Much like the United Way at large, the Capital Area chapter used to measure its success simply by how much money it was moving to area agencies, says President/CEO Karen Profita. “Now it’s all about asking ourselves: What kind of lasting change are we bringing to the community?” Profita says. That philosophical change is reflected in the CAUW’s announcement today of the distribution of $7.5 million to 45 service agencies providing education, health, basic needs and income programs in the 10-parish Capital Region.
Roughly 160 volunteers spent 3,000 hours over the past nine months evaluating the effectiveness of all the agencies and programs receiving Capital Area United Way funds, Profita says. Volunteers visited each agency to see exactly how services are provided, reviewed financials and required each agency give a formal presentation on its operations. The result is that agencies such as the Arthritis Association of Louisiana and River Parishes Mental Health Clinic were not given any CAUW funds this year. Profita says there were other circumstances beyond performance that led to those agencies receiving no funding. Others, including Family Service of Greater Baton Rouge and HOPE Ministries, are seeing exponential increases in allocations because they’ve been found to be most prudent and effective with funds, says the senior vice president of community investment, Michele Robinson. “This is really the second year of a four-year change, so you’ll definitely continue to see even more shifts in our funding next year,” Robinson says.
Total pledges for the year are $10 million. However, the Capital Area United Way estimates $832,262 will go uncollected and budgets a little more than $1.6 million for operational costs, which puts direct reinvestment of pledges at 82%. See a list of all Capital Area United Way allocations for 2010 and 2011 here.—Steve Sanoski
This story has been changed since it was first published
