The Fund Distribution Committee is charged by the Board of Directors to act on behalf of the community in reviewing Agency programs and budgets for the purpose of recommending allocations for United Way of Wilkes County funds raised.

The Fund Distribution Committee is divided into seven separate “panels” that represent the seven areas of need as defined by the Community Needs Assessment Committee. A United Way of Wilkes County board member is assigned to each area of impact and is designated as the Panel Chair. The United Way of Wilkes County board member in partnership with the United Way of Wilkes County staff recruits and trains volunteers from the community to serve on each of the seven panels. It is the goal of the United Way of Wilkes County to maximize community participation in this process and to engage people who have the knowledge and expertise to make informed and unbiased decisions. Each one of the seven panels has at least five representatives from the community. This structure provides for a rational and logical allocation process that is outside any personal bias or fund raising considerations.

In 2003, the process changed somewhat from what had been done in the past. The United Way of Wilkes in an effort to make the best possible use of the dollars raised in the community has adopted the goal of “outcome based funding.” Applications are now different and the concepts of funding are moving toward increased efficiency, measurable outcomes and community impact.

In the early summer, when panel members begin their activities, they are asked to attend an orientation that includes the concepts of “outcome based funding,” an overview of the Community Needs Assessment and the funding applications of their assigned Partner Agencies for the coming year. These applications include information about the Partner Agency, its respective Board of Directors, the programs of the organization and their benefit to the community that is consistent with the “outcomes they wish to fund,” and financial information to help insure solvency of the individual Partner Agency.

The next step is a series of formal meetings between each panel and the Partner Agencies within each applicable impact area. These meetings are called Partner Agency Presentations. These meetings give the opportunity for each Partner Agency and its’ panel to discuss financial and service delivery issues in detail. Panel members ask questions in order to gain further insight into the Partner Agency’s funding requirements and what programs currently meet needs of the Community as determined by the Community Needs Assessment Committee. Immediately after the Partner Agency leaves the conference, panel members discuss the budget, prioritize the Partner Agency’s programs according to Community Needs Assessment Committee’s findings, and determine what funding is absolutely essential in order for this Partner Agency to meet identified needs.

The United Way of Wilkes County has a “post-campaign allocations” policy for funding; therefore, no final decisions regarding funding to Partner Agencies are made until the close of the fall campaign when the designations to each Partner Agency and the total amount of money pledged to the United Way of Wilkes County is known. The decision-making process following the close of the campaign must be as efficient as possible in order to notify Partner Agencies by the end of January of their funding for the next year. Therefore, it is imperative, during the early Fall, that panel members reach a consensus regarding funding priorities.

In December, the Panel Chairs reconvene and recommend to the Fund Distribution Chair the amount of money they feel is the most beneficial and efficient allocation of resources to each Partner Agency. Partner Agencies have an opportunity to update panels at this time of any major changes in financial and program needs so that the panels can make the most prudent decisions possible.

The Fund Distribution Chair takes these recommendations to the United Way of Wilkes County Board of Directors for their approval at the regular January meeting.