What is Community Impact?
Near the end of 2003 the United Way of Canada (Centraide Canada) – after a consultative process with all UW’s across the country decided that it was time to transform all UW’s from fund raising organizations to community impact organizations. The vision of the National United Way was for all UWay’s across Canada to continue to be fund raisers but in addition, to become more involved in their communities by providing the appropriate leadership to find root causes and solutions to the community’s most pressing human and social issues.
Today many UW’s across Canada have now two fundamental core functions:
- Funding raising
- Community impact/issues management
United Way of Greater Victoria along with many other United Way’s across Canada signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Way of Canada making a commitment to this journey – for making it happen.
In 2011, United Way of Greater Victoria reviewed our community impact model and we now focus funding on programs and services that align with our three new impact areas:
All that kids can be – child and youth programs that prevent bullying, enhance self-esteem and increase school success and high school graduation.
Healthy people, strong communities – programs that help individuals overcome isolation, mental health and addictions issues, and build strong community connections.
From poverty to possibility – programs that help individuals develop the skills they need to move out of poverty and become self sufficient.
