ANNUAL REPORT to the PUBLIC for the Fiscal Year 2010-11
Presented June 30, 2011

The United Way of Umatilla and Morrow Counties is proud of its Board of Directors which takes an active role in all aspects of our organization’s management and fund raising. The following board members were elected for a one year term on the Executive Committee which meets at 5:30 pm the second Tuesday of each month in Hermiston.

The United Way Board of Directors meets at 6:00 pm on the fourth Tuesday of each month, alternating meetings between Hermiston and Pendleton. The number of board members during this fiscal year averaged 16. Strengthening our board continued to be one of our primary internal goals and increasing our marketing is the primary external goal. These goals are the result of the Annual Board Retreat held in February 2011 where our Strategic Plan is evaluated, progress and results noted, and the plan is updated.

The United Way of Umatilla and Morrow Counties conducts one fund raising campaign each fall: the United Way private sector campaign. We also participate in the Oregon State Employee Charitable Fund Drive and the Combined Federal Campaign. We exceeded our 2010 Campaign Goal of $310,000. The entire 2010 United Way campaign raised a total of $333,235.84. (The local campaign raised $324,108.24; the CFC was $3,255.60; and the CFD was $5,872. )

This year saw the completion of the transition of our funding model move from the ‘funding member agencies’ method to the ‘community investment’ model. The application process was opened to all non-profit health and human service organizations that meet our eligibility criteria for providing services to Umatilla and Morrow Counties.

During the spring of 2011, 25 United Way Community Investment Committee volunteers visited 20 United Way applicant organizations and conducted conferences with key staff, volunteers, board members, and some program participants. Through the efforts of these United Way volunteers, board and staff, along with donor designated monies from the CFC and CFD, $178,844.38 will be distributed to applicant organizations and $41,747.28 to non-affiliated agencies and other United Ways during 2011-12 for a total distribution of $220,591.66.

The three funding categories for allocable funds were: Successful Kids ($84,235.48), Tools for Independence ($26,510.92), and Emergency Assistance ($68097.98). Distribution between the categories was determined by using a formula based on donor input, informal community needs research, and information provided in the applications for funding.

Overall funding (designated and undesignated) went to the following categories: Successful Kids ($93,513); Tools for Independence ($36,136); Caring for People in Crisis ($79,297); Health ($757); Other United Ways ($7,312); Arts & Community ($2,779); Non-Health & Human Services ($797) for a total of $220,591 to be distributed.

United Way Partner Agencies will provide an array of health and human services in Umatilla and Morrow Counties of Oregon including emergency services such as food, clothing, shelter, rent-mortgage assistance, prescription assistance and utility payments; domestic violence services include shelter and counseling; after school, weekend and summer programs for children and youth; therapy and counseling for at-risk youth and their families; meaningful community involvement for senior citizens; disaster services; and hospice programs.

A 15% processing fee is taken from all non-applicant designations. This is to offset the cost of processing designated donations (acquiring proof of 501 (c) (3) status, correspondence, and bookkeeping). This processing fee is not applied to designations to agencies chosen to be funded, nor is it applied to funds allocated from the United Way of Umatilla & Morrow Counties Community Impact Fund.

A 10% Pledge Loss allowance was kept in reserve to cover unfulfilled pledges throughout the pledge year. If the pledge loss is less than anticipated, the excess funds will be distributed the following year. Due to the economic downturn during the 2009 campaign collection year, many of the pledges were cancelled or simply not fulfilled, resulting in a higher pledge loss than usual (9.7%).

The United Way is also responsible for facilitating the application, allocation and reporting processes of Stewart B. McKinney National Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) monies that are directed to Umatilla County. During 2009-10, a total of $54,593 was distributed to 8 organizations in Umatilla County to assist with food, rent-mortgage assistance, and emergency shelter. The local EFSP Board mirrors the national EFSP Board. We are still waiting to hear whether or not Umatilla County will receive belated funding for Phase 29 for 2010-11.

Staff: Kricket Nicholson became executive director in October of 2006. She continues to build the volunteer force, strengthen the board, conduct effective campaigns and increase community awareness about our United Way, and continues to build relationships in the various communities we serve. Lori Rohn has been hired through a Wildhorse Foundation grant as a project assistant, which has been effective in sharing the workload and increasing the campaign revenue.

United Way of Umatilla & Morrow Counties belonged to 6 Chambers of Commerce (Pendleton, Hermiston, Umatilla, Heppner, Boardman, and Milton-Freewater). Kricket and our volunteers try to assist with at least one event per Chamber per year. The Executive Director attends most of the Chamber meetings with board members filling in when she can’t be there. This gives us a stronger presence in each of those communities.

In addition, we conducted various fundraisers throughout the year. One of the board members, David Rohn, coordinated a golf tournament and another board member, Sheri Sandoval, coordinated a Bowl-a-thon.

We received $5,500 in grant awards.

An Endowment Fund was established. Although the project has been ‘under construction’ for several years, the board developed and adopted the policies needed, and half of the golf tournament proceeds and the income from the sale of a donated vehicle served as the seed money for the Endowment Fund. The plan is to allow the fund to build before using it, in order to build a more sustainable income in the future. Donations from the community campaign are not invested in the fund, only monies designated for that purpose or from additional fundraisers are put into this fund.

The staff and board look forward to increasing the 2011 campaign in order to continue to identify and assist in solving problems in our two county service area.

Bookkeeping Services: Dickey & Tremper Auditors: Jenson & Spratling (Audited Financial Statements available upon request. )