EVOLVE Business and Professional Magazine November 2019 | Page 24

UNITED WAY MAKES A WAY
with a focus on impact
I
by Eleanore Osborne
n May of this year, United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties executing this model in an effort to better serve the local community
named Courtney Edgcomb, 27, as its new president–the and invest in long-term, measurable change.
youngest person in the organization’s 78 year old history
Courtney Edgcomb
In 2017, United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties introduced
to hold the top job. Edgcomb started their Community Impact Model, a new way of selecting grant
working for United Way in 2013 recipients based on long-term goals and measurable outcomes and
as assistant director of resource achievements. The model utilizes a Community Impact Cabinet,
development, right after graduating a group of subject-area experts tasked with strategically mapping
from Stetson University. Promotions the organizations’ priority areas, reviewing requests for funding,
came quickly, and in less than two recommending funding, and monitoring programs and results from
years she was named vice-president– those programs.
serving on the leadership team that Although the model relies on data to determine community
implemented a new framework for impact, not everyone was pleased with the change. Some long-
working with and evaluating the effectiveness of partner nonprofits time grant recipients no longer qualified for funding. There was
in the community. Now as president, Edgcomb is tasked with pushback; but if a current project was no longer a good fit for the
Generation IMPACT Board Members
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