Uniting Communities
The West Virginia United Way Collaborative
In West Virginia , philanthropy is a uniting force . It involves partners and people from all walks of life donating to support programs and organizations that benefit fellow West Virginians and strengthen communities .
West Virginia ’ s 13 local United Way organizations are key partners and leaders in this work . These groups work in partnership with local community foundations and leverage the generosity of individuals and businesses to support life-saving services to tens of thousands of people .
As federated fundraising bodies that mobilize fundraising campaigns to raise money for a diverse range of nonprofits , United Ways are a significant part of the philanthropic sector , working in partnership with grantmaking foundations while focusing on different aspects .
“ Foundations are looking at long-term objectives and the needs of nonprofits . United Ways are working on the current needs of the moment ,” says Brett White , chair of the West Virginia United Way Collaborative and CEO of the Tygart Valley United Way . “ Our work is together , and our communities need both to be stronger as United Ways and foundations create a sustaining force for our citizens .”
In 2018 , West Virginia ’ s network of United Ways moved to a new level of strength with the founding of the West Virginia United Way Collaborative .
“ Previously , United Ways met once a year to compare campaign notes , but there was never a statewide organization that worked , collaborated or brought United Ways together on issues ,” says White . “ We created the West Virginia United Way Collaborative , bringing together and signing on all United Ways at the time to be more effective and impactful .”
For the August 2020 to April 2021 United Way campaign season , the United Ways in West Virginia raised a combined total of $ 9 million from a variety of donors . These funds are granted to numerous nonprofits serving various needs and critical services in local communities .
While each organization is a local independent nonprofit led by local staff and board members , the purpose of the collaborative is to support this local work . The collaborative was launched with mutual interest in a project called the Save the West Virginia 211 Helpline , a database used to find health and human services in the Mountain State .
“ When 211 was going to close for business , we felt it was an opportunity to start doing things together as a state . If the state ’ s entire United Way alliance was onboard , 211 would succeed and be a space for continued life-changing work ,” says White .
The United Way COVID-19 pandemic response is a great example of this uniting force . As United Ways do not receive any state or federal government funding , they came together forming COVID Relief Funds to raise additional funds from private donors . This was to respond to the drastic increase in services needed from nonprofits , such as health supplies , personal protective equipment , food , rental / mortgage assistance , utility assistance and childcare . The United Way COVID relief response took place while each organization continued its regular fundraising campaigns .
“ The work never stops , and we continue to do that work . The United Way ’ s role is more critical now than ever ,” says White .
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