United Way of the Greater Capital Region Community ... · United Way uses Results-Based Accountability (RBA) to identify desired results, indicators, strategies and performance measures

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United Way of the Greater Capital Region

Community Investments 2016 - 2018

Request for Letters of Intent

Included, please find information regarding:

Community Impact

Community Investments

Grant Terms and Requirements

Letter of Intent


Request for Letters of Intent 2016-18 Community Investments

United Way of the Greater Capital Region (United Way) improves lives and advances the common good

in the Capital Region by mobilizing the caring power of donors, volunteers and community partners to

give, volunteer and advocate for people in need. We are committed to making an impact in the areas of

Basic Needs, Education, Income, and Health. Research and experience demonstrate that these are the

building blocks for a strong community and a good quality of life for all. As part of our approach to

address these needs in our community, United Way is issuing a request for Letters of Intent (LOI) for

Community Investments. The Community Investment process is open and competitive to 501(c)(3) and

other health and human service organizations with tax exempt status serving the low income and

vulnerable in Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, and Schoharie counties.

Community Impact

United Way has taken a leadership position to bring together the necessary partners to improve

conditions in our five county service area. In releasing this investment framework, it is important to

acknowledge that no single funder has the resources to tackle issues alone. Community level change

requires broad partnerships that take collective responsibility for progress. We will enlist others to work

with us and join community efforts to help ensure we accomplish as much as possible in the areas of

Basic Needs, Education, Income and Health. We will also work to advocate for change and mobilize

volunteer resources to advance community conditions. Additionally, we recognize that achieving

significant change in a complex environment is an ongoing process. We are committed to the long term

health of our region and will continuously reevaluate the performance of our investment strategies,

always striving for excellence.

United Way invests financial resources from its Community Care Fund through the Community

Investment grant process. The Community Care Fund is made up of unrestricted donor contributions

made to United Way from across the Capital Region. By purposefully investing donor gifts to respond to

community needs, we seek to achieve measurable impact in community conditions. Funding

recommendations are made by trained volunteers who represent the diverse interests of the

community and who are committed to creating opportunities for a better life for all. These investment

volunteers evaluate applications from potential grantees and make recommendations to the Board of

Directors.

It is critical to know that our work is making a difference and that we are using Community Care Fund

dollars in the most effective way to achieve measureable results. We will monitor program investments

to ensure individual programs are working toward intended results. We will also evaluate our funding

strategies to ensure that we are improving lives in the Capital Region.


As we move forward we will continue to:

Involve our funded partners in ongoing strategy and performance evaluations

Consider agency performance and emerging community needs to explore opportunities for community action

Engage outside experts when needed

Strive to collect the most pertinent information for understanding and demonstrating the impact of programs and services

Share results broadly

Results-Based Accountability

United Way uses Results-Based Accountability (RBA) to identify desired results, indicators, strategies

and performance measures. This approach offers a disciplined way of thinking and taking action to

improve the quality of life in communities as well as evaluate the performance of programs, agencies

and service systems (Friedman, 2005). RBA follows a process that requires organizations to consider the

desired goals and determine the means to achieve it.

One important feature of the RBA approach is its emphasis on two levels of measurement: Population

Accountability and Performance Accountability. Population Accountability focuses on the well-being of

a substantial set of people and measures results by examining changes in community-level indicators or

conditions. Performance Accountability focuses on the well-being of individuals receiving services and

seeks to answer three basic questions regarding the implementation of those services:

How much did we do?

How well did we do it?

Is anyone better off?

Taken alone, neither population nor performance accountability provide a complete picture of the

successes or failings of an intervention or set of interventions. Together, however, these measures

provide information on the results achieved over time and offer opportunities to determine areas for

improvement. Utilizing RBA enables United Way to invest its resources wisely and provide information

on results to our investors and the community at large.

For more information on the Results-Based Accountability framework, please review the following

website: www.resultsaccountability.com.

http://www.resultsaccountability.com/


Community Investments

Agencies funded in the 2016-2018 investment process will coordinate programs and services around

shared results we want for our community, the ways in which we will measure these results and the

strategies we will use to get there. Funded agencies will utilize common performance measures to

quantify the degree to which customers are better off as a result of the service or program. Through

establishing common ground across a variety of agencies conducting similar work, as well as through the

coordinated collection of data, United Way will be able to measure the successes of programs and

services in the Capital Region and highlight the need that still exists.

United Way celebrates diversity in all of its forms. We respect, value, and celebrate the unique

attributes, characteristics and perspectives that make each person who they are. We also believe that

bringing diverse individuals together allows us to collectively and more effectively address the issues

that face our communities. It is our aim, therefore, that our partners, strategies, and investments reflect

these core values.

We invest in programs and partnerships that address identified community needs and achieve

measurable results. Annual grants will be awarded in the amounts of $10,000 to $40,000. The Platforms

and Focus Areas shown in the following diagram highlight United Way’s Community Investment

Framework and will be used to guide funding decisions. The nine Focus Areas categorize types of need

to structure community efforts and facilitate the investment process; however, we appreciate that

human services lead to improved quality of life in multiple ways. To be considered for funding, all

programs must select one Focus Area to apply under, and must work toward the Result listed.

.


In the pages that follow, each of United Way’s Platforms is discussed using the nine Focus Areas to

organize our intentions for the community. The Strategies listed below each Result are United Way’s

funding intentions. We will invest in the programs and services consistent with these Strategies. Please

see Appendix A for a complete view of the Community Investment Framework.


Basic Needs Platform

United Way works to achieve community impact through stabilizing individuals in crisis by helping them

meet their basic needs for food, shelter and safety. We support services to help individuals and families

struggling to meet their basic needs and to establish a foundation upon which they can begin to address

the other challenges they face. United Way’s three Focus Areas within its Basic Needs Platform are

Domestic Safety, Housing Stability and Food Security & Nutrition.

Domestic Safety

Locally, our residents aim to cultivate a community wherein individuals are free from abuse, neglect and

fear. However, the Division of Criminal Justice Services reports that in in 2014 there were 4,924 victims

of domestic violence the Capital District. Victim counts are reported for aggravated assault, simple

assault, sex offenses, and violation of protective orders. Domestic violence victims are identified by

their relationship to the offender and include spouses, ex-spouses, those in intimate relationships,

siblings, children, grandparents, grandchildren, in-laws, stepparents, stepsiblings, and other blood and

in-law relationships. The negative effects of such violence are far reaching. Studies consistently show

that adults and children exposed to repeated violence suffer from immediate medical concerns and are

at risk of developing chronic diseases, mental health conditions, social maladies and substance abuse

issues. Those experiencing abuse may lack the most basic resources including financial independence

and the ability to secure stable housing. Early intervention, safety planning, and the provision of various

support services to enhance self-sufficiency are critical in addressing family violence.

United Way invests in domestic safety programs that focus on stabilizing individuals and families

experiencing crises and taking action toward improving their safety. Among these actions are building a

safety plan, employing services to file police reports, and securing orders of protection. Acknowledging

that domestic safety is often fostered over time, we also invest in programs and services that help

individuals and families access ongoing assistance, including:

Financial Services- opening a bank account, securing government benefits, employment readiness

Mental health services – participating in substance abuse treatment, support groups, counseling, and case management

Interpersonal supports- increasing knowledge of healthy, supportive relationships and developing strong support systems

Basic Needs Platform: People meet their basic needs for food, shelter and safety.

Domestic Safety Result: People are free from abuse, neglect and fear.

Strategy 1: Ensure individuals and/or families in crisis take initial steps to move toward safety

Strategy 2: Promote long term safety by facilitating family support systems and community connections


Housing Stability

Individuals and families in our region deserve safe, stable and nurturing surroundings. When people

have permanent and affordable housing they are better able to meet the basic needs of their families

and contribute positively to the community. In June of 2015 alone, 607 adults and 252 children sought

emergency shelter in our area according to the Capital Region Coalition to End Homelessness. Many

members of our community are narrowly avoiding homelessness and are considered housing unstable.

In 2013, according to the American Community Survey, 76,927 households in the Greater Capital Region

paid more than 35% of their income on housing. This condition puts individuals and families at a

substantially higher risk for homelessness. Children in unstable housing environments are at increased

risk of emotional distress, exposure to violence, inadequate healthcare, poor academic outcomes, and

poor nutrition. Adults suffer health, behavioral and criminal costs due to homelessness.

United Way invests in programs and services that stabilize individuals and families at risk of

homelessness. Homelessness prevention may include but is not limited to, engaging in landlord

mediation, ongoing case management to address the wider issues facing the family, and financial

assistance so that a family will remain housed, prevent eviction, or maintain utility service. Additionally,

United Way invests in programs and services that assist homeless individuals and families to move

toward housing stabilization. Programs that facilitate the homeless becoming permanently housed in

the community or securing other positive placement outcomes such as emergency shelter, temporary

housing and transitional housing, bring about positive effects. Similarly, programs that support

individuals and moving toward self-sufficiency by receiving government benefits, following treatment

plans, engaging in case management or legal assistance are consistent with our vision for a healthy,

thriving community.


Housing Stability Result: People have safe, permanent and affordable housing.

Strategy 1: Prevent homelessness of individuals and/or families

Strategy 2: Support homeless individuals and/or families


Food Security and Nutrition

Across our community, our goal is for all people to have reliable access to affordable and sufficient food

and nutrition in order to lead active, healthy lives. Yet, 12% of Capital Region households are food

insecure, which means they struggle with access to food and nutrition. Households balancing the

purchase of food against fixed costs such as housing, medicine or childcare have to make tough

decisions about what, and if, to feed their families. Low income and vulnerable populations often

cannot access the nutrition they need in part due to economic constraints including unaffordable

grocery costs. There are also physical barriers to accessing healthy food including limited mobility or

lack of transportation to sources of nutritious food. While convenience stores and fast food restaurants

are prevalent, full service grocery stores, farmer’s markets, and healthy alternatives are regularly

located a great distance from the individuals who are least able to travel to them. To decrease hunger

in our community we must provide people with meals and food to fill in what they cannot afford to

purchase and simultaneously increase access to affordable, nutritious foods.

United Way invests in programs that stabilize food insecure individuals and households by meeting their

nutritional needs. Short term or emergency feeding programs are essential for assisting individuals and

families during times of crisis. United Way also recognizes the prevalence of chronic hunger and food

insecurity, and invests in programs and strategies that allow food insecure individuals to increase their

access to sustainable sources of food and nutrition. Increasing knowledge and consumption of

nutritious food helps improve outcomes for our community for years to come.


Food Security & Nutrition Result:

People have access to affordable and sufficient food and nutrition.

Strategy 1: Stabilize food insecure individuals and/or households by meeting nutritional needs

Strategy 2: Increase the capacity to access food and nutrition for food insecure individuals and/or households


Education Platform

United Way works to achieve community impact through tackling issues in education, making sure

children and youth have the foundation for success from cradle to career. Education is the cornerstone

of individual and community achievement and all children deserve the chance to grow into healthy,

educated and productive members of society. United Way’s two focus areas within its Education

Platform are Early Care & Education and Youth Development.

Early Care and Education

Children’s early years are a critical time for learning and development. We all have an interest in

ensuring our youngest community members are socially, emotionally, physically and intellectually

prepared to enter kindergarten. According to the American Community Survey, 20% of Capital Region

children under five years old live in poverty, with 70% of our region’s urban students being economically

disadvantaged. Children living in low-income households or who experience other significant risk

factors, have a higher incidence of developmental delays and disabilities than the general population.

Further, children who fall short of reaching developmental milestones often display challenging

behaviors as signs and symptoms of developmental deficits both at home and in early care settings.

Without early intervention, these children will continue to fall behind. Assisting caregivers in identifying

developmental milestones and taking action to address developmental delays is critical to securing the

support young children need. Early screening and intervention are effective methods for preventing

problems from reaching acute levels, ensuring children have the support services they need to facilitate

future educational, workplace and life success.

United Way invests in early childhood programs that use developmental assessments to identify

milestones, concerns and delays, provide tailored services to meet the individual needs of children, and

link those children with delays to appropriate services. Additionally, recognizing the vital role caregivers

play at home and in early care settings, United Way invests in programs that partner with caregivers,

teaching them to recognize developmental milestones and delays, understand appropriate interventions

and be able to access them.

Education Platform: Children and youth have the foundation for success from cradle to career.

Early Care & Education Result:

Children are socially, emotionally, physically and intellectually prepared to enter kindergarten.

Strategy 1: Support the social emotional, physical and cognitive development of children in early care settings

Strategy 2: Enhance the ability of caregivers to support children’s development


Youth Development

Youth are better able to reach their full potential in school and in life when they have support for

academic achievement, and social-emotional development. With only 20% of a students’ time spent in

school each year, out of school time serves as an integral part of a youth’s education. A community web

of social, cultural, educational and economic resources can help youth effectively cope with adversity.

High-quality expanded learning opportunities perform this role by offering enrichment, life-skill training

and social-emotional skill building activities that improve students’ development into adulthood.

Engagement in expanded learning opportunities is also linked to significant gains in standardized test

scores, improved work habits, reduced delinquency activities and reductions in behavioral problems

among disadvantaged students. Programming designed to address the needs of students is critical to

their ability to acquire the skills required for independence. Similarly, throughout their school-age

years, connecting youth with as many well-trained, supportive adults as possible, both in and out of

school, nurtures their strengths, bolsters their support networks and enhances their resilience. For at-

risk youth from struggling homes or low-income neighborhoods, which offer limited role models or

positive outlets for young people, building relationships with adults is particularly important. In the 20th

Congressional District alone, there are 17,000 children ages 6-17 living in poverty according to the Kids

Count Data book. Adults provide much needed emotional support, guidance that fosters a youth’s self-

esteem, and help cultivate both healthy environments and relationships for these youth.

United Way invests in programs that provide youth with readers, tutors and mentors which play an

important role in helping them develop strong reading skills, academic success and a positive sense of

self. Additionally, United Way invests in our youths’ social, emotional and intellectual development

through expanded learning opportunities. These programs work to improve skills such as the ability to

develop and sustain positive peer relationships, engage in teamwork, practice leadership skills and

resolve conflicts. As part of an effort to improve academic achievement in youth, these programs

enhance school success by improving attitude, attendance, and participation.


Youth Development Result: Youth reach their full potential in school and in life.

Strategy 1: Promote youth success by engaging readers, tutors and mentors

Strategy 2: Promote social, emotional and intellectual development in youth through expanded learning opportunities


Income Platform

United Way works to achieve community impact regarding income stability through making sure people

are financially secure and self-reliant. To address the obstacles that prevent hard working families from

getting ahead financially, United Way promotes strategies to help families meet financial needs while

gaining the capacity to plan for and accomplish their long-term financial goals. United Way’s two Focus

Areas within its Income Platform are Financial Literacy and Stability, and Workforce Development.

Financial Literacy and Stability

Over the past twenty years, the cost of living in the United States has increased by almost 90 percent,

while average incomes have only increased 25 percent. Keeping up with the rising cost of living has left

many families living paycheck to paycheck. Without savings or assets to help buffer against financial

hardship, these individuals and families are vulnerable to crisis, have limited ability to save for long-term

advancement and are at substantially higher risk for engaging in financially risky behavior. To make

ends meet, families are relying on high-cost banking alternatives to cover many of their living expenses.

A study conducted by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) estimated that 6.7% of Capital

Region households are “unbanked,” or do not currently have checking or savings accounts, while 38% of

Capital Region households, are “underbanked” and rely on alternative financial services including non-

bank money orders, nonbank check cashing services, payday loans, rent to own agreements, pawn

shops or refund anticipation loans. For these individuals and families, a bank or credit union account

can be the first step in saving, planning for the future, building credit and climbing the economic ladder.

Low-income families face a lack of financial awareness and lack access to supports and services to

manage what income, savings and assets they have. To address these obstacles, we will support quality

financial education and training, as well as organizations that assist individuals and families with the

prudent management of income, savings and assets.

Through United Way funding, individuals and families will benefit from consumer education regarding

personal finances and will gain knowledge in order to engage in the activities they need to move toward

financial stability. Investing in services that teach community members to understand the benefits of

bank accounts, direct deposit, and credit ratings, will give individuals and families a start to becoming

financially stable. United Way also invests in programs that help individuals and families to maintain

financial stability through the management of their income, savings and assets. These programs will

assist community members engage in sound financial behaviors including paying bills on time and

making informed decisions about goods and services that are fairly priced and within budget; as well as

avoiding risky financial services, instead utilizing financial tools such as debt forgiveness plans, financial

goal setting, debt counselors, banks providing low-cost checking accounts and credit improvement

specialists.


Income Platform: People are financially secure and self-reliant.

Financial Literacy & Stability Result:

People have the skills and resources to secure and maintain assets.

Strategy 1: Ensure individuals and families have the knowledge and skills to become financially secure

Strategy 2: Help individuals and families maintain financial stability through the management of income, savings and assets


Workforce Development Through Workforce Development, United Way aims to ensure people in our community secure and

maintain employment, resulting in financial independence. Providing access to tools and strategies that

help low-income individuals improve their work-related skills and advance their careers is the pathway

to economic mobility. Almost 25% of adults in the United States earn less than $27,000 annually in jobs

that offer no healthcare, vacation, or paid sick leave. Locally, 96,740 of our residents live below the

poverty line, making less than $24,250 for a family of four according to the American Community

Survey. We must address these challenges by beginning with basic education. Programming designed

to provide remedial and continued education, general and industry-specific training, and computer

skills, effectively improves the employability of our workforce. Connecting education and training with

employment assistance enables individuals to use their new skills to obtain, maintain and advance their

employment, potentially increase their wages, and gain access to employer benefits. Helping individuals

gain the skills needed for success in the workplace, and obtain and preserve family-sustaining

employment is essential to our region remaining economically competitive, setting the stage to attract

business and revitalize our disadvantaged neighborhoods.

United Way invests in programs and services that provide pre-employment, educational and vocational

opportunities to enhance job-readiness. Educational attainment is fundamental to the long-term

earning potential of our community members; it is critical to connect marginalized youth and adult

earners with alternative education and work experience opportunities. Individuals who achieve their

educational goals such as earning an HSE, CDL, vocational certificate, or ESL certification have taken

significant steps toward employability. United Way also funds programs providing assistance for

individuals to find and maintain family- sustaining employment. Employment-search assistance services

providing updated resumes, interview skills, and appropriate clothing help our community members

move toward achieving independence. Employment retention services providing development plans

and ongoing career support result in the economic mobility that transforms lives and our community.


Workforce Development Result:

People secure and maintain employment resulting in financial independence.

Strategy 1: Provide pre-employment, educational and vocational opportunities to enhance job-readiness

Strategy 2: Provide assistance for individuals to find and maintain family-sustaining employment


Health Platform

United Way works to achieve community impact by making sure individuals are physically, socially and

emotionally healthy. We all pay a price when people in our community lack resources for healthy living

or face barriers to treatment. United Way’s two focus areas within its Health Platform are Independent

Living and Behavioral Health.

Independent Living

Ensuring the physical and social needs of our seniors and individuals with disabilities are met improves

community conditions by allowing citizens to live independently. Consistent with national trends, the

Capital Region is seeing growing numbers of seniors. According to the NYS Office for Aging County Data

Book, 17% of people aged 65 or older in the Capital Region are considered “low income,” while 8% of

those 65 and older live in poverty. The projections indicate that the number of people age 60 and over

with functional impairments will grow by a rate of 11.2% by 2020, with 81% of those individuals living in

the community. As such, these individuals are at increased risk for challenges to their vitality, including

physical, mental and self-care abilities. With proper supports, they can secure preventative care to

maintain control over health challenges and access the assistance they need. To remain in their homes,

seniors may need help with transportation to medical appointments, financial management,

housekeeping, personal care, home repair and/or coordinating care. The goal of our work with seniors

is to ensure they have the resources they need to live on their own and still have access to the services

and supports they need.

United Way invests in programs that maximize independence for seniors, helping them maintain their

physical and social wellness. Programs of particular interest are those that provide assistance with daily

activities that allow seniors to remain safely in their homes, including assistance with shopping, light

chores, managing personal finances, meals and adapting skills to adjust to personal changes. When

seniors receive ongoing support services to follow care plan objectives, attend social activities, maintain

health targets and increase utilization of appropriate community resources, our community is enriched.

United Way is also working to make sure that people with disabilities have opportunities to live

independently. Individuals with disabilities experience limitations in hearing, vision, cognition, mobility,

or self-care. These limitations may influence health-related behaviors, access to medical care and/or

participation in the activities of daily living. Individuals with disabilities represent a significant proportion

of New York‘s population. The Cornell University Employment and Disability Institute report from 2012

found that 10.8% of the population of New York State lives with a disability. Of those individuals of

working age, the employment rate is a mere 32% while the employment rate for those without a

disability is 76%. This affects an individuals’ ability to provide financially for him/herself, engage in

independent behaviors, and participate in the community to the degree he/she wishes. Programs

encouraging people with disabilities to stay active and engaged, improving their physical wellness and

overall quality of life are highly valuable to our region. Through our work, we are creating the best

future for individuals with disabilities, helping them become and remain self-reliant.


United Way invests in programs providing social and vocational opportunities so that those with

disabilities can develop and maintain a healthy level of involvement with the community. Similarly,

programs that facilitate life-skills for people with disabilities also assist them in leading happier, more

self-determined lives. These programs help individuals achieve preferred outcomes such as decreasing

the impact of their disability, increasing community participation, and improving their health.

Health Platform: People are physically, socially and emotionally healthy.

Independent Living Result: People with disabilities and seniors will have physical and social needs met in order to live independently.

Strategy 1: Ensure seniors have the resources they need to remain vital and independent

Strategy 2: Ensure individuals with disabilities receive support for self-reliance


Behavioral Health

When people across our community engage in behaviors that contribute to their physical, social and

emotional well-being, significant long term health and social problems are prevented. A strong

connection exists between behavioral health disorders and poor health outcomes, including chronic

diseases. According to the National Council on Behavioral Health, 68% of people with mental illness

have one or more chronic physical conditions. Prolonged exposure to emotionally or physically

dangerous situations has the potential to cause long-term, costly health consequences. Offering at-risk,

vulnerable individuals help in time of crisis, responding to basic needs for food, clothing, shelter and

medical treatment, and providing education and referrals regarding safe alternatives opens the door for

potential stabilization and positive outcomes. Millions of marginalized youth and adults find themselves

in a variety of unsafe and unhealthy situations. These may include living with untreated mental health

conditions, substance abuse, chronic homelessness, sexual exploitation, and having run away from

home or otherwise lost family. Two-thirds of individuals struggling with behavioral health issues will go

without treatment due to the stigma and inability to access care. Of those who are otherwise without

options, crisis intervention services can help overcome the barrier of distrust; encouraging contact with

social service agencies, changing attitudes about possibilities, and fostering the development of positive

relationships.

United Way invests in programs that ensure people in high-risk situations have access to resources to

address their behavioral health challenges. These services help bring about stable, safe environments,

meet critical needs, increase awareness of resources, and help individuals move toward lives of stability

and self-determination. United Way also funds programs that provide mental health care and

supportive services to promote healthy living. Individuals receiving ongoing mental health services

benefit when they achieve goals from individualized plans, follow through with referrals and are

engaged with additional health and human services as a result of their mental health support.

Accessing job skills training, government benefits, financial supports and advocacy improve individuals’

resilience in the face of adversity, so they are able to contribute positively to the community.


Behavioral Health Result: People engage in healthy behaviors that contribute to physical, social and emotional well-being.

Strategy 1: Ensure people in high-risk situations have access to resources to address their behavioral health challenges

Strategy 2: Provide ongoing mental health care and supportive services to promote healthy living


Grant Terms and Requirements

Terms and conditions of United Way funding can be found on our website at:

www.unitedwaygcr.org/terms-and-conditions

Letter of Intent

All programs applying for funding must submit a Letter of Intent. Applicants must select the Platform,

Focus Area, and Result that best align with the program requesting funding. Programs may address one

or both Strategies listed for each Focus Area. Only selected applicants will be invited to submit full

proposals.

Content

Letters of Intent should be in letter format and no longer than three pages. Above the salutation,

identify the following information:

o Agency Name, Program Name

o Platform, Focus Area, Strategies to be addressed by the applicant program

In the body of your letter, please include:

o Overview of the applicant agency, including core strengths

o Statistics and description of need in the community specific to program population

o Description of the program; services to be provided

o Intended impact of the program; how program will meet the needs present in the community

o The program’s ability to address the intended Result/Focus Area it aligns with.

o Describe how the program will accomplish one or both of the Strategies corresponding to the

selected Focus Area.

o Beneficiary population of program; estimated number of customers to be served per year

o Amount of funding requested per year and brief description of how funds will be used

http://www.unitedwaygcr.org/terms-and-conditions


United Way Contact

United Way Community Impact staff can provide support and assistance to your agency before, during and after the application process. We will work with your organization to support your understanding of Results Based Accountability, provide technical assistance and answer questions about United Way investments. For questions about the content of this request or United Way’s grant process, please contact: Andi Pratt Director of Community Investment [email protected] 518-456-2200 x 135

Submission Guidelines

Submit your LOI in PDF format no later than 9:00 am on Monday, October 26th to Andi Pratt, Director of Community Investment at [email protected] with Subject Line: Community Investment Letter of Intent.

Acknowledgements

United Way of the Greater Capital Region would like to recognize the people and organizations that

provided input, guidance and feedback to assist in the development of this investment process. These

partners shared their time, resources, ideas and connections. Our deepest thanks go out to each and

every person who contributes to the Community Care Fund that makes all of this great work possible.

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]


Community Investment Framework 2016-2018

Platforms, Results & Strategies

Appendix A


Domestic Safety Result: People are free from abuse, neglect and fear.

Strategy 1: Ensure individuals and/or families in crisis take initial steps to move toward safety

Strategy 2: Promote long term safety by facilitating family support systems and community connections


Housing Stability Result: People have safe, permanent and affordable housing.

Strategy 1: Prevent homelessness of individuals and/or families

Strategy 2: Support homeless individuals and/or families


Food Security & Nutrition Result:

People have access to affordable and sufficient food and nutrition

Strategy 1: Stabilize food insecure individuals and/or households by meeting nutritional needs

Strategy 2: Increase the capacity to access food and nutrition for food insecure individuals and/or households


Early Care & Education Result: Children are socially, emotionally, physically and intellectually prepared to enter kindergarten.

Strategy 1: Support the social emotional, physical and cognitive development of children in early care settings

Strategy 2: Enhance the ability of caregivers to support children’s development


Youth Development Result: Youth reach their full potential in school and in life.

Strategy 1: Promote youth success by engaging readers, tutors and mentors

Strategy 2: Promote social, emotional, and intellectual development in youth through expanded learning opportunities


Appendix A (continued)


Financial Literacy & Stability Result:

People have the skills and resources to secure and maintain assets.

Strategy 1: Ensure individuals and families have the knowledge and skills to become financially secure

Strategy 2: Help individuals and families maintain financial stability through the management of income, savings and assets


Workforce Development Result:

People secure and maintain employment resulting in financial independence.

Strategy 1: Provide pre-employment, educational and vocational opportunities to enhance job-readiness

Strategy 2: Provide assistance for individuals to find and maintain family-sustaining employment


Independent Living Result: People with disabilities and seniors will have physical and social needs met in order to live independently.

Strategy 1: Ensure seniors have the resources they need to remain vital and independent

Strategy 2: Ensure individuals with disabilities receive support for self-reliance


Behavioral Health Result: People engage in healthy behaviors that contribute to physical, social and emotional well-being.

Strategy 1: Ensure people in high-risk situations have access to resources to address their behavioral health challenges

Strategy 2: Provide ongoing mental health care and supportive services to promote healthy living

Documents

United Way of the Greater Capital Region Community ... · United Way uses Results-Based Accountability (RBA) to identify desired results, indicators, strategies and performance measures