United Way of Saginaw County Community Impact Model Introduction 2015-2016 Award Cycle Stage One - Letter of Intent THE NEED FOR CHANGE What can you do today to create a pocket of greatness, despite the brutal facts of your environment? Jim Collins Good to Great and the Social Sectors Health and welfare organizations across the country are facing an escalating demand for services in an environment that is extremely complex. Problems such as poverty, unemployment, crime, truancy and societal disenfranchisement can no longer be addressed as separate issues. If these issue are to be solved communities and health & human service organizations alike will need to work collaboratively to integrate the delivery of services into comprehensive strategies. Unfortunately as the demand for services has increased, resources are eroding. Governmental funds are diminishing rapidly due to revenue constraints. Private donors (corporate and individual) are expressing fatigue as they only hear repeated requests for more and more money but see little community improvement. This erosion articulates the need for a focused approach that maximizes the utilization of resources for the benefits to the community. The United Way of Saginaw County Board of Directors recognized and initiated a discussion of these challenges in early 2012. Its Strategic Planning Committee undertook the charge to evaluate options and recommend to the Board a fund distribution process that would meet the future needs of our community. With the assistance of consultants, research organizations, educational institutions and the United Way Worldwide and months of debate, the committee recommended the adoption of a Community Impact Model (CIM) beginning with the 2015 funding cycle. A CIM is designed to address conditions and behaviors that serve as barriers to long-term improvement in the life skills and capabilities of individuals/families while simultaneously providing for their immediate needs. The overall intent is to improve the living standards of those served; lessening their need for services. The model encompasses two fundamental strategies. First it challenges service providers, including the United Way, to maximize the utilization of community resources and second is a requirement for outcome accountability. It is a process that encourages innovation and creativity. The adoption of the new model came after considerable Board debate and a thorough exploration of the impact on our current partners as the model demands that the process be open to all qualified participants. The Board reasoned that the UWSC has a duty to the community, our donors and consumers to evaluate and support improvement strategies that offer the greatest impact to our community as a whole. United Way of Saginaw County - Final stage one letter of intent 1/13/2014 1
PROCESS To facilitate the transition to the Community Impact Model, the UWSC Board restated its Mission and adopted the following new community focused Vision and Values: Vision A safe nurturing community where all families can thrive Mission To increase the organized capacity of people to care for one another Values Collaboration Measurable outcomes Continuous improvement Systemic change The adoption of the CIM also required a complete revamp of the funds allocation process. The new process referred to as our Community Impact Process included the development and implementation of the following elements: Funding Policy Statements Community Impact Areas Community Conversations Community Change Teams Impact Area Visions & Goals Community Impact Proposal Process Stage One Letter of Intent Stage Two Community Impact Proposal FUNDING POLICY STATEMENTS were needed to clarify the intent of the funding process. First as discussed earlier, the CIP is open to all qualified 501(c)(3) health and human service providers in Saginaw County. Along with opening the process to all qualified organizations, it was determined that the United Way is not obligated to disperse all available funds at one time nor is it obligated to distribute funds by a predetermined formula. Every effort has been made to communicate and educate our current partners of these changes. COMMUNITY IMPACT AREAS can be defined as community pillars for success. Without a firm footing in these areas a community cannot prosper. The UW has chosen three areas to concentrate its efforts: Education UWSC supports collaborations and programs that focus on providing essential tools for students to become successful. Through these programs, parents and caregivers can be assured that their children have a safe place to go after school, as well as receive additional guidance and support throughout their educational journey. Health UWSC supports collaborations and programs that focus on providing healthy lifestyles. Through these programs, community members of all ages learn the importance of making healthier choices and how decisions made today will affect them in the future. Financial Stability UWSC supports collaborations and programs that focus on guiding people towards financial stability. Through these programs community members will have early access to financial education, manage their finances as well as build and secure savings and assets. United Way of Saginaw County - Final stage one letter of intent 1/13/2014 2
COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS have been held throughout the last year in an effort to gain a better awareness of the community needs and resources. They are intended to reach out to contributors, partner & non-partner agencies, community leaders and consumers to get an understanding of the status of the community, identify needs or gaps in services and connect with consumers to identify what has worked. They have also provided an opportunity to discover community assets previously unknown. Community Conversations will be an ongoing part of the CIM process. All who participated in the Community Conversations gained insight into the community. In general the conversations continue to tell us there are distinct population segments in need of assistance that encompass all of our Impact Areas. There is a segment suffering economic hardships needing assistance and guidance to become independent once again. Another segment will require assistance throughout their lives but can still live in and contribute to the community and there are those that need to be protected from harm. If there was one recurring theme that straddled all of the conversations it would be the need for family engagement. Everyone deemed it to be a necessary element for success but found it to be sorely missing. Mixed throughout the population segments described above are a growing population that is disengaged from societal norms; whatever the reason for their disengagement they are consuming a significant and growing portion of our community resources. It is imperative that this population be included in our efforts if we are to achieve our goals. Additionally UWSC leadership met with current partner boards of directors to share the new vision and model. COMMUNITY CHANGE TEAMS were established for each impact area - Education, Health and Financial Stability. The teams were initially charged with developing Visions and Goals for their respective impact areas. To do so, they were provided the information gathered in the Community Conversations along with social science research and empirical community data pertinent to each. Visions are intended to be descriptions of our aspiration for the community in each impact area. Goals are intended to be measurable outcomes that move us towards the fulfillment of the Vision. The following impact area Visions and Goals were adopted by the United Way Board of Directors in December of 2013: EDUCATION VISION Every student graduates ready to be a successful contributor to society GOALS Children birth-5 will be prepared to start school Elementary students will be able to read at grade level or better Children will have a positive role model in their lives Students will have the skills necessary to transition successfully throughout their entire educational career United Way of Saginaw County - Final stage one letter of intent 1/13/2014 3
HEALTH VISION All individuals and families will live a safe, healthy lifestyle GOALS People will have access to critical services to support a healthy lifestyle People will have access to nutritious food Children will have a healthy start in life Individuals will make healthy choices FINANCIAL STABILITY VISION Individuals and families move to long-term financial stability and self sufficiency GOALS Children will have early access to financial education Adults will effectively and confidently manage their finances Vulnerable adults will protect savings and assets People will have the life skills to be successfully employed The Change Teams also have the responsibility of evaluating and recommending 2015 partner awards to the United Way Board of Directors in each of the impact areas. The drivers of the evaluation process will be the applicant s alignment with the UWSC goals, its capacity to affect change and its ability to measure outcomes. An underlying attribute of the entire process will be the applicant s willingness to collaboratively maximize community resources. How effectively do we deliver on our mission and make a distinctive impact, relative to our resources? Jim Collins Good to Great and the Social Sectors United Way of Saginaw County - Final stage one letter of intent 1/13/2014 4
TIMELINE Community Impact Proposals will be published by the UWSC in January of 2014. The proposal application process will be in two stages. An applicant must complete and submit a Stage One Letter of Intent identifying which Impact Area they are proposing to work in and their strategy for achieving their outcomes. The completed applications will be distributed to the appropriate Community Change Team. The teams will review each application to evaluate the strategic alignment with the stated Impact Area and the respective goals. Those judged to be in alignment and that meet the other criteria required in the application will be asked to submit a second more detailed description of their strategy. The Change Team will then evaluate the submissions making recommendation to the Board for those that will provide the greatest impact. The estimated timeline for this process is listed below. January 8, 2014 Post availability of Stage One Letter of Intent February 5, 2014 Stage One Letter of Intent due to UWSC April 25, 2014 Invitation to Stage Two applicants May 23, 2014 Stage Two proposals due to UWSC August 2014 Formal Stage Two Award Announcement OUTCOME LOGIC MODEL To facilitate the accomplishment of these goals, the UWSC will be applying the same standards and expectations it used to establish the need for this outcome based process. One of the primary tools used in its development was the LOGIC MODEL Theory of Change shown below. Its use enabled the UWSC to build a logical and reasonable case for the change. Logic Models are extremely useful tools in developing Outcomes. They force organizations to delineate the necessary elements, inputs, activities, and outputs, to achieve the desired outcome. See the figure below the Theory of Change. We are asking that all proposals provide an Outcome Logic Model outlining the steps taken to develop its proposed strategy for change. INPUTS ACTIVITIES OUTPUTS OUTCOMES The resources dedicated to or consumed by the program What the program does with the inputs to fulfill its mission The direct products of program activities, including the projected number to be served and the projected frequency and duration of the primary services The changes or benefits for the community population as a result of the program implementation As community partners we hope that you too will embrace our vision of making a safe, nurturing community where all families can thrive, and make it a reality through your participation in this new process. United Way of Saginaw County - Final stage one letter of intent 1/13/2014 5
United Way of Saginaw County Community Impact Award Process 2015-2016 Award Cycle Stage One Letter of Intent How effectively do we deliver on our mission and make a distinctive impact, relative to our resources? Jim Collins Good to Great and the Social Sectors Overview The United Way of Saginaw County (UWSC) is committed to making our vision a reality. We believe that will require a balanced approach of supporting both direct service programs and multi-sector collaborations. VISION A safe nurturing community where all families can thrive MISSION To increase the organized capacity of people to care for one another Collaboration Measureable outcomes Systemic change Continuous improvement VALUES Education Health Financial Stability IMPACT AREAS In order to fully understand each of these impact areas, UWSC convened a series of community conversations with community residents, content experts, practitioners, and community leaders from all sectors. Those sessions yielded a wealth of information on conditions within the community, as well as valuable assets and resources. That information was combined with social science research to produce the goals that we believe must be achieved if we are to realize our shared vision. The specific visions and goals that emerged are as follows: United Way of Saginaw County - Final stage one letter of intent 1/13/2014 6
Education Vision Every student graduates ready to be a successful contributor to society Children birth to age 5 will be prepared to start school Elementary students will be able to read at grade level or better Children will have a positive role model in their lives Students will have the skills necessary to transition successfully throughout their entire educational career Health Vision All individuals and families will live a healthy lifestyle People will have access to critical services to support a healthy lifestyle People will have access to nutritious food Children will have a healthy start in life Individuals will make healthy choices Financial Stability Vision Individuals and families move to long-term financial stability and self sufficiency Children will have early access to financial education Adults will effectively and confidently manage their finances Vulnerable adults will protect their savings and assets People will have the life skills to be successfully employed PROCESS Being selected to receive a Community Impact Award from UWSC is comprised of a two-stage application process. Stage One Letter of Intent includes a brief application that will provide the UWSC Community Change Team volunteers with an overview of key elements. If all the Stage One requirements are met, then the applying organization may be invited to proceed to the development of a full Stage Two Proposal. United Way of Saginaw County - Final stage one letter of intent 1/13/2014 7
Submission Requirements Completed cover page Narrative 1. Identify which priority impact area(s), this collaboration or program aligns with 2. How does this collaboration or program align with the lead organization s mission 3. State the issue this collaboration or program addresses 4. Description of the community population to be served by the collaboration or program 5. Leading factors that will contribute to the effectiveness of the collaborative or program The logic model Total budget amount for the collaborative or program and amount to be requested from UWSC (projected for each year of the funding cycle). Percent the UWSC award will be of the total budget Organizational governance and financial information Applications will be reviewed based on the following criteria: Aligns with UWSC s vision for the community Addresses population needs and requirements, and/or community conditions Contributes to progress in achievement of the overall intended goals Produces significant impact in the lives of individuals and families in the community The requested financial award is appropriate and reasonable The applying organization is fiscally sound, and free of any pending regulatory or legal issues The submitting organization(s) has the capacity, experience, and expertise to effectively implement and manage the program Stage One Letter of Intent of the award application process includes an initial review by the UWSC staff to determine the status of each submission. A UWSC representative will contact the prospective community partner for further clarification if necessary. If you have any questions please contact Marsha Cooley at (989) 776-0541 or mcooley@unitedwaysaginaw.org. Once all of the eligible applicants have been identified, the Community Change Team volunteers will review the submitted Stage One Letters of Intent and determine which ones will be invited to submit the full Stage Two Proposal. All applicants will be notified of their status on or before April 25, 2014. For prospective partners invited to submit a full Stage Two Proposal, there will be a separate application distributed. Mail or deliver the original and 20 copies of Stage One Letter of Intent to United Way of Saginaw County on or before February 5, 2014 by the close of business at 5:00 pm. Late applications will not be accepted. The original copy must reflect the certifying signatures from the submitting organization. United Way of Saginaw County - Final stage one letter of intent 1/13/2014 8
If your organization is submitting a Stage One Letter of Intent for a program proceed to ATTACHMENT A If your organization is submitting a Stage One Proposal for a collaboration proceed to ATTACHMENT B United Way of Saginaw County - Final stage one letter of intent 1/13/2014 9
ATTACHMENT A COVER PAGE Stage One Letter of Intent Individual Program Community Impact Award Process 2015-2016 Award Cycle Complete one set of forms for each program submitted 1. Organization Name: Address: Telephone: Fax: Organization s Mission 2. Program name: 3. Brief description of program and issue being addressed: 4. Projected request Total $ UWSC funds as % of total Program Budget a. Year One $ b. Year Two $ 5. Indicate which of the UWSC Impact areas this proposal addresses. (Choose only one) Education Health Financial Stability ORGANIZATION S CONTACT PERSON IN CASE OF QUESTIONS Name: Phone Number: Position: Email: The undersigned hereby certify: The program and budget information in this pre-proposal is true and accurate to the best of our knowledge This pre-proposal has been reviewed and approved by the full Board of Directors Signature: Date: Executive Director Print Name: Signature: Date: Board President/Chairperson Print Name: United Way of Saginaw County - Final stage one letter of intent 1/13/2014 10
Stage One Program Narrative: No handwritten applications. In no more than one page for each of the items 1 5 below using Arial 12 point font, please specifically respond to the questions presented for each topic: 1. Program Description a. What is the issue and how does this program address it? b. What population in the community will be served by this program? c. What are the intended outcomes for the identified population? d. What is the service delivery model that will produce those outcomes? e. How does this program fit with your organization s mission? f. For the education impact area How are you going to partner with the families to achieve your outcomes? 2. Community Population a. What obstacles to progress and success do they face? b. What is the estimated size of the identified population? c. How many individuals and families do you anticipate serving? 3. Community Impact Outcome Alignment a. Programs can certainly influence more than one community-level goal to varying degrees. However, due to the mission of a program, community population, intended outcomes, and service delivery strategy, a program will most closely be aligned with one definitive community-level goal. In the case of this program, what is the rationale for the Community Impact area that was selected? 4. Program Budget a. What is the total cost of the program for each of the two award years? b. What percentage of the total budget will likely be requested from UWSC each year? c. Do you anticipate using UWSC funding to leverage additional funding to this program or your organization? d. If so, what amount of additional funding are you projecting? 5. Organizational capacity a. UWSC will be investing resources in high-performing organizations that are responsible for the submitted programs. What are some of the leading factors within your organization that will contribute to the effectiveness of this program? b. Is this is a new program? Is it an existing program? In what ways is it a good fit for your organization? Program logic model: Provide a logic model of the submitted program, using a format that you believe best presents or portrays the program s logic model or theory of change. The model should include the following elements: o Inputs the resources specifically required for this program o Activities the strategy or approach with your clients, and the major activities that are included o Outputs the direct products of those activities, including the projected number served, and the projected frequency and duration of the primary services. This will also reflect what will be tracked and monitored over the course of the program. o Outcomes the changes or benefits for the clients as a result of their participation in the program s activities. They will reflect the sequence of changes that show growth and development over the course of the program s intervention, including the initial, intermediate, and longer-term outcomes. United Way of Saginaw County - Final stage one letter of intent 1/13/2014 11
Organizational Governance and Financial Information Provide copies of the following: 501(c)(3) designation IRS Form 990 or 990 EZ Annual budget Audit with the management letter (or certified financial statement) Board membership list Organization chart Documents to be Maintained and Made Available upon Request Relevant licenses and accreditations State of Michigan background check compliance Adequate insurance coverage Pending regulatory inquiries or legal actions Additional financial and governance information Submission Checklist Completed cover page Narrative 1. Identify which priority impact area(s) this program aligns with 2. How does this program align with your organization s mission 3. Description of the community population to be served by the program 4. Leading factors that will contribute to the effectiveness of the program Program logic model State the issue this program addresses Total budget for the program and amount to be requested from UWSC (projected for each year of the funding cycle). Percent the UWSC award will be of the total budget Organizational governance and financial information Mail or deliver the original and 20 copies to United Way of Saginaw County on or before February 5, 2014, by the close of business at 5:00 p.m. No late applications will be accepted. United Way of Saginaw County - Final stage one letter of intent 1/13/2014 12
ATTACHMENT B COVER PAGE Stage One Letter of Intent - Collaboration Community Impact Award Process 2015-2016 Award Cycle Complete one set of forms for every collaboration submitted 1. Lead Organization**: Address: Telephone: Fax: 2. Fiscal Organization**: Address: Telephone: Fax: 3. Collaborative Organization: Address: Telephone: Fax: 4. Collaborative Organization: Address: Telephone: Fax: Identify additional collaborative partners on a separate sheet. Provide the information requested above for all listed. 5. Collaboration Name/Title: 6. Projected Request: $ UWSC funds as % of total Collaboration Budget Year One: $ Year Two: $ Lead Organization s Contact Person in Case of Questions Name: Phone Number: Position: Email: **Lead organization and Fiscal agent can be one in the same or different United Way of Saginaw County - Final stage one letter of intent 1/13/2014 13
Community Impact Alignment Indicate the UWSC Community Impact goal(s) that you feel the collaboration most directly contributes to, and influences in a positive way. EDUCATION Vision Every student graduates ready to be a successful contributor to society Children birth to age 5 will be prepared to start school Elementary students will be able to read at grade level or better Children will have a positive role model in their lives Students will have the skills necessary to transition successfully throughout their entire educational career HEALTH Vision All individuals and families will live a healthy lifestyle People will have access to critical services to support a healthy lifestyle People will have access to nutritious food Children will have a healthy start in life Individuals will make healthy choices FINANCIAL STABILITY Vision Individuals and families move to long-term financial stability and self sufficiency Children will have early access to financial education Adults will effectively and confidently manage their finances Vulnerable adults will protect their savings and assets People will have the life skills to be successfully employed United Way of Saginaw County - Final stage one letter of intent 1/13/2014 14
As duly authorized representatives of the lead organization and or fiscal organization, the undersigned hereby certify on behalf of the collaborative partners: The program and budget information in this proposal is true and accurate to the best of our knowledge This proposal has been reviewed and approved by the full Board of Directors of the lead organization and or fiscal organization PRINT NAME Executive Director Lead Organization Signature Date PRINT NAME Board President/Chairperson Lead Organization Signature Date PRINT NAME Executive Director Fiscal Organization Signature Date PRINT NAME Board President/Chairperson Fiscal Organization Signature Date PRINT NAME Executive Director Collaborative Organization Signature Date PRINT NAME Board President/Chairperson Collaborative Organization Signature Date PRINT NAME Executive Director Collaborative Organization Signature Date PRINT NAME Board President/Chairperson Collaborative Organization Signature Date Provide additional collaborative organization s names and signatures on separate sheet(s) of paper. United Way of Saginaw County - Final stage one letter of intent 1/13/2014 15
Through the upcoming Community Impact Award process, United Way of Saginaw County will be striving to identify and support multi-sector collaborations that are focused on changing community conditions and producing meaningful and measurable community-level results. Such collaborations will be addressing complex community issues that are beyond the scope and capacity of individual programs and organizations. Their strategic approach will be comprehensive in nature, and will be data and community driven. It will require representatives from multiple sectors coming together to develop and present a plan to eliminate or minimize the community conditions that impede progress and success for individuals and families throughout the Saginaw County community. Stage One Collaboration Narrative: No handwritten applications. In no more than one page for each of the items 1 5 below using Arial 12 point font, briefly describe the following elements of your collaboration: 1. Collaborative partners a. What role or roles will each partner play in the collaboration? b. What factors will contribute to their collective effectiveness? c. For the education impact area How are you going to partner with the families to achieve your outcomes? 2. Community population a. Who are the individuals and families that will be served through the collaboration? b. What are the leading community conditions that are serving as barriers and obstacles to their progress and success? c. How many will be served directly through the efforts of the collaboration, and how many may indirectly benefit? 3. Intended outcomes a. What are the leading outcomes that directly align with UWSC s community-level goals? b. What outcomes will be measured in the short-term to determine if the collaboration is working as designed? 4. Comprehensive strategy a. What are the major components of the collaborative strategy? b. What elements of the collaborative strategy focus on changing community conditions? 5. Budget a. What is the proposed total budget amount for the collaboration program in each of the two years of the funding cycle? b. What percentage of the total budget each year will be requested from UWSC? c. What attributes were identified in the selection of the fiscal organization? d. What amount of additional funding are you projecting and from what sources? United Way of Saginaw County - Final stage one letter of intent 1/13/2014 16
Comprehensive logic model: Provide a logic model of the collaboration, using a format that you believe best presents or portrays the collaboration s logic or theory of change. The model should include the following elements: o Inputs the resources specifically required to support your comprehensive strategy o Activities the major elements of your strategic approach o Outputs the direct products of those activities, including the projected number to be served, and the projected frequency and duration of the primary services. o Outcomes the changes or benefits for the target population as a result of the implementation of the comprehensive strategy United Way of Saginaw County - Final stage one letter of intent 1/13/2014 17
Organizational Governance and Financial Information required for both the Collaborative Lead Organization and or Fiscal Agent Provide copies of the following: 501(c)(3) designation IRS Form 990 or 990 EZ Audit with the management letter (or certified financial statement) Board membership list Organizational chart Documents to be Maintained and Made Available upon Request for EACH of the Collaborative Partners Relevant licenses and accreditations State of Michigan background check compliance Adequate insurance coverage Pending regulatory inquiries or legal actions Additional financial and governance information Submission Checklist Completed cover page Narrative 1. Identify which priority issue area(s), and the corresponding Community Impact goal(s) this collaborative aligns with 2. Describe how this collaborative aligns with your organization s mission 3. Describe the community population to be served by the collaborative 4. List leading factors that will contribute to the effectiveness of the collaborative Logic model for collaboration State the issue this collaboration addresses Total budget amount for the collaboration and amount to be requested from UWSC (projected for each year of the funding cycle). Percent the UWSC award will be of the total collaboration budget Organizational governance and financial information United Way of Saginaw County - Final stage one letter of intent 1/13/2014 18