investment to create a greater total impact. It will take all of us working together to help improve lives and community conditions. This can be achieved if collective resources and efforts are strategically focused.
For more information on Community Impact or to voice your opinion through an online survey, visit www.hfuw.org. |