The $6 Million Question

This past week, we were working with a United Way to develop their new, three-year strategic plan. This United Way raises a total of approximately $6 million every year from their workplace campaign, corporate contributions, foundations, and grants. Thirty of their board members and staff had gathered for this strategic planning session and I asked them this question:

“Every year, you raise $6 million from the community. If I gave you $6 million right now and said I want you to spend it addressing critical social issues and changing the social condition of your community, would you do exactly what your United Way is doing now and spend it exactly how your United Way spends it now? Raise your hand if you would.”

Not a single hand went up in the room.

Unquestionably, their United Way is making a difference in the community – I could cite a variety of examples. The reason no hands went up is not because they aren’t doing good in the community.

So, why did no hands go up?

Because their board members and staff knew that their investment process could be better, with a greater focus and more powerful impact if it was done differently.

Because their board members and staff knew that their resource development efforts could raise significantly more resources, with more diversified sources of funding and less reliance on workplace campaigns if it was done differently.

Because their board members and staff knew their marketing and engagement efforts could involve many more people, to volunteer and advocate for change if it was done differently.

And perhaps most importantly, their board members and staff knew that the same processes they had been using for years, worked really well years ago, but were not as efficient and effective anymore.

Once the board members and staff realized there was a better way to do things, we spent several hours brainstorming and developing innovative new visions for the future. These visions will transform their United Way with a laser-focus on addressing the community’s needs and maximizing the impact of the community’s investment.

Your turn. Would you raise your hand if I asked you this question?

“Every year, you raise $ (insert the total resources raised by your United Way) from the community. If I gave you $ (insert the total resources raised by your United Way) right now and said I want you to spend it addressing critical social issues and changing the social condition of your community, would you do exactly what your United Way is doing now and spend it exactly how your United Way spends it now? Raise your hand if you would.”

If you would not raise your hand, then now is the time to transform your United Way.

Let us help your United Way make the transformation with our Strategic Planning Process. We help United Ways to transform their processes and methods to focus on addressing social issues, securing resources from diverse sources, in a way that engages community members to make a difference. Our mission and purpose is to maximize the impact of every United Way – and together, we will make it possible for you to be able to raise your hand when asked this question.