For the nonprofit agencies operating under the umbrella of the Lowndes County United Way, several classic axioms hold true: Money doesn”t grow on trees. And you can”t always get what you want.
The United Way is in the midst of its allocation process, the time of year when it decides how much money each of its organizations will receive for the fiscal year. With its FY 2011 campaign total sitting at $593,433, United Way Director Jan Ballard says each agency should receive level funding — an amount equal to last year”s allocation — but there”s no guarantee.
“We are still in a recession,” said Ballard.
The United Way is in better shape than it was last year but behind its fundraising totals from two years ago. A recent $10,000 donation this month, which came on the heels of a $25,000 anonymous donation, has the organization on the cusp of reaching its $600,000 goal.
Still, with 17 agencies holding out their hands, $600,000 will go fast, and Ballard expects the United Way will be forced to dip into its reserve funds.
Allocations committee
Before the United Way”s executive board makes the final call on funding, each of its agencies undergoes careful analysis by community volunteers.
“I”ve done this about four years now,” said Tina Elder of the Columbus Police Department, one of 34 volunteers who underwent a brief training session to be a part of the 2010 allocations process. “You just learn so much about the different agencies and how they need things when you want to help them.”
Thornton Tarvin, a retiree from Galloway-Chandler-McKinney Insurance, is one of the rookies.
“I”m looking forward to the process — seeing how it”s done and what I can contribute,” he said. “I volunteer at the Red Cross. I”ve seen their agency in operation, and I wanted to see where the money came from.”
Asking questions
Megan Pratt, administrative director at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle, is also new to the process. As she left a Jan. 5 training at the downtown Cadence Bank, she cycled through potential interview questions in her mind.
“Since this is my first time to do this I”m probably going to need to do a lot of reading in my (United-Way provided) book,” said Pratt. “I”d definitely like to know what they use the money for. I”m familiar with these organizations but I don”t know a lot about what they use the money for.
“If they”re asking for an increase, why? I”m sure there”ll be other questions as I look at this information.”
Understanding the agencies
Stewart Stafford, a real estate developer and allocation chair for the executive committee, says the benefits of serving on the allocations committee go deeper than just ensuring the community”s money is being well spent.
“The other aspect is you get five or six people out of the community to go in and get involved in the nuts and bolts of each one of these agencies and really see what they do. There”s no telling how many times in conversation someone will say ”Contact Helpline does such and such.” And I”ll say, ”Well, in my understanding, really they do a little differently.”” he said. “It”s really an eye-opening experience. In a town our size, I don”t think you can overstate the importance of having those connections.”
A first-hand look
One week after training, an allocation panel visited the Greater Columbus Learning Center on Military Road.
“We do all things academic,” said Ellie Graham, director of the learning center, describing her mission to the panel members. “We”re free to the public to those not in school. Anyone over 16 can enroll.”
Taking the group on a quick tour of the center”s humble offices, she introduced them to the instructors, showed them the computer lab and counted off the various types of students — about 800 every year — who take advantage of the center”s services. The center offers GED and adult basic education courses, English as a second language and computer-literacy training.
The learning center is asking for $20,000, a fraction of its operating budget, “to pull down money from other grants that require matching dollars,” Graham explained.
Takes money to make money
The $20,000 from the United Way could be turned into hundreds of thousands of dollars, she said.
For some agencies, the bulk of their funds comes from the United Way.
“What if you receive only $10,000, half of what you ask for?” Bob McCallister, director of human resources at BMH-GT, asked.
“We”ll have to start looking for new grants,” Graham responded, explaining how the learning center saves the state money in the long run. “We can educate a person for less than public schools.”
The budget, according to Ballard, will evolve constantly until allocation day, as money from last-minute campaigns comes in. But much of it is already spent and reserves will be tapped. The Lowndes County Board of Supervisors has donated $100,000 earmarked for eight agencies dual-funded by the county and the United Way.
Spreading the wealth
Approximately 20 percent of the overall funds will go to administrative costs — salaries for employees, rent and campaign costs. But Ballard and her staff are far from getting rich off the $600,000. The four United Way of Lowndes County employees haven”t seen raises in three years and have no health benefits.
Dennis Erby, chairman of the United Way board of directors, says the administrative costs are as low as possible.
“If you have competent people doing competent jobs you have to take care of your employees,” he said. “There are a lot of benefits we would like to have for them. We just can”t afford it. They watch the budget close enough to make sure they”re not excessive in any areas,” he said.
The United Way of Lowndes County”s executive committee will finalize allocations on Feb. 25.
Jason Browne was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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