Our Work
What United Way Does
Investing in a Better Place
For more than 40 years, our United Way has brought people together to care for one another. We raise funds, mobilize volunteers, help to strengthen agencies, identify critical and unmet needs in the community, and help to build collaborations with the public and private sector to meet those needs.
Through our annual campaign we raise funds to support a network of nearly 40 local health and human service organizations in our 13-county Albany and Southwest Georgia region. These programs work to increase the safety, health and independence of the residents in our region.
United Way of Southwest Georgia is a volunteer-led organization that mobilizes the resources and strategic thinking of nonprofit, private, and public sectors to improve lives, strengthen the community, and build a stronger community. We acknowledge the unique and invaluable role that nonprofit agencies play in the city's overall human service delivery system, and we partner with a range of nonprofit organizations.
How We Do It
Our core activities fall into these primary categories:
Raising Money in the Community
Our United Way raised $1,200,000 in 2009 to support organizations in the city of Albany and 12 surrounding counties in Southwest Georgia. More than 89 cents of each dollar raised goes directly to help people.
Carefully Distributing Funds (Community Investment)
More than 100 dedicated community volunteers serve on community investment panels. They review community needs and agencies thoroughly to decide where our contributions can do the most good. They examine each agency’s financial information, board composition, programs and results and conduct site visits.
Funding Agencies and Initiatives
There is peace of mind in knowing that each and every one of us has access to a network of nearly 40 local health and human service agencies … thanks to our United Way. From basic social needs to specialized care, these agencies improve lives for millions of people each year.
Helping to Build Stronger Agencies
Through a combination of training, engagement, information sharing, and performance assessment the United Way helps both funded and non-funded local agencies become stronger assets to the community.
Relying on Volunteers
Volunteers are the heartbeat of the United Way. They raise money, run our board, and help decide how funds are allocated. More than 12,000 volunteers give their time to United Way each year. Their contribution of time and talent helps keep our fund-raising costs low.
Mobilizing Volunteers
The United Way Volunteer Center connects volunteers with community service opportunities at local not-profit agencies throughout the year. Every year, more than 1,000 volunteers donate 9,036 hours of their time to projects throughout our region, an investment in our community worth $101,768.
Directing People to Assistance
The United Way’s pivotal role in meeting the needs of our community positions it to effectively connect people with assistance. Each year our United Way 2-1-1 an information and referral services connect more than 13,000 people with information and assistance.
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