Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – United Way of Central Illinois is setting its sights on four major priorities to address the most pressing needs in the region. These focus areas—youth opportunities, community resiliency, healthy community, and financial security—are the result of months of community conversations, surveys, and collaboration with nonprofit partners.
“This is not what Marne Fauser thought or United Way thought. This is not what our board of directors thought,” said United Way CEO Marne Fauser during an interview on WTAX Morning Newswatch. “This is what the community has said to us.”
Earlier this year, United Way hosted a series of meetings and distributed surveys to gather input from residents and organizations. Volunteers on the Vision Council analyzed local data and feedback to identify challenges and set measurable goals.
“It’s really neat to see the community input and then come together to say, ‘Here are the challenges,’ and then develop those priorities,” Fauser said. “We want accountability and real community impact.”
Letters of intent for nonprofits will be due in January, followed by the opening of full applications later that month. Vision Councils will review proposals in the spring, and funding announcements are expected in May. The new funding cycle will run from July 1 through June 30.
United Way is also preparing for emergencies through a new Disaster Recovery Coalition, which launches tomorrow at the University of Illinois Extension office on Airport Drive from 4 to 6 p.m. The coalition’s goal is to coordinate roles and responsibilities before a crisis occurs. “When an emergency happens, we all know who’s on first and who has what responsibility ahead of time,” said CEO Marne Fauser. “Other communities have this, and it’s time we do too.”
Looking ahead, Fauser says these priorities reflect what residents want most: programs that create lasting change.
“We want to make sure people are moving forward, that they feel more confident in mental health resources, and that families can thrive,”.
