Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1465380
15 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | APRIL 25, 2022 important. You can't be everything to all people. I think it's important to take a look at the many different programs we have and determine if they are sustainable. At a time when you are trying to reinvent yourself and think of innovative ideas, you can't be doing everything that you've been doing before. Q. What are the key focus areas right now for the United Way? A. Early childhood education and reading proficiency by fourth grade are key issues. We also have economic mobility and workforce initiatives that we have to help prepare folks to be next-generation future leaders. Basic needs, including food assistance, shelter, utilities, are also important. We were able to provide $4 million in COVID assistance during last fiscal year. Those basic needs aren't going to go away. Those are things I believe United Way will always be involved in. United Way also runs 211, the information hotline where folks can get assistance or referrals to nonprofit agencies to get services. Q. What do you think has led to the decline in workplace giving? A. There are a couple of issues at play. I think workplace culture has changed from the 1970s to 2022. In the beginning of workplace campaigns, there was a top- down approach in terms of getting employees involved and being told they need to give and need to give to this organization. I think employees today like to be involved in the decision-making process of philanthropic giving within the company. I think you see a lot more of a bottom-up approach with philanthropy. All those things are great, but United Way kind of got lost in that shuffle. We used to be the only provider of workplace campaigns and only charity that employees would give to through their employer. Now we are in a sea of charities from A to Z and we are the U in the list. That just makes us have to work harder. The nonprofit community in general has also gotten very savvy with fundraising, which has added another layer of competition. Q. Besides creating a greater focus on a single issue, are there any other strategies you are thinking about to boost workplace giving? A. If there is a company that currently doesn't do a campaign, we always like to start with volunteerism. We will start with that as the entrance point into the relationship. We will coordinate volunteer projects. It's an employee retention strategy for their HR departments It's also an education about the needs of the community and a discussion about focusing on a specific issue the company wants to fundraise around, or they may want to do a broader community giving campaign. That's the strategy around the new business side. Also, if it's a company where employee giving is declining, and there doesn't seem to be a lot of enthusiasm around that, then we look at what are the corporate giving opportunities. Q. United Way is preparing for its centennial celebration in 2024. What opportunities does that present? A. We have 18 months of preparation and a lot of our planning for the next fiscal year will be around the centennial. There will be lots of opportunities to re-engage with donors who gave to us in the past. But it will also definitely be a future- focused centennial and about the future leaders of our community. There will be a new strategic plan going into the centennial, related to programs, volunteering, marketing. On the Record United Way of Central and Northeastern CT financial snapshot FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 Revenue Campaign amounts raised $17,717,576 $14,341,464 $9,223,355 Total public support and revenue $13,031,831 $12,283,927 $12,472,596 Expenses Total community investment and program services $8,801,319 $9,034,926 $9,560,202 Total community investment, program and support services $12,686,791 $12,213,928 $13,303,935 Operating income $345,040 $69,999 ($831,339) Total margin ($271,156) ($1,538,235) $3,488,597 Source: United Way Annual Reports ABLE COIL | BOLTON CT MUNSONS CHOCOLATES | BOLTON CT COUZENS, DOMINGOS, ALLEN & ASSOCIATES LLC | TOLLAND CT MAX TRANSPORTATION | EAST GRANBY CT. Built For Small Business… R e t a i l • I n d u s t r i a l • C o m m e r c i a l • I n s t i t u t i o n a l • E d u c a t i o n • H e a l t h c a r e • R e l i g i o u s PDS Engineering & Construction has been meeting the needs of small businesses since 1965. Our dedicated team of design and construction professionals welcomes the challenge of serving its past and future customers on their most demanding projects. THINK • PLAN • BUILD 860.242.8586 | pdsec.com