On behalf of the United Way of Southwest Minnesota (UWSWMN) staff and the board of directors, thank you to the many individuals, families, service organizations, clubs, schools, foundations and businesses that contributed to our annual campaign. Your generosity will be invested to impact your friends and neighbors throughout our service area.

A quote that has resonated with me recently is to “be the change you wish to see in the world.” It’s too bad that Mahatma Gandhi couldn’t provide a list of things to do or try to begin such an undertaking. However, it allows each of us to apply it to our own lives in a way meaningful to us in the communities, neighborhoods or rural areas in which we live.

An important part of UWSWMN’s work is the annual review of local programs that seek affiliation and grant funding from UWSWMN. Programs seeking funding must serve people living in the counties of Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Yellow Medicine, and portions of Cottonwood, Lac qui Parle, Nobles, and Redwood counties.

How does the process work? Volunteers work together in teams to conduct program interviews and look at applicant programs’ impact and goals, metrics and results, and financial management. These reviews result in recommendations for funding to the UWSWMN board of directors. United Way staff has no vote in the process. Funding recommendations are purely community driven by the panels and board. Funds that were raised during our most recent campaign are invested in five key priority areas: health, education, financial stability, hunger and safety and well-being.

Volunteers generally spend up to eight hours (usually in hour-long increments) over five to six weeks of time from mid-April through the end of May conducting the reviews and preparing recommendations. Applicants are scored using a matrix evaluation during the process. Each applicant receives a copy of their evaluation from the panel that reviewed them during final notification of full, partial, or no funding. Many applicants in the past have shared how valuable this feedback is for their program success and future.

This method is an assurance to our campaign donors that each donation is used as wisely as possible and that it makes a difference in the lives of people living in our service area. Volunteers involved in the process represent the donors who have made a contribution to the UWSWMN allowing them to become more involved in putting their contribution to work locally. This is an important way for our United Way to not only give local but keep the process local as well.

Become part of this process! Selection as a Community Investment Volunteer will be competitive and limited in participation. Volunteer applications are due no later than March 22. All individuals selected to serve must complete mandatory training conducted by United Way staff. To apply please request an application by emailing unitedway@unitedwayswmn.org.

Volunteer training will be April 17 at the Marshall-Lyon County Library and grant applicant reviews will take place April 24-May 24 at the convenience of each group. Panel recommendations will be presented to the UWSWMN Board on June 17 and funding decisions will be announced June 18-21.