The United Way of Merced County - Allocations Committee is a volunteer organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for all people in Merced County. Allocations Committee members ensures fiscal and program accountability for the donors who make contributions to the United Way. Basically, they are acting as stewards of the money donated to the United Way of Merced County. The objective of the allocations process is to deploy United Way financial support so as to maximize the resources available to agencies for services aimed at the most urgent current human care needs of the community.
Given the extent of the needs that exist in Merced County, the Committee faces the challenge of recommending how United Way funds will be distributed among new and existing charitable agencies in a way that will have the most positive impact on community needs. It is the duty of the Committee to realistically evaluate the needs of the community and make recommendations that balance the United Way’s needs-driven philosophy and today’s economic realities.

This dedicated group of volunteers challenges each agency’s effectiveness at providing quality services, the need for these services in our community and the agency’s need for United Way financial support. Each individual volunteer becomes an integral part of our allocations process. Their commitment, level of input and the hours they contributed are invaluable.

Mission of the Allocations Committee

The United Way of Merced County is a volunteer organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for all people in Merced County. The allocations process ensures fiscal and program accountability for the donors who make contributions to the United Way.

The Allocations Process

The Allocation Process ensures fiscal and program accountability among agencies receiving United Way funds while meeting the social service needs of the community. The Committee is composed of several members of the United Way of Merced County Board of Directors, and individual volunteers from a cross-section of the community representing diversity of occupation, gender, race and age.

After reviewing the proposals submitted and interviewing the agencies, the members attend a final meeting to formulate recommended allocations. Through this process, each committee member will familiarize himself or herself with the various agencies and the services provided, and then will work to arrive at a recommendation for United Way funding in the upcoming year. The board member who chairs the committee takes the committee’s recommendations to the United Way Board of Directors for consideration and approval.

Who can Apply

Any non-profit “501 (c) 3” social service agency that provides services in Merced County may apply for funding from United Way of Merced County on an annual basis. Applications are available in January each year. Funding begins in July of each year.

CONSIDERATIONS:

No Duplicity of Services

Proposed programs should not duplicate services already available within our County’s geographic area. There are some exceptions. For example, some services offered to Merced County residents within the City of Merced, such as hot meals, may be too far for residents from the Westside to come. Therefore, a separate meals program in Gustine or Los Banos could receive funding even though there is a preexisting program available in the City of Merced.

Services must be Cost Effective

The proposed program services must be cost effective or the agency faces loosing funding for that program in the future. If the Allocations Committee feels that a service is being provided at too high of a cost, they have the option of denying funds or putting the agency on notice that they need to show better results next year. If the program can show good cause for extraordinary expenditures, an exception can be made but, it is up to the person making the presentation to be able to explain during their presentation’s allotted time.

Community Building

Community building involves helping to clarify the community consensus on its highest priorities for improvement, and be a catalyst for positive change. It also involves helping raise and focuses enough human and financial resources to achieve the desired community outcomes. The Allocation Process brings diverse people and resources together to address the most urgent issues their communities face. Through unique partnerships and approaches, United Way can mobilize community partners beyond the dollars that are pledged through fund-raising efforts. Through community building efforts, the United Way of Merced County and its Allocation Committee seeks to build a safe, healthy, and productive community where people want to live, work and raise their families.