United Way Approves New Financial Plan

DANBURY — The Board of Directors of United Way of Northern Fairfield County (UWNFC) has approved its financial plan for its fiscal year commencing July 1. Of more than 3.6 million in projected distributions, nearly $3.1 million in funds for community services will be distributed in UWNFC’s seven-town region of Newtown, Brookfield, Bethel, New Fairfield, Danbury, Redding, and Ridgefield.

Of its resources, a significant amount was raised during UWNFC’s annual community fund-raising campaign. Las fall, UWNFC ran its most successful campaign with a total raised of $3,160,960. Its primary objective is to raise funds for UWNFC’s Community Fund.

In 1998, UWNFC conducted a priority study to determine highest critical needs in its seven-town region. Through its Community Fund, United Way identifies and supports programs within local health and human service agencies which address these needs. Every year, through trained community volunteers, each program is scrutinized and evaluated on such criteria as program necessity, duplication of service, effectiveness, financial efficiency, ability to raise funds, and managerial expertise.

Based on these factors, this year 66 programs in 31 nonprofit agencies were awarded funding through the Community Fund’s $1,800,000 distribution. These dollars represent 50 percent of total dollars distributed. UWNFC President and CPO Marty Milkovic said, “United Way is, quite simply, a community builder. It is the single most effective way to better our community for everyone. And the way we do that is through our product… the Community Fund.”

Last year, over 75,000 community members were assisted through the Community Fund. In Newtown alone, nearly 14,700 residents received help through programs supported by the Community Fund.

The Community Fund amounted to $1.8 million, or 50 percent of UWNFC funding. Another $596,811 was earmarked by donors to a charity of their choosing. The UWNFC provides staff-supported community services, funds an emergency grant, has contractual relationships for services with American Heart Association and Infoline, and has been awarded a $250,000 grant for Danbury Children First. Of its expenditures, UWNFC expects its overhead to be about 10 percent and its uncollectible dollars about four percent. In total, UWNFC projected distributions are $3,601,811.