United Way Of Missoula County

UNITED WAY OF MISSOULA COUNTY BUILDS A BETTER COMMUNITY FOR ALL, ESPECIALLY IN THE AREAS OF EDUCATION, FINANCIAL STABILITY, AND HEALTH. WE COLLABORATE WITH DIVERSE COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO IDENTIFY IMPORTANT SOCIAL ISSUES AND BRING TOGETHER RESOURCES TO ADDRESS THEM. WE GIVE DONORS A TRUSTED WAY TO SUPPORT CRITICAL SERVICES FOR PEOPLE IN NEED, AND WE MAKE SURE THAT DONATIONS ARE INVESTED WISELY.

THROUGH BROAD-BASED, RESULTS-ORIENTED COLLABORATIONS WITH OTHER NONPROFITS, DONORS, BUSINESSES, THE UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA, LOCAL AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE FAITH COMMUNITY AND OTHER DIVERSE PARTNERS, UNITED WAY DRIVES PROGRESS IN IMPLEMENTING SOLUTIONS TO IDENTIFIED PRIORITIES IN ITS THREE AREAS OF FOCUS. UNITED WAY ALSO SERVES AS A CONDUIT FOR DONORS WHO DESIRE A TRUSTED, ONE-STOP WAY TO INVEST IN HIGH-QUALITY PROGRAMS THAT PRODUCE MEASURABLE RESULTS, ENSURING THAT CHARITABLE DOLLARS ARE SPENT WISELY AND WELL IN THE COMMUNITY. CURRENT INITIATIVES IN WHICH UNITED WAY PLAYS A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN TERMS OF VISIONING, CONVENING, FUNDING, STAFFING, AND IN-KIND ASSISTANCE INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: EDUCATION: MISSOULA ZERO TO FIVE (IMPROVING OUTCOMES FOR FAMILIES AND KIDS AGES 0-5); DOLLY PARTON'S IMAGINATION LIBRARY (FREE BOOK-GIFTING PROGRAM THAT PROMOTES KINDERGARTEN READINESS); GRADUATION MATTERS MISSOULA (VARIOUS INITIATIVES ADVANCING STUDENT SUCCESS); THE BACK TO SCHOOL BASH (ANNUAL SCHOOL-SUPPLY DRIVE).FINANCIAL STABILITY: REACHING HOME: MISSOULA'S 10-YEAR PLAN TO END HOMELESSNESS. FOR ITS FIRST FIVE YEARS, REACHING HOME WAS HOUSED AT AND STAFFED BY UNITED WAY; IN 2017, THE PROGRAM WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE CITY OF MISSOULA, TO PROVIDE THE INITIATIVE WITH ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND OTHER RESOURCES. UNITED WAY REMAINS THE PLAN'S PRINCIPAL PRIVATE-SECTOR FUNDRAISER AND ADVOCATE. HEALTH: 5-2-1-0 LET'S MOVE! MISSOULA (CHILDHOOD OBESITY PREVENTION BY ENCOURAGING INCREASED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND HEALTHY EATING); PROJECT TOMORROW MONTANA (SUICIDE PREVENTION). DISASTER RELIEF: UNITED WAY IS ALSO MISSOULA COUNTY'S DESIGNATED FINANCIAL PARTNER, SERVING AS A REPOSITORY FOR PRIVATE DONATIONS TO ALLEVIATE NATURAL DISASTERS, SUCH AS FIRE AND FLOODS. UNITED WAY RECEIVES, ACKNOWLEDGES AND, WITH A PANEL OF VOLUNTEER ADVISORS, DISBURSES DONATED FUNDS TO HELP FAMILIES AND ORGANIZATIONS AFFECTED BY NATURAL DISASTERS. UNITED WAY ALSO PROVIDES GRANT FUNDING TO CAREFULLY SCREENED AND QUALIFIED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN MISSOULA AND RAVALLI COUNTIES WHOSE WORK ALIGNS WITH AND ADVANCES THE GOALS OF THE ABOVE EDUCATION, FINANCIAL STABILITY AND HEALTH INITIATIVES. EACH INITIATIVE HAS ITS OWN ADVISORY BOARD OF LOCAL VOLUNTEERS WITH EXPERTISE IN THE RESPECTIVE INITIATIVE AREAS. FUNDING DECISIONS ARE MADE COLLABORATIVELY BY UNITED WAY STAFF, MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY IMPACT COMMITTEE, AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. FUNDED PROGRAMS COMPLY WITH CERTAIN MUTUALLY AGREED-UPON CONDITIONS, SPELLED OUT IN WRITTEN MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING, AND RESULTS ARE EVALUATED BY UNITED WAY, IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT DONOR DOLLARS ARE INVESTED WISELY AND WELL.