Fund Distribution Goal

The goal of the Fund Distribution Process is to recommend the distribution of United Way allocable dollars to needed health and human service programs, while assuring the community, the contributor, and the recipients of services that such funds are expended efficiently and for the purpose stated.

Fund Distribution Principles

The following principles underlie the United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster County's Fund Distribution Process and are of primary importance.

Our process

Volunteer Driven and Managed
This means that the final funding decisions and the overall direction of the process will be made by volunteers.

Straightforward
The process will be clear and understandable to the agencies, the contributors, and the United Way volunteers who apply it. The process will respect the use of the United Way, agency, volunteer and staff time.

Sensitive to Changing Community Needs
The process will be guided by an understanding of both continuing and emerging community needs. It will evolve from planning, needs assessment and research, and will reflect the community's changing needs and resources.

Consistent and Impartial
The Fund Distribution system will be applied in a consistent and impartial manner. There will be opportunity for provision and review of information, for dialogue and interaction, and for appeals.

Accountable
United Way will know and be able to communicate to its constituencies how the funds that are raised translate into services. In addition, while United Way recognizes an organization's autonomy regarding its own day to day operations and policy, organizations that receive support from United Way will be accountable for results.

Inclusive
Those making the decisions, as well as those receiving the funds will represent the community.

Non-Discriminatory
To obtain United Way funds, agencies must uphold a policy of non-discrimination in hiring staff, recruiting volunteers, selecting Board members, and in the provision of services.

Selective
Organizations will know they are competing for limited resources and that not all requests can be funded. Agencies are expected to supplement United Way funds through fees, grants, and their own fund-raising efforts.

Flexible
United Way's Fund Distribution system may relate to different organizations in different ways, utilizing various methods of allocating funds.

Balanced
There will be a balance between accountability and good stewardship at both United Way and the agencies.

Collaborative
United Way will foster collaborative efforts between agencies and with other funders.

Open
There will be open communication between United Way, human service agencies, and our stakeholders.