United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey Announces Three-Year Impact Investments

PHILADELPHIA, May 28, 2014 United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey (UWGPSNJ) has announced the recipients of the organization's new three-year Impact Fund investment process – its first as a regional organization – for fiscal years 2015-2017. UWGPSNJ will invest more than $33 million in general operating support Impact Grants over three years into more than 200 nonprofit organizations from western Montgomery County to the Jersey Shore that deliver measurable results in the areas of Education, Income and Health, as well as those that strengthen the social safety net and advocate for sound public policies in these areas.

"At United Way, we intervene at critical transition points in people's lives – when a hand up can keep someone from slipping through the cracks – to target the right interventions to the right people at the right times," says Jill Michal, president and CEO, UWGPSNJ. "Through the Impact Fund, we develop innovative strategies to address our region's toughest challenges and tap the right combination of partners from the private, public and nonprofit sectors to drive measurable, lasting Impact that none of us can achieve alone."

Through the Impact Fund, UWGPSNJ works to ensure children start kindergarten ready to learn; students read at grade level by the end of third grade; youth graduate from high school ready for college and career; households have the income and assets necessary to be financially stable and economically independent; and that individuals and families have access to resources they need to lead healthy lives and have their basic needs met. 

Impact Grants for individual nonprofits demonstrating strong outcomes in United Way's focus areas are one part of UWGPSNJ's over $60 million annual investment in the region, which also includes investments in United Way-led programs and initiatives to address specific needs in the health and human services sector, targeted investments for collaborative projects each year, and donor contributions to nonprofits working to strengthen communities through United Way's donor designation program.

Within each county served by UWGPSNJ, Impact strategies are tailored to meet the needs of local residents. "As a regional organization, we're focused on solutions that not only address critical needs in our local communities, but that also lift our region overall," says Kevin Dow, senior vice president, Impact and Innovation, UWGPSNJ.  "When we improve Education, Income and Health at a community level, we all benefit."

All eligible nonprofit agencies that met UWGPSNJ's strategy guidelines were qualified to apply for Impact Grants. The review process was led by United Way staff and content area experts, and incorporated more than 350 volunteer reviewers from the community as well as academia, finance, and the public and private sectors based upon their experience and extensive knowledge in the field.  Before final decisions were announced, the Local Operating Boards of each county served by UWGPSNJ and the Regional Board of Directors provided their approval.

"We are pleased to partner with these outstanding organizations as we pursue actionable strategies to achieve real Impact in our region's communities," said Lon Greenberg, Chairman of the Board of UGI Corporation/AmeriGas, and Chair of the Regional Board of Directors for UWGPSNJ. "United Way remains focused on improving the lives of those in need in our communities, and we are confident that these investments will help us drive lasting, meaningful change that none of us can achieve alone." 

The Impact Fund combines the generous contributions of more than 140,000 individual donors from western Montgomery County to the Jersey Shore, many of whom give through United Way's workplace campaign, as well as corporate and foundation gifts. Organizations that receive Impact Grants will be required to report their outcomes and progress against agreed-upon goals at regularly scheduled intervals and comply with semi-annual audits conducted by UWGPSNJ. They also benefit from the unique combination of technical support, volunteer connections and opportunities for collective action that only UWGPSNJ can provide.

For a complete list of Impact partners or for more information on UWGPSNJ's funding process, visit www.UnitedForImpact.org/agencies. To learn more about the Impact UWGPSNJ and its partners are achieving in the areas of Education, Income and Health, visit www.UnitedForImpact.org/our-impact.

About United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey
United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, serving communities in Pennsylvania's Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties, and New Jersey's Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May and Cumberland counties, is part of a national network of more than 1,300 locally governed organizations that work to create lasting positive changes in communities and in people's lives. United Way engages the community to identify the underlying causes of the most significant local issues, develops strategies and pulls together financial and human resources to address them, and measures the results. United Way is advancing the common good in Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey by positively impacting the lives of people throughout the region in the areas of education, income, and health. For more information about United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey visit www.UnitedForImpact.org.

SOURCE United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey