County United Way now taking applications
Fundraising campaign
will start in September
By JENNIFER WILSON
News editor
Does your favorite Marion County nonprofit organization need money?
If so, the United Way is here to help.
The newly formed United Way of Marion County is now taking applications for grant money. The organization is affiliated with the Harvey County United Way.
Representatives from several county nonprofit agencies — ranging from Main Street Ministries of Hillsboro to Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Marion County — attended an informational meeting on Monday to learn more about the application process.
Two representatives from Harvey County were there: Leeann Smith, executive director of Harvey County United Way, and Robert Carlton, a former Harvey County board member and the chair of Marion's allocation committee. The allocation committee decides whether or not to give an organization money.
Since Marion County is new to the United Way, there are bound to be a few bumps along the way, Smith said.
"This is the first year, and I'm sure this is the toughest year," she said.
Each nonprofit group interested in receiving United Way funds must complete a 12-page application, Smith said. The application needs to show why the group needs the funds, what it will use the money for, how it will meet its goals, how it helps the local United Way, budget, number of clients served, recent audit, and 501(c)3 form, among other items.
It's vital that the application shows how many people will be directly impacted by the funding. Donors want to know who is helped with their contributions.
"Are we making certain our dollars are going to the people who need it most?" Smith said.
The organizations need to deal with health and human services — for example, an animal shelter couldn't apply for funds, Smith said.
Once the agency prepares the application strictly according to guidelines, including 30 copies of each sheet, the paperwork is assembled into binders by volunteers and presented to the Marion County allocation committee, which Robert Carlton chairs.
Representatives from the agency are also required to make a 20- to 30-minute presentation before the committee, Carlton said. Later, a committee member will take a "site visit" to the agency's headquarters or one of its local activities.
Finally, if that committee approves the request, it will go on to the Harvey County board for final approval.
Once approval is given, the money comes to the agency in the form of a yearly grant. The checks will most likely be mailed quarterly, with the first ones going out in March 2004.
But how does the United Way get the money to distribute? That comes in during campaign season, which runs in September and October of each year.
During those two months, the United Way imposes a fundraising "blackout" for the other agencies. That ensures that businesses and individuals aren't pressured for money all at the same time, Smith said.
She said that smaller fundraising activities such as product sales and concessions stands are still allowed.
A specific goal has not been set for Marion County's fundraising campaign this year, Carlton said. Instead, the organization will go by "needs," which they'll discover once all the applications have been turned in, Carlton said.
Applications are due on Friday, Sept. 5, at 3 p.m. at the Central National Bank branch in Marion.
That's where Jessie Nikkel works. Nikkel is the chair of the county's United Way advisory board and the main driving force in bringing the charitable organization to Marion County.
Although it's off to a good start, the county United Way still needs volunteers, Nikkel said.
Workers are needed for a variety of roles, from serving on the allocation committee to helping stuff envelopes for direct mail campaigns. The advisory board in particular needs representatives from the Goessel and Peabody area, she said.
Right now, the organization has $1,500 — a "start-up" sum used for items like office supplies.
For more information about the United Way of Marion County, contact Nikkel via phone at (620) 382-2129 or via e-mail at jessien@centralnational.com
Those interested can also get information from the Harvey County office, via phone at (316) 283-7101 or via e-mail at harveyunitedway@iwichita.com.
