The United Way Of Central Maryland Inc

TO IMPROVE LIVES BY EMPOWERING LEADERS AND MOBILIZING THE CARING POWER OF OUR COMMUNITIES

OBJECTIVE OF PROGRAM: FOR OVER 95 YEARS, UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL MARYLAND (UNITED WAY) HAS BEEN A HUMAN SERVICE LEADER FOR THE REGION, ENCOURAGING ALL CENTRAL MARYLANDERS TO GIVE, ADVOCATE AND VOLUNTEER. UNITED WAY IS DEDICATED TO HELPING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES FACING POVERTY TO MEET THEIR BASIC NEEDS, STABILIZE AND ACHIEVE SELF-SUFFICIENT LIVES. WE DO THIS THROUGH DEVELOPING AND INCUBATING INNOVATIVE SERVICES AND PROGRAMS, GRANTMAKING, COLLABORATION, PROMOTING VOLUNTEERISM AND ADVOCACY AND MOBILIZING RESOURCES AS A TRUSTED FUNDRAISER. ADDITIONALLY, UNITED WAY ADDRESSES LOCAL NEEDS AND CREATES IMPACT THROUGH TARGETED DIRECT-SERVICE INITIATIVES.UNITED WAY USES EXPERTISE, DATA, AND LOCAL KNOWLEDGE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES FACING CENTRAL MARYLANDERS AND TO MAKE INFORMED INVESTMENT AND PROGRAMMATIC DECISIONS. AS PART OF THIS WORK, UNITED WAY CONVENES LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS AND ACTIVELY WORKS TO DEVELOP COLLECTIVE IMPACT STRATEGIES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. UNITED WAY HAS MOVED BEYOND FUNDRAISING AND GRANTMAKING AND INTO CREATING INNOVATIVE DIRECT-SERVICE INITIATIVES THAT SUPPORT FAMILY STABILITY IN HIGH NEED COMMUNITIES. UNITED WAY IMPLEMENTS EVIDENCE-BASED BEST PRACTICES AND INCUBATES PROMISING IDEAS IN THE AREAS OF EDUCATION, HOUSING, HEALTH, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.UNITED WAY GRANTMAKINGTHROUGH OUR GRANTMAKING, UNITED WAY WORKS TO SUSTAIN AND GROW THE CAPACITY OF COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNERS TO STRENGTHEN FAMILIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS, UNDERPINNING THE COMMUNITY SAFETY NET AND IMPROVING THE LIVES OF CENTRAL MARYLANDERS WHO WORK HARD BUT STILL CAN'T MAKE ENDS MEET. WE DIRECT FUNDING ANNUALLY TO OVER 100 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH GRANTS THAT TARGET SPECIFIC COMMUNITY NEEDS, MOST THROUGH A COMPETITIVE ALLOCATION PROCESS ADMINISTERED BY OUR VOLUNTEER REGION UNITED NETWORK ADVISORY BOARDS (RUN BOARDS). IN FY22, UNITED WAY PROVIDED SEVEN TYPES OF GRANTS: NEIGHBORHOOD GRANTS - ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH A COMPETITIVE GRANT OPPORTUNITY LAUNCHED IN FY21 AND CONTINUED IN FY22, THAT FOCUSES ON AMPLIFYING THE POWER OF RESIDENTS. UNITED WAY HAS COME TO BELIEVE THAT THE TRUE PATH TO REAL, LASTING AND SYSTEMIC CHANGE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS IS ONE THAT IS COMMUNITY-LED, INFORMED BY THEIR IN-DEPTH KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD'S EXISTING ASSETS AND NEEDS AND INSPIRED BY THEIR DESIRE FOR A HEALTHIER, HAPPIER COMMUNITY. NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WITH ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGETS OF $500,000 OR LESS ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD GRANT. FUNDING DECISIONS ARE INFORMED BY OUR UNITED WAY'S SIX LOCAL REGION UNITED NETWORK (RUN) BOARDS, SERVING EACH OF CENTRAL MARYLAND'S JURISDICTIONS: BALTIMORE CITY, AND ANNE ARUNDEL, BALTIMORE, CARROLL, HARFORD AND HOWARD COUNTIES. FUNDS ARE ALLOCATED AMONG THE SIX JURISDICTIONS BASED ON RELATIVE ALICE POPULATION. RUN BOARD MEMBERS EVALUATE APPLICATIONS AND RECOMMEND GRANTS OF BETWEEN $2,500 AND $10,000 EACH. IN FY22, UNITED WAY AWARDED 49 NEIGHBORHOOD GRANTS TOTALING $447,478. CHANGEMAKER CHALLENGE GRANTS - ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH AN OPEN, COMPETITIVE GRANT OPPORTUNITY THAT SPARKS SOCIAL INNOVATION TO ADDRESS CHALLENGES FACING OUR COMMUNITIES. CHANGEMAKER CHALLENGE IS HELD EVERY OTHER YEAR. IN FY22 WE RECEIVED 147 CHANGEMAKER CHALLENGE APPLICATIONS. FINALISTS, SELECTED WITHIN EACH CENTRAL MARYLAND JURISDICTION, WERE PROVIDED SUPPORT TO FURTHER DEVELOP THEIR IDEAS AND CREATE A TWO-MINUTE PITCH VIDEO. FIVE LIVE EVENTS WERE HELD (VIA ZOOM) WHERE VIDEOS WERE SHOWN, APPLICANTS RESPONDED TO QUESTIONS FROM A COMMUNITY PANEL, AND CHANGEMAKER AWARDS WERE ANNOUNCED. IN TOTAL, 36 CHANGEMAKER AWARDS WERE MADE TOTALING $520,000. NEIGHBORS UNITED GRANTS ARE DISBURSED BY THE UNITED WAY IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE NEIGHBORS UNITED PROGRAMMATIC TEAM TO PROVIDE CAPACITY BUILDING AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SUPPORT TO LOCAL NON-PROFITS TO RESPOND TO NEIGHBORHOOD/COMMUNITY NEEDS. IN FY20, THREE NON-PROFITS WERE SELECTED THROUGH A COMPETITIVE PROCESS TO ENGAGE IN NEIGHBORHOOD WORK IN MEADE/SEVERN, ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY; MORRELL PARK, BALTIMORE CITY; AND LANSDOWNE, BALTIMORE COUNTY. A GROUP OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS, INCLUDING BOARD AND LOCAL PARTNERS, USE A SCORING RUBRIC TO EVALUATE PROPOSALS AND SELECT PARTNERS WITH INSIGHTS FROM UNITED WAY STAFF. THESE GRANTS CAN BE RENEWED FOR UP TO FOUR YEARS, WITH CONTINUATION CONTINGENT ON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF PROGRAMMATIC BENCHMARKS EACH YEAR. ALL THREE NEIGHBORS UNITED IMPLEMENTATION PARTNERS' GRANTS WERE RENEWED FOR FY22. FAMILY STABILITY PROGRAM GRANTS ARE AWARDED TO ORGANIZATIONS WISHING TO SERVE AS FUNDED PARTNERS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A REGIONAL HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION PROGRAM MODEL WITH DEMONSTRATED SUCCESS. UNITED WAY'S FAMILY STABILITY PROGRAM (FSP) HAS WORKED FOR 10 YEARS TO PREVENT HOMELESSNESS FOR AT-RISK FAMILIES. IT IS BASED ON THE SIEMER INSTITUTE'S EVIDENCE-BASED MODEL USED NATIONWIDE TO PREVENT HOMELESSNESS FOR FAMILIES. AN OPEN, COMPETITIVE PROCESS WAS HELD IN FY21 TO IDENTIFY IMPLEMENTATION PARTNERS WHO WILL RECEIVE FUNDING FOR UP TO FOUR YEARS, THROUGH A YEARLY RENEWAL PROCESS. IN FY22 ALL TEN IMPLEMENTATION PARTNERS' GRANTS WERE RENEWED. DIRECTED GRANTS ARE AWARDED TO QUALIFIED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS BASED ON RECOMMENDATIONS FROM UNITED WAY RUN BOARDS AND/OR STAFF. UNITED WAY'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVES DIRECT GRANTS TO SUPPORT OUR IMPACT STRATEGY PROGRAMS AND ADDRESS COMMUNITY NEEDS IN THE AREAS OF EDUCATION, HEALTH, HOUSING, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. COVID-19 COMMUNITY FUND GRANTS THESE GRANT OPPORTUNITIES, WHICH BEGAN IN MARCH 2020 WERE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED AND EXTENDED TO COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO ADDRESS THE MOST CRITICAL COMMUNITY NEEDS STEMMING FROM THE COVID-19 GLOBAL PANDEMIC, INCLUDING AREAS SUCH AS: ACCESS TO FOOD, MENTAL HEALTH, DIGITAL ACCESS, AND HEALTH/SAFETY SERVICES. BALTIMORE CITY SUMMER FUNDING COLLABORATIVE UNITED WAY PARTICIPATES IN A MULTI-FUNDER COLLABORATIVE THAT SOLICITS GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR SUMMER PROGRAMS SERVING SCHOOL-AGED YOUTH IN BALTIMORE CITY. THROUGH THIS PROCESS, ORGANIZATIONS SEEKING FUNDING ARE ABLE TO SUBMIT ONE APPLICATION WHICH IS REVIEWED BY MULTIPLE LOCAL FUNDERS. IN FY22, UNITED WAY PROVIDED GRANTS TOTALING $75,000 TO FOUR ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH THIS FUNDING PROCESS.GRANT ELIGIBILITY CRITERIATHE FOLLOWING ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS APPLY TO ORGANIZATIONS/AGENCIES SEEKING FUNDING FROM UNITED WAY, WITH THE FEW EXCEPTIONS NOTED BELOW. ORGANIZATIONS MUST PROVIDE: COPY OF THEIR IRS DETERMINATION LETTER IDENTIFYING THE ORGANIZATION AS A NONPROFIT, 501(C)(3) OR OTHER MOST RECENT COPY (WITHIN THE LAST TWO FISCAL YEARS) OF ONE OF THE FOLLOWING FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS: O FINANCIAL AUDIT OF THEIR ORGANIZATION (PREFERRED FOR ALL ORGANIZATIONS AND REQUIRED FOR ORGANIZATIONS WITH ANNUAL REVENUES OF $750,000 OR MORE)O FINANCIAL REVIEW, CONDUCTED BY AN INDEPENDENT AUDITOR (ACCEPTABLE ONLY FOR ORGANIZATIONS WITH TOTAL GROSS CHARITABLE INCOME OF $749,999 OR LESS) GOOD STANDING CERTIFICATE OF STATUS - FROM MARYLAND'S STATE DEPARTMENT OF ASSESSMENTS & TAXATION (SDAT) CURRENT ROSTER OF THEIR BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELIGIBILITY EXCEPTIONS APPLICANTS WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO MEET UNITED WAY'S ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS MAY USE A FISCAL AGENT. IN THESE CASES, THE FISCAL AGENT IS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS. NEIGHBORHOOD GRANTS BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF THE GRANT AWARDS, AND DRIVEN BY UNITED WAY'S DESIRE TO SUPPORT SMALLER NON-PROFITS, THOSE ORGANIZATIONS WITH ANNUAL REVENUES BELOW $300,000 ARE NOT REQUIRED TO SUBMIT A FINANCIAL REVIEW, AND MAY INSTEAD SUBMIT AN INTERNALLY CREATED DOCUMENT SUCH AS A FORM 990, PROFIT/LOSS STATEMENT, ETC. CHANGEMAKER CHALLENGE IN ADDITION TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, UNITED WAY'S CHANGEMAKER CHALLENGE IS OPEN TO INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS OF INDIVIDUALS.

OBJECTIVE OF PROGRAM:211 MARYLAND IS AN ACCESSIBLE, FREE OF CHARGE, 24 HOURS A DAY INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SERVICE FOR THE STATE OF MARYLAND. PEOPLE SEEKING INFORMATION ABOUT SERVICES SUCH AS FOOD ASSISTANCE, SHELTER, MEDICAL CARE, SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT, PROTECTION FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND MANY MORE, CAN CALL THIS EASY-TO-USE HELPLINE. AVAILABLE IN 150+ LANGUAGES, 211 CONNECTS CALLERS TO TRAINED, CERTIFIED CALL SPECIALISTS AT ONE OF FOUR NATIONALLY ACCREDITED CALL CENTERS IN MARYLAND WHO ASSESS THEIR NEEDS AND LINK THEM TO THE RIGHT SOLUTIONS USING A COMPREHENSIVE DATABASE OF FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL SERVICES - BOTH GOVERNMENT AND NON-PROFIT. 211 IS PART OF THE NATIONAL 211 SYSTEM AVAILABLE IN ALL 50 STATES, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AND PUERTO RICO. 211 SYSTEMS ARE INSTRUMENTAL IN IDENTIFYING NEEDS OR GAPS IN SERVICES, PROVIDING A MORE ACCURATE PICTURE OF LOCAL NEEDS AND EMERGING TRENDS.RESULTS OF PROGRAM:DURING FY 2022, 211 MARYLAND UNITED WAY HELPLINE RECEIVED 140,203 CALLS AND ANSWERED 99,176 CALLS. HOUSING (38%), UTILITY ASSISTANCE (17%) AND HEALTH/MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES (11%) REMAIN AMONG THE TOP FOUR NEEDS THAT WERE REQUESTED. THE MORITORIUM ON EVICTIONS AND UTILITY TURN OFFS ENDED IN FY22, WHICH MAY CONTRIBUTE TO THE CONTINUED NEED. REQUESTS FOR FOOD INCREASED IN FY22 TO 11% OF CALLS AND WAS THE THIRD HIGHEST NEED AMONG CALLERS. THIS MAY DUE TO THE INCREASE IN THE COST OF FOOD OVER THE LAST YEAR. 211 WORKED WITH THE FUEL FUND OF MARYLAND TO PROVIDE EXPEDITED UTILITY ASSISTANCE TO SENIORS AS WELL AS OTHER BGE CUSTOMERS WHO ARE AT RISK OF HAVING THEIR UTILITIES TURNED OFF AND WHO HAD APPLIED FOR ENERGY ASSISTANCE THROUGH OHEP. ADDITIONALLY, 211 WORKED WITH BGE HOMES TO PROVIDE HEATING SYSTEMS AND REPAIRS FOR THOSE IN NEED DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. 211 ALSO PARTNERED WITH THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO PROVIDE FOOD DELIVERY TO CALLERS, INCREASING ACCESS TO FOOD. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CASH CAMPAIGN OF MARYLAND, 211 WORKED TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF EITC AND FREE TAX PREPARATION SITES. 211 HANDLED 8,564 CALLS FOR FREE TAX PREPARATION. OUR FOLLOW-UP SURVEYS DEMONSTRATED THAT 72% OF THE PEOPLE WHO CALLED 211 RECEIVED THE SERVICES THAT THEY WERE SEEKING. THIS IS DOWN FROM 86% IN FY21. THIS MAY BE DUE TO THE INACCESSABILITY OF RESOURCES DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. FOR EXAMPLE, SOME PANDEMIC SPECIFIC BENEFITS ENDED (E.G., P-EBT) AND MANY AGENCIES CLOSED DOWN OR STOPPED PROVIDING IN-PERSON SERVICES WHICH MAY ACCOUNT FOR THE DECLINE IN THOSE REPORTING THAT THEY RECEIVED SERVICES.

UNITED WAY NEIGHBORHOOD ZONE IN BROOKLYN (A.K.A. BEN CENTER): IN OCTOBER 2017, UWCM TOOK OVER THE OPERATIONS OF THE BEN CENTER AND INTEGRATED THE STRATEGY/PROGRAMS INTO OPERATIONS. THE UW NEIGHBORHOOD ZONE IN BROOKLYN IS OPERATED OUT OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL IN THE BROOKLYN/CURTIS BAY NEIGHBORHOOD OF BALTIMORE CITY. THIS UNIQUE CONCEPT HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO CREATE A "HUB" WITHIN THE COMMUNITY THAT PROVIDES A SAFE, NURTURING ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO NOT ONLY SEEK OUT A VAST ARRAY OF SERVICES, BUT TO BE ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN SHAPING THEIR COMMUNITY TO BE WHAT WILL HELP THEM FULFILL THEIR HOPES AND DREAMS FOR THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILY, AND THE COMMUNITY.THE PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY IS ONE IN WHICH RESIDENT VOICES ARE HEARD AND THEIR PRIORITIES ARE TURNED INTO ACTIONS THROUGH A NETWORK OF PARTNERS THAT HAVE BEEN CREATED THROUGH EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES THAT WILL SUPPORT STEADY, HIGH RATES OF SCHOOL ATTENDANCE, BOOST STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, AND ENGAGE FAMILIES AND STAKEHOLDERS. PROGRAMS INCLUDE FAMILY STABILITY, COMMUNITY SCHOOLS COORDINATION, SOCIOEMOTIONAL WELLNESS, ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT, DIGITAL EQUITY AND THE UNITED WAY FAMILY CENTER, AN EARLY LEARNING/STUDENT PARENT PROGRAM PROVIDING QUALITY CHILDCARE AND PARENT SUPPORT, SO THEY GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND BREAK THE CYCLE OF TEEN PREGNANCY.UWCM NOW HAS THREE SUCH ZONES, ALL OF WHICH ADDRESS THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE NEIGHBORHOODS. UWCM ALSO HAS 2 EMERGING NEIGHBORHOOD ZONES NEIGHBORS UNITED, WHICH ASSISTS NEIGHBORS WITH LEARNING HOW TO TACKLE SYSTEMIC ISSUES.KEY OUTCOMES INCLUDE: O THE UNITED WAY FAMILY CENTER AT BENJAMIN FRANKLIN HAS PROVIDED INTENSIVE PARENTING SUPPORTS TO 152 TEEN PARENTS AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION TO 110 CHILDREN, CUMULATIVE SINCE 2014. ADDITIONALLY, THE CENTER HAS HELPED 57 TEEN PARENTS GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL AT A RATE OF 67%.O THE SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL WELLNESS PROGRAM CONTINUES TO GROW AND REACHES OVER HALF OF THE SCHOOL'S STUDENTS EACH YEAR. IN THE 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR THE PROGRAM SERVED 361 STUDENTS, APPROXIMATELY 60% OF THE ENTIRE STUDENT BODY. STUDENTS RECEIVED INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING, CRISIS INTERVENTION/MEDIATION, AND WELLNESS PROGRAMMING.O TWO FREE WIFI HOT SPOTS WERE INSTALLED AT COMMUNITY PARTNER SITES. THESE HOT SPOTS HAVE SERVED UPWARDS OF 15,000 RESIDENTS.

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