DuPage Area investment panel volunteers represent the 30 communities served by United Way of the DuPage Area.  These volunteers are a diverse group of community leaders and DuPage Area board members who plan for, make funding recommendations on, and evaluate programs that provide assistance to those who live and work in the DuPage area.  This process will provide funding for programs from July 2009-June 2012.

Responsibilities

·         Participate in training to become familiar with DuPage Area’s strategic focus and investment process

·         Regularly attend and participate in funding review meetings and site visits;

·         Review program materials and presentations in advance of meetings and/or site visits; day hours only

·         Embrace diverse cultures and viewpoints; and,

·         Represent DuPage Area’s perspective clearly and tactfully.

Time Commitment

We ask volunteers to make the following commitment for this program year only. 

Process (investment panel volunteers will not know the name of the agency – only program name when determining final distribution amounts.)

1.  Each program application will receive a review by 2 investment panel members and one staff personnel.

2.  The application review will be done online and will receive a ranking based on the reviews.

3.  Each agency will receive a site visit from 2-3 volunteers plus 1-2 staff personnel.

4.  The site reviewers will use a standard ranking system for each visit per agency.

5.  The site visit and application review rankings will be combined and each application given an overall ranking.

6.  The chairs and staff will review the results and provide program rankings to each group.

7.  The Financial Stability Investment Panel will meet to determine final distribution amounts.

Benefits of being a funding panel volunteer

·         Gain opportunities to influence United Way of the DuPage Area’s investment in the community

·         Contribute to making sure the donor dollars are invested wisely

·         Gain increased knowledge of nonprofit, community-based organizations throughout DuPage

·         Gain increased knowledge of assets and issues of the diverse communities in DuPage

·         Develop new relationships with other volunteers and leaders of the community

·         Gain recognition for and acknowledgement of involvement

Conflict of Interest Policy for volunteers

All members are asked to declare any affiliations with currently funded United Way agencies.  Efforts will be made to assign members on those panels where no conflict of interest exists.  Members may not give subjective opinions on matters discussed that involve an agency on which they serve on the Board or standing committee.  Members may not vote on any matters involving an agency for which they serve on the Board or a standing committee.

Naperville United Way and United Way of the DuPage Area today announce their merger, which will be completed by October 1, 2008, to provide greater efficiency and add more resources to help local residents in their time of need. The new United Way of the DuPage Area will be the largest, most comprehensive in the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago system.

“We initiated this merger as part of our strategic imperative to better serve the people of Naperville,” said Chip Downing, board president of United Way Naperville and divisional senior vice president of Great American Insurance. “Not only does this consolidation add financial and people resources to supporting health and human service programs but it also makes it easier for our agency partners, who are stretched more than ever to provide help to individuals and families in need.”

The Naperville and DuPage United Ways support 30 and 44 agencies, respectively, 21 of which they both share in common; these agencies will now have a central point for funding requests and other support efforts.

“We are thrilled to hear that two of our most important community partners are coming together,” said Carol Simler, executive director of DuPage PADS, a leading agency that is funded by both United Ways. “Each of these United Ways is a leader in our health and human service work and this consolidation will make that work easier, giving us more time for collaboration instead of paperwork. With this streamlining, they can focus more on finding resources, which moving forward, may be one of our area’s most critical issues.”

“By consolidating these two strong organizations, we can streamline operations and devote more donor dollars to touch and improve more people’s lives,” said Walker Geyer, United Way of the DuPage Area board president and managing director of Capital Markets for Paramount Lodging Advisors. “Combining forces frees up staff time from administrative concerns to focus more time and energy on engaging our community to advance the common good.”

According to both United Ways, there is great overlap in the human service issues people in their communities face and the programs that best address them. With demographics shifts, the aging of the population and decreasing government funding adding more pressure for support, this consolidation allows United Way to proactively build resources and partnerships that help the combined communities flourish.

“What changes,” said Mr. Geyer, “is around simplifying processes and eliminating duplication. What doesn’t change is the local nature of our work, improving lives in the same communities we have always focused on.” These communities include Addison, Bensenville, Bloomingdale, Burr Ridge, Carol Stream, Clarendon Hills, Darien, Downers Grove, Elmhurst, Glen Ellyn, Glendale Heights, Hinsdale, Itasca, Keeneyville, Lisle, Lombard, Medinah, Naperville, Oak Brook, Oakbrook Terrace, Roselle, Villa Park, Warrenville, West Chicago, Westmont, Wheaton, Willowbrook, Winfield, Wood Dale, and Woodridge.

Mr. Downing said, “Together, we will invest more than $4 million in local health and human care programs in the coming year. Local volunteers in each of our communities will continue to determine where the funding should be directed based on the priority needs in each community. United Way does not exist without the invaluable leadership of residents like Mayor Pradel who will serve as an honorary board member of the newly merged organization.”

Mr. Downing also confirmed continuation of the annual garden sculpture program that has become a Naperville tradition. The 2008 launch is scheduled for 5:00 PM on May 15 at Edward Hospital where the preview party will feature this year’s sculptures theme, “Garden Party.”

Naperville United Way’s 2008 Outdoor Art Garden Party will showcase 39 colorful fiberglass sculptures, including ladybugs, frogs, benches and butterflies. Any one interested in the Garden Party pieces can place their bids Sept. 12th during an auction at Bobak’s Signature Events in Woodridge.

Individual ticket price is $100, and a table (seats 8 individuals) is $750. All auction proceeds benefit United Way of the DuPage Area.

Please RSVP no later than September 5th
630.369.2676 or kchval@uwmc.org

For more information, visit Naperville United Way’s website.

To apply for funds, contact Tom Galassini, Director of Agency Relations at tgalassini(at)uw-mc.org or call his direct line: 312-906-2360.

For more information, please click on the link below.

http://www.uw-mc.org/programfunding.html

Senior Fundraising Manager

POSITION ACCOUNTABILITY:
The Senior Fundraising Manager reports to the Chief Professional Officer and is responsible for the renewal and growth of the annual fund raising activities including major partner corporations and manages the identification, cultivation and solicitation of new Tocqueville/Leadership Donors from our prospecting lists and new business accounts. Additionally, the Senior Fundraising Manager plans and executes events, special initiatives and recognition to develop and cultivate prospective and current donors.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Initially, a Prairie State attorney advised the parents on how to pursue the appeal on their own. When the clients went to the hearing, they were told that the food stamps were denied because they were over income. This was an error, and the clients were able to submit the necessary information and get the food stamp application approved, but at a much lower amount than expected.

At this point, a Prairie State attorney intervened. The attorney collected the necessary information from the clients and calculated the amount of Food Stamps the family was entitled to receive. The attorney then contacted the DHS caseworker directly, and as a result, the household’s food stamp benefits were more than doubled.

With support from United Way of the DuPage Area, these benefits made a substantial difference in providing for the basic nutrition of the household members.