UNITED WAY OF GREATER ROCHESTER

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1 LETTER TO THE COMMUNITY GIVING BACK & LOOKING FORWARD SINCE 1918 Uniting the good will and resources of the Greater Rochester community so that everyone can thrive. 2

2 2 INTRODUCTION A CENTURY OF COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY United Way of Greater Rochester s mission is to unite the good will and resources of the Greater Rochester community so that everyone can thrive. United Way addresses critical challenges by connecting local people in need with evidence-based programs, strategic funding investments, community initiatives, volunteer support and community leadership to direct resources and solve problems. Rochester is one of the most generous and caring communities in America. We work together to create real, meaningful impact for the most vulnerable members of our community. United Way is leading this charge with the support of donors, our business community, local leaders, program service providers, volunteers and community members. CONTENTS Introduction Mission, Vision and Values Looking Back Community Impact Community Fund th Anniversary 100 years ago, George Eastman and local leaders created what we know today as United Way of Greater Rochester. In 1918, our community s War Chest brought together many different agencies that were doing similar work to share in one large appeal to help people in need. While our role in the community has changed throughout the years, the legacy continues on: United Way brings together the resources of thousands of individuals and organizations to make a difference for local people in need. History of United Way Ways to Give 15 Leadership Giving 16 Get Involved 17 Looking Forward United Way s vision is to unite a community where diverse organizations and individuals share their strengths to drive sustainable change that advances the common good. We will continue to build on our foundation of community generosity coupled with strategic partnerships and program investments to improve lives across our community. The organization is also emerging as a community convener at a time when Greater Rochester is evolving and reinventing itself. United Way sits at the center of the private, public, philanthropic and not-for-profit sectors. It is uniquely positioned to bring everyone together to build true community impact solutions that address our most devastating community challenges like poverty, abuse, neglect, failing students, struggling elders, hunger and more. GET INVOLVED JOIN US IN MAKING OUR COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE!

3 4 3 MISSION, VISION AND VALUES VALUES Our values define who we are and how we serve our community. MISSION To unite the good will and resources of the Greater Rochester community so that everyone can thrive. CARING VISION A community where diverse organizations and individuals share their strengths to drive sustainable change that advances the common good. TRUSTWORTHY COLLABORATIVE INNOVATIVE We care about our community, our donors and our colleagues. We are committed to serving with compassion and empathy. We operate with integrity. Our team is honest, professional and transparent. We are stronger together than we are alone. We work toward shared goals for the good of the community. We strive to employ forward-thinking solutions to improve outcomes, increase efficiency and create positive change. REGIONAL PARTNERS United Way of Greater Rochester partners with local United Ways across the region on key initiatives, community outreach, donation processing and administrative support. United Way regional partners serve communities in Genesee, Livingston, Ontario, Wayne and Wyoming counties. RESPECTFUL RESULTS-ORIENTED Monroe Wayne Genesee Ontario Livingston We treat others the way we want to be treated. We value others opinions and ideas. We strive to create a positive, measurable impact on our organization and our community.

4 5 COMMUNITY IMPACT Community Fund 6 THE COMMUNITY FUND United Way Community Fund investments focus on prevention and the application of best practices to create a significant impact for local people in need. Community Fund programs provide a regional network of support services and safety nets to help people across all walks of life and levels of need. As the Community Fund grows, so will United Way s ability to move the needle on solutions to our community s most critical challenges. Tens of thousands of local people donate millions of dollars each year to the Community Fund. 92 cents of every contributed dollar is used to meet community needs. These gifts allow United Way to make a lasting impact of change and improvement for our community today, and for generations to come. OUR CORE VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY Identify the greatest needs in the region Invest Community Fund dollars in evidence-based and preventative programs Evaluate the programs for effectiveness and impact Adjust funding if needed to ensure the highest ROI for community impact and donor dollars ROCHESTER-MONROE ANTI-POVERTY INITIATIVE The Rochester-Monroe Anti-Poverty Initiative (RMAPI) is a communityinformed strategy to coordinate and align resources, policies and practices to reduce poverty in the Rochester and Monroe County region by 50 percent in 15 years. United Way provides fiduciary/ administrative support and strategic guidance to the RMAPI team and community partners. UNITED WAY S INVESTMENT PROCESS United Way revised its investment approach in 2008 to better address community needs through a focused, strategic funding process. The organization convened hundreds of community members, subject matter experts, community investment volunteers, service providers, people impacted by poverty and those needing services to provide insight about Greater Rochester s most daunting health and human service issues. Community input focused on four major areas of impact and need: Helping people meet their basic needs of food, shelter and clothing so they can focus on addressing other major life concerns Giving babies a healthy start to life with support for new parents Setting students on a path for success in school, work and life Supporting our aging population and those who are caring for elders locally. Addressing poverty-related challenges and providing inclusive services for people with disabilities are overarching standards throughout all community impact strategies and investments. POSITIVE RESULTS, LIVES CHANGED All programs and initiatives supported by United Way Community Fund donations are monitored, measured and evaluated to confirm they re achieving positive results for our community and local people in need. United Way organizes learning circles to share best practices among program providers, and evaluates its Community Fund investments in two ways: PROGRAM-LEVEL MEASUREMENTS Program-level measurements to ensure results are meeting the needs of the people they serve. COMMUNITY-LEVEL ASSESSMENTS Community-level assessments to make sure key issues and challenges are addressed holistically.

5 7 8 INVESTING IN SOLUTIONS United Way invests $ 13.6 million in 75 Community Fund partner programs that provide a safety net of services to help people across all walks of life and levels of need. These partners use research and prevention to get the best results to help all of Rochester thrive. Here s what Community Fund investments are doing for Greater Rochester s littlest babies, most active elders and everyone in between. MAKING MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS Program partners connected through United Way s Community Fund attend learning sessions to share best practices and help others overcome obstacles. They build a network of supports together. If they can t provide a service for someone in need, they ll connect with another program partner that can. This connection is critical to achieving the greatest impact for our community. BABIES KIDS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES ELDERS Educating new parents on how to be their baby s first teacher Helping kids succeed with after-school, summer and mentoring programs Providing people in need with the basics of food, clothing and shelter Giving elders and their caregivers the resources they need to remain vital and independent $1,905,000 $3,962,750 $3,778,310 $2,228, families 5,200 kids 39,900 people in need 25,900 elders and caregivers POVERTY Preventing and reducing poverty in the Greater Rochester community Community-wide system, program and policy solutions The entire Greater Rochester community COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS Collaborating with community partners to support existing and emerging community needs $1,204, ,000 individuals and families in need

6 9 10 GIVING BABIES THE BEST START PREPARING KIDS FOR SUCCESS Goal All babies are born into supportive, nurturing families, free from abuse and neglect. Goal Every young person in our community is ready for college, work and life by age 21. United Way Community Fund Strategy In-home parent education and support to help new parents learn about giving their babies a positive, nurturing home and a healthy start to life. United Way Invests* $1.9 million each year to help local babies Community Challenges 52% of Rochester s children live in poverty 1,915 local children were involved in proven child protective cases as a result of abuse or neglect in 2015 $210,000 is the lifetime cost associated with every maltreated child in our community MEET AMELIA Amelia was struggling after she discovered her daughter had a learning delay. A United Way program helped her overcome her daughter s delay, buy a house and graduate from college with a degree in social work in just three short years. United Way Community Fund Strategies High-quality, structured and inclusive After-School and Summer Learning and Enrichment programs to give kids positive, productive activities during their out-of-school time to help them continue to learn and grow. Mentoring programs to help kids succeed with the help of a positive adult role model. United Way Invests* $3.9 million each year to help local youth Community Challenges 8% of Rochester City School District (RCSD) 3 rd graders are reading proficiently at grade level Low-income students are 5 times more likely than their higher-income peers to drop out of school MEET CARINA Carina found an after school program where she could focus on her love for art. She also meets with a mentor who helps her develop critical skills, complete her homework and prepare for her first job in high school. 53% of RCSD students graduate from high school in four years RESULTS RESULTS Families participating in Community Fund programs achieve: Students participating in Community Fund programs achieve: 70% of parents improve activities related to reduction of child maltreatment 96% of babies are born at a healthy birth weight 90% of families remain current with well-child pediatric visits at two years old Thousands more days of learning with higher school attendance than students who did not participate in Community Fund programs 90% of students who participate in summer programming at Horizons/ Summer LEAP for three or more years graduate from high school on time Students in summer programs maintain reading and math scores into the next year, eliminating detrimental summer slide 97% of families avoid child maltreatment, abuse and neglect 1 full point higher GPA scores compared to their middle school peers * Community Fund investments are based on program funding. * Community Fund investments are based on program funding.

7 11 12 SUPPORTING ELDERS AND THEIR CAREGIVERS MEETING BASIC NEEDS Goal Local elders and their caregivers have the resources they need to remain vital and independent for as long as possible. United Way Community Fund Strategies Care coordination, nutrition, education and transportation services to help elders stay healthy, active and independent. Supportive programs and services to help caregivers. United Way Invests* $2.2 million each year to help local elders and caregivers Community Challenges 1 in 7 Monroe County residents is 65 or older; by 2040 that number will increase to 1 in 5 15% of local elders live in poverty; 1 in 3 lives alone and many are struggling with disabilities $134,000 is the average cost needed to provide nursing facilities for one older adult per year, which can far outweigh the cost to help elders remain safely in their own homes MEET CATHERINE Catherine, at 98 years young, nearly needed to leave her house and neighborhood friends. Instead she received services that helped her stay safe in her own home and go about her day-to-day life with a little extra support. Goal All individuals and families have their basic needs of food, clothing and housing met and have access to benefits and services that put them on a path to independence and self-sufficiency. United Way Community Fund Strategies Every individual and family touched by Community Fund-supported basic needs programs is struggling with poverty and its devastating effects. Federal guidelines define poverty as an income of $19,090 for a family of three more than $28,000 below the New York State Self-Sufficiency standard of $47,391 for a local family of three to actually cover their basic needs without assistance. This disparity makes it difficult for local families to thrive without help and support. United Way s basic needs support programs provide food, clothing and housing assistance with a continuum of comprehensive services. Programs eliminate barriers to securing basic needs including connection to services, help in getting public and private benefits and housing stability support. In addition, we provide safe emergency shelter for homeless youth and victims of domestic violence. MEET MARCUS Marcus came to a United Way program for help preparing his taxes and found that the program offered so much more. He was connected to resources to help him improve his credit, learn how to budget and get on track to purchase a house. Community Challenges United Way Invests* Rochester has the highest childhood poverty rate, and has the 2 nd highest overall poverty rate among similar sized cities $3.8 million each year to help people meet their basic needs 1 in 3 city residents is living in poverty and many are struggling with disabilities 100,000 local people struggle with food insecurity; many do not know where their next meal will come from RESULTS 4,800 domestic violence incidents are reported each year in Monroe County Elders receiving services from Community Fund programs benefit from: 18,000 rides and transportation assistance for grocery shopping, personal care, doctor visits, chemo/ radiation, dialysis, surgical procedures and more 13,000 calls per year to help elders and caregivers with information, benefits and support in accessing local services Exercise, social activities and learning opportunities at three Multi-purpose Aging Resource Centers throughout Monroe County 40,000 people who call the local community helpline with basic needs challenges Community Fund programs are helping: 640 individuals and families receive assistance to avoid foreclosure RESULTS 500 homeless kids get a meal and safe place to sleep 373 victims of domestic violence escape an abusive home 230,000 daily meal deliveries right to the door of 1,450 local individuals 10,000 local people receive assistance with tax returns, resulting in more than $ 8 million in Earned Income Tax Credits (E.I.T.C.) * Community Fund investments are based on program funding. * Community Fund investments are based on program funding.

8 13 100th ANNIVERSARY History of United Way 14 LOOKING BACK One hundred years ago, George Eastman had a vision for a thriving community that takes care of its own. Today, we are keeping that dream alive with the help of thousands of donors like you who care for our community. Thank you to all who have been a part of our story in the past 100 years. George Eastman at the beginning of his career MOVING FORWARD Please give to United Way s Community Fund today to create a brighter future for tomorrow and the next 100 years ahead at uwrochester.org/give George Eastman and local community leaders establish the Rochester Patriotic Community Fund, also known as the War Chest, to raise money for local agencies serving war efforts (hospitals, childcare, youth and family services). Eastman donates $500,000 and helps to raise $4,660,730 for the Rochester community in the first campaign lasting just seven days. A local businessman helps the Rochester Community Chest begin the 52-week deduction period for donations, still used today to make giving convenient for our donors. After another name change to the United Chest of Greater Rochester, the organization becomes United Way of Greater Rochester as an official organization in the national United Way system. United Way launches Day of Caring, the first annual community-wide volunteer event. United Way joins in a community partnership with the RochesterMonroe Anti-Poverty Initiative to begin the effort to reduce poverty in Rochester by 50% in 15 years After World War I ends, the Rochester community wants to keep supporting its own. Rochester becomes the first city to change the name of its War Chest to the Community Chest The organization becomes the Rochester Community and War Chest, spreading its reach across Monroe County. The annual appeal meets its goal every year but one for nearly 25 years The United Way Latino Leadership Development Program begins to identify, train and promote the placement of Latinos in local leadership positions The first class of the United Way African American Leadership Development Program graduates, increasing the placement of African Americans in local leadership positions United Way implements Impact Areas to focus on the most critical needs of the community United Way launches the C.A.S.H. (Creating Assets, Savings and Hope) program to help families build stronger economic futures United Way redefines how donor dollars are used, introducing the Blueprint for Change investment strategies to put Community Fund donations toward evidence-based, preventative programs that achieve measurable results United Way adopts a new mission, vision and values to serve the community. The organization also refreshes its brand promise to Invest. Connect. Serve United Way celebrates its 100th year of serving our community.

9 15 WAYS TO GIVE 16 LEADERSHIP GIVING INVESTING IN COMMUNITY IMPACT United Way is able to serve the Greater Rochester community day in and day out because of the extraordinary generosity of the people who believe that Rochester is worth fighting for. From $1 to $1 million, investments in United Way s Community Fund fuel the support for thousands of people in need to help change their lives for the better. LEADERSHIP GIVING United Way Leadership Donors are the most generous, community-minded individuals in our region. All donors who contribute $500, $1,000 or more are recognized as United Way Leadership Donors. All Leadership Donors are invited to special events and networking opportunities throughout the year. In addition, Leadership Donors may choose to join one or more of the following affinity groups. Individual Donors Tens of thousands of individuals and families trust United Way with their annual donation to create lasting, meaningful change for the Greater Rochester community. Tocqueville Society The Tocqueville Society is United Way s premier giving society, comprised of donors who give an annual gift of $10,000 or more. Tocqueville Society members set an extraordinary example of leadership and generosity for our community. TOCQUEVILLE SOCIETY Business Community Support United Way inspires the business and not-for-profit community alike, to build a better Rochester together. Hundreds of organizations proudly support the mission of United Way and join in the efforts to unite the good will and resources of our community with corporate donations, workplace campaigns, volunteer efforts and more. Charitable Gift Funds Charitable Gift Funds make community-wide philanthropy efficient and impactful. Donors advise United Way on distributions from their no-cost fund, utilizing a flexible and convenient way to help advance the causes they support. Planned Giving Donors design a gift plan that meets their estate planning needs while also helping United Way build a stronger community. Endowment Fund United Way s endowment fund was established in 1925 and is supported by thousands of donors who want to ensure their support will have a lasting impact for generations to come. Government and Foundation Support Government and foundation support for community impact priorities will leverage new partnerships to help our entire community thrive. SUPPORT FOR LOCAL CHARITIES While United Way s primary purpose is to serve the existing and emerging needs of the Greater Rochester community through Community Fund support and investments, the organization provides a valuable philanthropic service to hundreds of health and human service organizations in the Greater Rochester region by collecting, processing and transferring donations on their behalf through our donor designation program. United Way also provides processing services for national corporations, allowing companies to support both United Way of Greater Rochester and United Ways in other communities across the country. Women s Leadership Council The Women s Leadership Council (WLC) is made up of Rochester s most inspiring, proactive female leaders who are dedicated to making a positive local impact with an annual investment of $1,000 or more. Labor Leaders Club The Labor Leaders Club (LLC) is made up of hundreds of Rochester s dedicated union members who are committed to making a positive impact in our community through their investment of $1,000 or more each year. African American Leadership Society The African American Leadership Society (AALS) recognizes the vital role African Americans play in improving the quality of life in Rochester. Members invest $1,000 or more each year. Circulo Latino Leadership Society Círculo Latino (CL) encompasses Rochester s dedicated Latino leaders who are committed to making a positive impact in our community. CL members invest $1,000 or more each year to create solutions and make connections. Emerging Leaders Society The Emerging Leaders Society (EL) is a group of individuals 40 years and under who connect with other local leaders and make an extraordinary commitment to serve our community with the investments of $500 or more each year. WOMEN S LEADERSHIP COUNCIL LABOR LEADERS CLUB AFRICAN AMERICAN LEADERSHIP SOCIETY CÍRCULO LATINO LEADERSHIP SOCIETY EMERGING LEADERS SOCIETY

10 17 GET INVOLVED 18 SERVING OUR COMMUNITY United Way offers many opportunities for individuals and companies to make a difference in our community. Whether you re interested in philanthropy, volunteering time and talents or leadership development, United Way is your community connection. Donate Donations to United Way and the Community Fund are the foundation for all that United Way does in service and support for the Greater Rochester community. There are many ways to give, including payroll deduction through a workplace campaign, electronic funds transfer, online donation, check, credit card and gifts of securities or mutual funds. Leadership Development United Way provides annual leadership programs for emerging African American, Latino and Labor leaders in the Greater Rochester area. The African American Leadership Development (AALDP), Latino Leadership Development (LLDP) and Union Community Assistance Network (UCAN) Programs boast thousands of alumni with decades of experience serving our community upon graduating from the programs. United Way also offers one-day board training opportunities for young professionals, the LGBTQ community and Asian-Pacific Americans. GIVE LOCAL! Every dollar invested in United Way stays here in the Greater Rochester community. We believe in taking care of our own and we want to build a thriving community where we all live, work and raise our families. Synergy Fund The United Way Synergy Fund encourages Monroe County not-for-profit agencies to explore affiliation as a means of increasing operational efficiencies and improving program services to best serve their direct clients and the entire community. United Way supports the affiliation process with resources that include both technical assistance and implementation grants to help with the one-time costs of effecting an affiliation. Day of Caring Join the thousands of volunteers for the community s largest volunteer event of the year. Held annually in May, there are hundreds of projects for individuals, groups and companies to get involved with, from reading to children, packing food, gardening, clean-up, repair projects and more. ROC the Day United Way powers the annual ROC the Day community-wide 24-hour day of online giving. Thousands of donors come together each year to support hundreds of not-forprofit organizations from across the region. To date, ROC the Day has raised millions of dollars, giving an end-of-year boost to the hundreds of charities doing great work in our community. PLEASE GIVE TO UNITED WAY S COMMUNITY FUND TODAY TO CREATE A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR TOMORROW AND THE NEXT 100 YEARS AHEAD.

11 IT TAKES A COMMUNITY United Way is thankful for our village an extraordinary group of donors, volunteers, leaders and service providers who join forces to create lasting change for the Greater Rochester community. Many thanks to: United Way Board of Directors Donors Local businesses Corporate supporters Cabinet and committee volunteers Community Fund partner agencies Community leaders Organized labor community Local and state municipal leaders Regional partners United Way staff TO LEARN MORE ABOUT, visit uwrochester.org, call or contactus@uwrochester.org. CONNECT WITH US: 75 College Avenue United Way of Greater Rochester Rochester, NY