Community Investments — At the conclusion of our annual fundraising campaign, the funds raised are allocated back into our community through the non-profit agencies serving residents of Odessa. Our partner agencies receive money from the United Way through the Community Impact Division. Ninety percent of every dollar raised remains in Odessa and is redistributed back into the community to fill many health and human services needs.

The Process — The United Way’s allocations process is unique in that it allows for community stakeholders to address its most pressing needs and develop solutions for resolving them. While differing from community to community, the process is generally driven by the Odessa Tomorrow Report.

Accordingly, the process includes organizational financial analysis, program evaluation (beneficiaries and outcomes) and site visits to prospective funded agencies.

Checks and Balances — At the completion of Community Impact Review process, volunteer based funding recommendations are submitted to the United Way’s Executive Committee for final review and funding decisions.

United Way of Odessa’s funding process is:

Community Oriented — We encourage and solicit diverse volunteer representation from across the community during our process.

Results-driven — all funded organizations/programs are regularly required to provide outcomes results that exhibits the values of their programs.

Thorough — a combined review of the financial and administrative information, program results and volunteer agency visits, ensures agency accountability.

Fair — all agency evaluation criteria is equally applied throughout the decision-making process.

Continuous — all funded entities are reviewed and monitored on an on-going basis for the quality of services they provide.