The United Way of Central Maryland

Objective of program: for nearly 100 years, United Way of Central Maryland (United Way) has been a human service leader for The region, encouraging all Central marylanders to give, advocate and volunteer. United Way is dedicated to helping individuals and families facing poverty to meet their basic needs, stabilize and achieve self-sufficient lives. We do this through grantmaking, collaboration, promoting volunteerism and advocacy, and mobilizing resources as a trusted fundraiser. Additionally, United Way addresses local needs and creates impact through targeted direct-service initiatives.united Way uses expertise, data, and local knowledge to better understand The issues facing Central marylanders and to make informed investment and programmatic decisions. As part of this work, United Way convenes local stakeholders and actively works to develop collective impact strategies in partnership with other nonprofit organizations and government agencies. United Way has moved beyond fundraising and grantmaking and into creating innovative direct-service initiatives that support family stability in high need communities. United Way implements evidence-based best practices and incubates promising ideas in The areas of education, housing, health, and workforce development.united Way grantmakingthrough our grantmaking, United Way works to sustain and grow The capacity of community-based partners to strengthen families and neighborhoods, underpinning The community safety net and improving The lives of Central marylanders who work hard but still can't make ends meet. We direct funding annually to over 100 nonprofit organizations through grants that target specific community needs, most through a competitive allocation process administered by our volunteer region United network advisory boards (run boards). In fy23, United Way provided seven types of grants: neighborhood grants - are available through a competitive grant opportunity launched in fy21 and continued in subsequent years, that focuses on amplifying The power of residents. United Way has come to believe that The true path to real, lasting and systemic change in our neighborhoods is one that is community-led, informed by their in-depth knowledge of their neighborhood's existing assets and needs and inspired by their desire for a healthier, happier community. Nonprofit organizations with annual operating budgets of $500,000 or less are eligible to apply for a neighborhood grant. Funding decisions are informed by our United Way's six local region United network (run) boards, serving each of Central Maryland's jurisdictions: baltimore city, and anne arundel, baltimore, carroll, harford and howard counties. Funds are allocated among The six jurisdictions based on relative alice population. Run board members evaluate applications and recommend grants of between $2,500 and $10,000 each. In fy23, United Way awarded 80 neighborhood grants totaling $753,243. Changemaker challenge grants - are available through an open, competitive grant opportunity that sparks social innovation to address challenges facing our communities. Changemaker challenge is held every other year. In fy22 we received 147 changemaker challenge applications. Finalists, selected within each Central Maryland jurisdiction, were provided support to further develop their ideas and create a two-minute pitch video. Five live events were held (via zoom) where videos were shown, applicants responded to questions from a community panel, and changemaker awards were announced. In total, 36 changemaker awards were made totaling $520,000. For anne arundel, baltimore, harford and howard counties and baltimore city, The changemaker challenge is held every two years, with The next one scheduled for fy24. In fy23 United Way continued to partner with The carroll county chamber of commerce to award a $5,000 changemaker grant through their annual biz challenge, to The applicant who demonstrates The best promise for creating positive social impact. Neighbors United grants are disbursed by The United Way in conjunction with The neighbors United programmatic team to provide capacity building and community engagement support to local non-profits to respond to neighborhood/community needs. The first cohort of three partners were selected in fy20. Two partners received a grant in fy23 for The fourth year of implementation to continue their work of engaging and supporting residents in The pioneer drive community in anne arundel county, and in The baltimore county community of lansdowne. Family stability program grants are awarded to organizations wishing to serve as funded partners in The implementation of a regional homelessness prevention program model with demonstrated success. United Way's family stability program (fsp) has worked for 11 years to prevent homelessness for at-risk families. It is based on The siemer institute's evidence-based model used nationwide to prevent homelessness for families. An open, competitive process was held in fy21 to identify implementation partners who would receive funding for up to four years, through a yearly renewal process. In fy22 and fy23, all ten implementation partners' grants were renewed. Directed grants are awarded to qualified nonprofit organizations based on recommendations from United Way run boards and/or staff. United Way's board of directors approves direct grants to support our impact strategy programs and address community needs in The areas of education, health, housing, and workforce development. Covid-19 community fund grants these grant opportunities, which began in march 2020 were specifically designed and extended to community partners to address The most critical community needs stemming from The covid-19 global pandemic, including areas such as: access to food, mental health, digital access, and health/safety services. Baltimore city summer funding collaborative United Way participates in a multi-funder collaborative that solicits grant applications for summer programs serving school-aged youth in baltimore city. Through this process, organizations seeking funding are able to submit one application which is reviewed by multiple local funders. In fy23, United Way provided grants totaling $75,000 to four organizations through this funding process.grant eligibility criteriathe following eligibility requirements apply to organizations/agencies seeking funding from United Way, with The few exceptions noted below. Organizations must provide: copy of their irs determination letter identifying The organization as a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) or other most recent copy (within The last two fiscal years) of one of The following financial documents: o financial audit of their organization (preferred for all organizations and required for organizations with annual revenues of $750,000 or more)o financial review, conducted by an independent auditor (acceptable only for organizations with total gross charitable income of $749,999 or less) good standing certificate of status - from Maryland's state department of assessments & taxation (sdat) current roster of their board of directors eligibility exceptions applicants who are not able to meet United Way's eligibility requirements may use a fiscal agent. In these cases, The fiscal agent is required to provide The necessary documents. Neighborhood grants because of The size of The grant awards, and driven by United Way's desire to support smaller non-profits, those organizations with annual revenues below $300,000 are not required to submit a financial review, and may instead submit an internally created document such as a form 990, profit/loss statement, etc. Changemaker challenge in addition to nonprofit organizations, United Way's changemaker challenge is open to individuals and groups of individuals.

United Way neighborhood zones: in october 2017, United Way of Central Maryland (uwcm) took over The operations of The ben center in brooklyn, baltimore city, Maryland, and integrated The strategy/programs into operations. The original neighborhood zone, The uw neighborhood zone in brooklyn, is operated out of benjamin franklin high school in The brooklyn/curtis bay neighborhood of baltimore city. This unique concept has been designed to create a "hub" within The community that provides a safe, nurturing environment for students and community members to not only seek out a vast array of services, but to be active participants in shaping their community to be what will help them fulfill their hopes and dreams for themselves, their family, and The community.neighborhood zones are focused on multi-generational supports in The areas of social, economic, and educational advancement. Neighborhood zones emerge from listening to what people want and need to succeed on their terms and are co-created by those who live and work in The designated geographical area. The team builds on assets to fill in gaps and encourages collaboration and coordination. Programs and initiatives include but are not limited to housing and employment assistance, high school dropout prevention, mental health services, access to healthy food, advocacy, neighborhood led services and resources and The United Way family center.uwcm now has three neighborhood zones, in brooklyn and poppleton in baltimore city, and in columbia in howard county. Each zone addresses The unique needs of their respective neighborhoods. The uw family center in each zone provides quality childcare, early childhood education, and family supports. The family centers in brooklyn and poppleton also provide intensive parenting supports to student parents so that they can stay in school and graduate, and break The cycle of teen pregnancy. The success of these zones led to The creation of The neighbors United initiative, a resident led, community building initiative adapted from st. joseph's health system in ca. Neighbors United coaches residents to identify assets and challenges together and work with allies to improve health, security, and economic well-being of their communities. This approach promotes building power structures that put residents in a position of strength and self-determination. Communities progress through neighbors United with The guidance of a lead agency that is embedded in The community and supported by United Way of Central Maryland. Neighbors United sites progress from this initiative to become a neighborhood zone.multiple initiatives and programs have blossomed out of neighborhood zones based on what is heard from The community and what The data shows. United for childcare is an initiative recently created to address The national childcare crisis. The focus of United for childcare is to transform The early childhood education ecosystem through a multi-generational strategy that elevates The childcare profession and expands access to quality, affordable early childhood education to close The racial educational and wealth gap. Fiscal year 2023 (fy23) was spent on listening, researching and building a collaborative that will decide how to move The initiative forward.key outcomes of uw neighborhood zones include: o The family center at benjamin franklin high school has provided intensive parenting supports to 122 students and early childhood education to 98 children, cumulative since 2014 through fy23. The center has helped 63 student parents graduate high school, including nine (9) graduates from The 2022-23 school year. The cumulative, 5-year cohort graduation rate of family center student parents is 67%.o The social-emotional wellness program at benjamin franklin high school continues to grow. In The 2022-23 school year The program served 250 students, approximately 32% of The entire student body. Students received individual and group counseling, crisis intervention/mediation, and wellness programming.o The family center at excel academy (in poppleton) has provided intensive parenting supports to 31 students and early childhood education to 28 children, cumulative since 2022 through fy23. The center has helped 10 student parents graduate high school. The 5-year cohort graduation rate of family center student parents is 100% based on one class cohort thus far.o The columbia family center has served 12 families since its opening in fy23. O two free wifi hot spots were installed at community partner sites in fy22. These hot spots have served over 2,100 residents per month.

Objective of program:211 Maryland is an accessible, free of charge, 24 hours a day information and referral service for The state of Maryland. People seeking information about services such as food assistance, shelter, medical care, substance abuse treatment, protection from domestic violence, and many more, can call this easy-to-use helpline. Available in 150+ languages, 211 connects callers to trained, certified call specialists at one of four nationally accredited call centers in Maryland who assess their needs and link them to The right solutions using a comprehensive database of federal, state and local services - both government and non-profit. 211 is part of The national 211 system available in all 50 states, The district of columbia, and puerto rico. 211 systems are instrumental in identifying needs or gaps in services, providing a more accurate picture of local needs and emerging trends.results of program:dduring fy 2023, 211 Maryland United Way helpline received 142,675 calls and answered 112,618 calls. Housing assistance (35%), utility assistance (15%) and food assistance (9%) ranked as The top three needs presented. Requests for health/mental health services (6%) dropped from last year to rank 5th, after tax assistance (7%).211 worked with The fuel fund of Maryland to provide expedited utility assistance to older adults as well as other bge customers who are at risk of having their utilities turned off and who had applied for energy assistance through ohep. Additionally, 211 worked with constellation home to provide heating systems and repairs for those in need during The winter months. 211 also partnered with The Maryland department of human services to provide food delivery to callers, increasing access to food. In partnership with The cash campaign of Maryland, 211 worked to increase awareness of eitc and free tax preparation sites. 211 handled 7,411 calls for free tax preparation. Our follow-up surveys demonstrated that 73% of The people who called 211 received The services that they were seeking. This is up from 72% in fy22. The low percentage of callers who received help may be due to The delay of availability of resources for callers seeking housing and utility assistance.211 has partnered with civil justice and a2j tech to develop a statewide coordinated intake system for access to counsel in evictions with funding from Maryland legal services corporation (mlsc). This system connects people facing eviction with free legal counsel. The system was designed and soft launched in baltimore city in may 2023.