CHANGING HOUSTON FOR GOOD

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CHANGING HOUSTON FOR GOOD
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The Best Way to Make the Biggest Difference

• The United Way of Greater Houston is the leader
  and trusted partner
• in improving lives
• tackling key community social issues
• making a lasting difference in our community

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What Does United Way Do?

• The United Way looks at the big picture
• We go out into the community.
• We assess the needs and study the issues.
• We put together plans based on todays needs and
  future trends.
• We invest in services that result in real change.
• We track the impact.

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Purpose and Vision

• Mission
• To increase the organized capacity of people to
  care for themselves and others and to mobilize
  our community to make lasting improvements in
  critical social needs areas.
• Vision
• United Way of Greater Houston will be a leader
  and trusted partner in improving lives, tackling
  key community issues and making a lasting
  difference.

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Strategic Goals 2007 - 2012

• Continue investing in quality programs and
  initiatives that provide the safety net, ensuring
  accountability and measurable impact.
• Make a lasting improvement in at least one key
  measure of community well-being by 2012.
• Enhance donor relations and expand the resource
  base to secure 100 million annually by 2012.

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Safety Net

• We will continue to assure/preserve the safety
  net
• For those who fall
• For those near the edge
• For children, families, seniors and individuals
  rebuilding lives.

Make lasting improvements in the lives of
individuals.
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Our Four Areas of Focus

• The United Way cares for people through the
  entire cycle of life
• Developing children and youth to their full
  potential
• Creating strong families and safe neighborhoods
• Sustaining senior independence
• Supporting people rebuilding their lives
• And were always ready to handle the unexpected
  in the community

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Nobody Does More for Children and Youth

• Who is going to give a generation of children a
  chance?
• Last year, United Way gave 515,300 kids the
  foundation for a better life.
• Every day, the United Way supports our children
  and youth with mentoring, tutoring and
  character-building programs such as Bright
  Beginnings and Houstons Kids.

81 of students in United Way programs were more
successful in school.
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Nobody Does More for Families and Neighborhoods

• How do families and neighborhoods get stronger?
• Last year, the United Way helped 741,500 people
  receive medical and substance abuse help,
  counseling and parenting classes, and resources
  of community centers.
• United Way is in the community every day to help
  with family stability and well-being and
  neighborhood rebuilding.

85 of moms and dads in United Way programs
improved their parenting skills.
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Nobody Does More for Seniors

• Whos got a long-term plan for seniors?
• Last year, United Way helped more than 78,900
  seniors in our area stay independent with meals,
  transportation, help with daily life and more.
• Breakthrough programs like Care for Elders and
  United Ways Gatekeeper Program assure our
  seniors have the care and resources they need to
  live independently.

84 of seniors in United Way programs received
the help they needed to remain in their own homes.
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Nobody Does More for Rebuilding Lives

• Where do you turn when you need a new start?
• Last year, United Way helped more than 601,700
  individuals start over after violence, natural
  disasters, job loss and family emergencies.
• United Way is the leader in bold programs like
  the 2-1-1 Texas/United Way HELPLINE designed to
  get people the help they need.

66 of participants in United Way programs gained
the job skills they needed to enter the
workforce.
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Investment Review

• Who is making and monitoring my investment?
• Trained Community Volunteers and United Way staff
  assess
• Agency financial status (debt ratios, cash flow,
  trend data, controls)
• Governance oversight (board participation and
  decision-making, correct documentation)
• Program effectiveness Client outcomes
• Population served
• Program efficiency (leverage, matching funds,
  collaborative efforts)

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United WayNonprofit Connection

• Thanks to United Ways Nonprofit Connection,
  Houston area nonprofits have resources such as
• Board Training
• Leadership Development
• Management Services
• Professional Networking
• Meeting Space

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2-1-1 Texas/United Way HELPLINE

• 2-1-1 Texas/United Way HELPLINE
• Is available 24 hours/day 7 days/week
• Is staffed by trained call specialists connecting
  callers in need to services
• Answered 567,690 calls in 2007
• Offers specialized services for seniors, parents
  seeking childcare for their children and persons
  experiencing disasters

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How Are We Upping The Game?

• Making a lasting improvement - select an issue
  to be tackled
• Pressing or important but not the most
  important.
• Will have community ownership.
• Issue clearly falls within United Ways four goal
  areas.
• Must have a real potential for change.

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How Did We Reach Our Conclusion?

Framework
Research
Filters
Decision
Community Input
Task Force Board

• UW Staff
• Early Childhood
• Financial
• Stability
• Seniors
• Job Skills
• Training

• Consultant
• 13 Issues
• 42 Sub Issues

• UW Staff
• Impact
• Need
• Expertise
• Partners

• Focus Groups
• 21 Groups
• 300 Stakeholders
• Community Survey
• 700 Individuals
• Donor Survey
• 358 Leadership
• Givers

Develop Strategies Community Partners Baseline
Measures
Implement
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Now is the Time toDo Something About It!

• Twelve months of research and conversations, over
  1,500 voices later, with vision and mission as
  foundation Operation Thrive has been designed.
• Operation Thrive Iifting up hardworking
  families with children
• United Way of Greater Houston uniquely positioned
  to lead
• Partners engaged, excited and anticipating our
  leadership
• Ready to launch and learn the pilot and build
  Houston as an Opportunity City for All
• Proposals will be reviewed by Board Operation
  Thrive Task Force this month

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United Way VisionHouston Opportunity City For
All
United Way of Greater Houston will help make
Houston an Opportunity City by assisting
hardworking, lower-income families with children
in their own efforts to achieve what every family
wants

• Good jobs and good wages
• Safe and affordable housing
• Financial security
• Success for their children

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A Snapshot of a Familys Finances(Mother with
Two Children)

• Sources of Income
• Wage 19,008
• Child Support 2,436
• Total Income 21,444

• Living Expenses
• Housing/Utilities 8,808
• Child Care 8,988
• Food 4,752
• Transportation 3,444
• Health Care 3,108
• Miscellaneous 2,880
• Total Living 31,980
• Finance Charges
• Check Cashing 380
• Furniture 1,809
• Pay-Day Loan 596
• Total Finance Charges 2,785
• Total Expenses 34,765
• Net Income (Deficit) (13,321)

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Observations

• This family lives in a deficit position
• Income covers only 62 of expenses
• Some things wont get paid or paid on time
• No bank account check cashing charges
• Forces participation in pay day loans
• No room for illness of mother or any other
  unexpected emergency

Work force development and job training alone
will not produce a 13,000 increase in income.
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Assisting the Family In Their Own Efforts To
Achieve Their Dreams.

• Before and After
• a Multi-Faceted Approach

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Family
Income
Wage
Child Support
Interest Income from Savings (avg. 1500 at 1.5)
Total Income
Expenses
Housing/Utilities
Child Care
Food
Transportation
Health Care
Miscellaneous
Total Household Expenses
Check-cashing
Furniture Finance Charges (valued at 2000)
Emergency Loans (or pay-day)
Total Finance Charges
Earned Income Tax Credit (federal)
Child Care Tax Credit
Child Tax Credit
Total Expenses
Net Income
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Moving Toward What Every Family Wants
College
Savings
Home Ownership
Education
Associate Degree
Accessing Affordable Products
Savings
Accessing Employment Benefits
Good Job Good Wage
GED, Job Training and Placement
Accessing Available Benefits
Multiple Jobs Low Wage
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The Number of Familiesin Our Community
Target hard working families with children
earning 20,000 - 35,000 per year.

• Per Census 2000
• 107,000 families in four (4) county area fall
  within this family definition
• Current estimate of target population in 2008
  from Greater Houston Partnership is 115,108.

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Ways to Respond to Families

• Increasing income by
• Job training/placement in higher wage jobs
• Access affordable loans including credit repair
• Wage recovery
• No-cost income tax preparation and earned income
  credit filing
• Build savings by
• Creating alternative banking relationships
• Offering match to save for home, college or
  business
• Providing comprehensive financial
  literacy/mentoring
• Acquiring assets by
• Increasing occupational English
• Establishing permanent residence
• Obtaining higher education

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United Ways Response

• United Ways Role Provide Leadership
• Lead and coordinate a comprehensive first year
  pilot
• Direct Initiative with a focus on measurable
  results
• Forge lasting relationships with providers,
  funders, businesses and public agencies
• Catalyst for new programs and services
• Policy, Research, Planning and Evaluation
• Communication of Vision of what their community
  can be and Results

Mutual Accountabilities
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Community Benefit Year One
United Way Investment 3 million
Communitys Economic Benefit 24.5 million
Return on Investment 81
Families Served 15,000 EIC 5,000 Other
Cost Per Family 33 500

• Increased purchasing power new consumers
• Increased sales tax to city/county
• Setting the foundation for the success of the
  next generation

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Why This, Why Now, Why United Way?

• If the region is to flourish in the 21st
  century, it will need to develop into a much more
  unified and inclusive multiethnic society, one in
  which equality of opportunity is truly made
  available to all citizens and all of its
  communities are invited to participate as full
  partners . . .
• Dr. Stephen Klineberg
•  

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Donor Relations andResource Expansion

• Enhance donor relations and expand the resource
  base to secure 100 million annually by 2012.

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Ways to Enhance Donor Relations
YOUNG LEADERS Emerging leaders age 45 and
under who make a personal gift of 1,000 or
more WOMENS INITIATIVE Talented women of
influence who make personal gifts of 2,500 or
more CHAIRMANS CLUB Emerging donors who are
ready to grow their gifts from 1,000 to
4,999 LEADERSHIP CIRCLE Generous donors who
are expanding their philanthropic horizons with
gifts ranging from 5,000 to 9,999 ALEXIS DE
TOCQUEVILLE SOCIETY True philanthropists who
make personal gifts of 10,000 or more
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Nobody Does More to Change the Big Picture

• For 85 years, United Way has been a leader and
  trusted partner in the community.
• We have a unique bank of practical information
  and hands-on experience to tackle challenges
  facing our area.
• We partner with corporations, social service
  agencies, faith-based organizations, nonprofits,
  government entities, and individuals to find
  comprehensive solutions.

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• Every day, on every corner, United Way is working
  for the good of all.
• Nobody does more for children, for families, for
  seniors, for individuals for Houston than
  United Way.

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Its your community.
Wont you join us? Give, the United Way.