Strengthen Local Agencies
The United Way is more than a funder. In addition to investing campaign funds back into the community, we play a role in working with funded agencies to assist them in becoming stronger, more effective organizations.
The role of strengthening funded agencies – from front line service delivery to the Board governance level - has expanded significantly for the United Way over the past few years. This is resulting in key changes not only for United Way’s funded agencies but also for the United Way in how we make funding decisions and partner with local agencies.
Some examples of how the United Way strengthens human service agencies in Saskatoon and area include:
- Funding Criteria – the United Way applies strong funding criteria in the areas of program and organizational effectiveness, accessibility, resource management, partnership and community need.
- Self-Assessment of Organizational Effectiveness – the United Way began using a self-assessment tool in 2010 that allows staff and Board members of funded agencies to assess their strengths, gaps and opportunities at various levels (i.e., operational, management, leadership, adaptive).
- Human Resources (HR) Collaborative Project – initiated five years ago in response to funded agencies citing HR as their top challenge. The United Way supports this exciting and ambitious initiative with leadership coming from over 30 funded agencies. Activities include learning circles, online tools and collaboration projects that build agency capacity to address these main HR functions: Staffing, Training & Development, Employee & Labour Relations, Workplace Safety, Compensation, HR Information System, and Workplace Effectiveness.
- Volunteer Saskatoon – Volunteer Saskatoon is part of the United Way’s community impact work focusing on voluntary sector resources and support. Through a variety of learning opportunities, resources and supports, community agencies are strengthened through skill development workshops, events and opportunities coordinated through Volunteer Saskatoon. Examples include convening focus groups and conversations on sector trends and challenges, workshops, webinars and learning opportunities on board leadership, fund development and grant writing, volunteer management, and risk management.
Connecting community agencies to tools, resources and to each other gives opportunity for shared learning, strategic thinking and development of a common sector voice.
- Network of Funded Agencies – the United Way regularly convenes meetings, conversations and learning opportunities that funded agencies engage in to network, learn from each other and share knowledge. This “collective” view of United Way funded agencies allows for powerful conversation and action on issues and challenges that human service agencies face.
