How The United Way Community Impact Model Works 

At Heart of Missouri United Way, our mission is simple yet powerful — to improve the quality of life for every individual and family in our region, ensuring that every dollar contributed is maximized to its fullest potential. As the current chair of the Board of Directors at Heart of Missouri United Way, I am honored to witness firsthand how our community’s generosity is transforming lives across Boone, Cooper, and Howard counties. With 98 percent of United Way’s revenue coming from local community support, we work hard to ensure the funds we raise are invested locally, creating lasting impact in addressing the greatest disparities.   

A Year-Round Commitment to Community Impact  

At Heart of Missouri United Way, our work is continuous. Throughout the year, our team raises funds to support Community Impact Investment grants, which go to local health, education, and financial stability programs. Our United Way team annually collaborates with community leaders to identify common goals for these impact areas that ensure these grants are tailored to our region’s needs.  

The Three-Year Funding Cycle and Grant Process  

The heart of our impact lies in the three-year funding cycle we employ for each focus area. Currently, we are funding programs in Health & Basic Needs for 2024-2026, Financial Stability for 2023-2025, and Education for 2022-2024. We are currently reviewing proposals for new grants in Education that will begin in 2025. This staggered approach allows us to provide consistent support to organizations over an extended period, fostering long-term stability and growth.  

In collaboration with the city of Columbia and Boone County, we aim to identify common outcomes and direct the focus of the community toward hitting these targets. Once we establish the targets for a particular impact area, we release an Open Letter of Intent inviting organizations to submit pre-applications for grant funding. During this period, we also recruit volunteers for the Advisory Council, a group of local experts and community members who help guide the funding process​. The Advisory Council reviews and scores each grant application, visits the organizations seeking funding, and makes recommendations to the board on the best way to invest the funds we’ve raised. Following a thorough presentation and discussion, the board votes on the request.   

Ensuring Transparency and Accountability  

After the Board’s approval, we notify all applicants and make a public announcement on LIVE UNITED Day. That day for this year is November 21. Funding begins the following January, giving our team time to work with each organization to create Strategic Investment Agreements that clear goals, outcomes, and expectations.  

Maximizing Every Dollar for Our Community  

As stewards of the community’s donations, we take our responsibility seriously. The above description is an abbreviated version of a process designed to have the greatest impact with the dollars received through community donations. This process requires more than 1,400 staff and volunteer hours annually and includes a specific certification team to ensure rigor. Every organization that receives funding must provide annual reporting data to show they are meeting the goals outlined in their Strategic Investment Agreements. This ensures accountability and helps us track the impact of the programs we support​.   

It’s through this approach that Heart of Missouri United Way can fund services that support more than 33,000 people (1 in 5) in our community. However, none of it would be possible without everyone who contributes to Heart of Missouri United Way. Your support is not just a donation — it is an investment in the health, education, and financial stability of our neighbors. Through this process, I believe we are uniting our community in purpose, action, impact, and hope!  

Mitzi Clayton is the Director of Community Relations at Heart of Missouri United Way.