MONROE - The Green County United Way's collaborative work is as important as its fundraising.
At least that's the way longtime Green County United Way Executive Director Susie Speer sees things. She said their work is about the community's needs, connecting resources and working together to be the most effective and efficient they can be.
The organization has been in Green County for more than 15 years, and 14 of those have been spent with Speer at the helm. Last year on Giving Tuesday, its new website launched, enabling people to donate in one place to specific groups. It was also made to bring volunteers together in one place. So far, it's been successful.
"I hear from organizations that have recruited volunteers to board members because of it," Speer said.
Speer is most proud of the new programs unfolding in Green County in recent years and the ones that have been able to stay afloat because of funding from United Way. Family Promise, a group that addresses homelessness in the county, relied on United Way to get started.
Although several important drives happen around the holiday season, Speer said it's something those with her organization focus on all year.
"We're here all year to help," Speer said. "It's an all-year process for us."
A call came in to the organization recently from a single parent who once helped out with programs like United Way. The woman found herself divorced with three children this year, and her ex-husband wasn't helping with child support. Her children didn't want to see their father go to jail.
"A lot of circumstances in life can put anyone in a position to need help," Speer said.
While the woman figured things out in the long term, United Way stepped in to put her in touch with programs to help immediately. Whether it be rent, food, energy or childcare costs - the full-circle program reaches far into the lives of others, Speer said.
"All of that could be needed while dealing with a long-term solution," Speer said.
Although they could never estimate the number of people reached after giving to more than 24 organizations each year, Speer said statistically it's been reported that one in every four people in the U.S. is touched by a United Way-supported program. Their reach in Green County affects about 40 total programs, she said.
"Raising money is important," Speer said. "But what's more important is what happens - the results. The people needing help are being helped, and as a result, the community is helped."
The United Way hears from several groups each year, all hoping to be funded in full or partially during the springtime allocation process. Speer said they are lucky to have a large 10-member allocation committee with people from a variety of backgrounds who interview, look at applications and choose who they give to. They also have a 14-member board.
"We're not just raising money, we're doing very important things and programs and people are counting on the work we do all year," Speer said.
United Way is always looking for help with its fundraisers, and it brings in about 200 volunteers during its events. Regular volunteers meet consistently and serve on its board of directors and on the allocation committee. Representatives are welcome from all communities and currently have a wide variety of people on them, including law enforcement, people with financial backgrounds and clergy members.
One of those members and volunteers was Mary Gafner, a longtime pastor, who served on both the board and the allocations committee for more than one term. She said it was a wonderful experience where she learned about everything United Way does to network and get organizations to work together.
"It's a really good process to get the organizations the help they need," Gafner said.
Having a hand in the United Way made Gafner feel like she was able to reach further into the community and, now newly retired, said she enjoyed knowing where the needs were.
"It's just good to know what's happening in the community," Gafner said.
Programs that have previously received funds are automatically renewed, Speer said. United Way specifically works to fund programs, not usually facilities, and the majority of its programming supports people with financial and basic needs.
The United Way's budget is spread out. About 85 percent is designated for programming, meaning 85 cents from every dollar given to United Way goes back to the community. Of the remaining 15 percent, one cent per dollar goes toward the national organization, which provides several marketing materials, other benefits and membership standards. The remaining funds, 14-and-a-half percent, is the Green County budget.
"Our budget is very lean, because we have such a generous business community supporting our efforts," Speer said.
United Way is housed at the kindness of Wisconsin Bank & Trust providing it an office space. There are two part-time employees, including Speer and an administrative assistant.
The United Way's goals for 2018 are to focus on some nationwide problems affecting Green County. Speer said she hopes to provide more access to mental health and opioid addiction resources.
"It's hard to put it into a goal," Speer said. "But we're part of group discussions to provide better services, create exposure, help educate and get Green County through this epidemic."
At least that's the way longtime Green County United Way Executive Director Susie Speer sees things. She said their work is about the community's needs, connecting resources and working together to be the most effective and efficient they can be.
The organization has been in Green County for more than 15 years, and 14 of those have been spent with Speer at the helm. Last year on Giving Tuesday, its new website launched, enabling people to donate in one place to specific groups. It was also made to bring volunteers together in one place. So far, it's been successful.
"I hear from organizations that have recruited volunteers to board members because of it," Speer said.
Speer is most proud of the new programs unfolding in Green County in recent years and the ones that have been able to stay afloat because of funding from United Way. Family Promise, a group that addresses homelessness in the county, relied on United Way to get started.
Although several important drives happen around the holiday season, Speer said it's something those with her organization focus on all year.
"We're here all year to help," Speer said. "It's an all-year process for us."
A call came in to the organization recently from a single parent who once helped out with programs like United Way. The woman found herself divorced with three children this year, and her ex-husband wasn't helping with child support. Her children didn't want to see their father go to jail.
"A lot of circumstances in life can put anyone in a position to need help," Speer said.
While the woman figured things out in the long term, United Way stepped in to put her in touch with programs to help immediately. Whether it be rent, food, energy or childcare costs - the full-circle program reaches far into the lives of others, Speer said.
"All of that could be needed while dealing with a long-term solution," Speer said.
Although they could never estimate the number of people reached after giving to more than 24 organizations each year, Speer said statistically it's been reported that one in every four people in the U.S. is touched by a United Way-supported program. Their reach in Green County affects about 40 total programs, she said.
"Raising money is important," Speer said. "But what's more important is what happens - the results. The people needing help are being helped, and as a result, the community is helped."
The United Way hears from several groups each year, all hoping to be funded in full or partially during the springtime allocation process. Speer said they are lucky to have a large 10-member allocation committee with people from a variety of backgrounds who interview, look at applications and choose who they give to. They also have a 14-member board.
"We're not just raising money, we're doing very important things and programs and people are counting on the work we do all year," Speer said.
United Way is always looking for help with its fundraisers, and it brings in about 200 volunteers during its events. Regular volunteers meet consistently and serve on its board of directors and on the allocation committee. Representatives are welcome from all communities and currently have a wide variety of people on them, including law enforcement, people with financial backgrounds and clergy members.
One of those members and volunteers was Mary Gafner, a longtime pastor, who served on both the board and the allocations committee for more than one term. She said it was a wonderful experience where she learned about everything United Way does to network and get organizations to work together.
"It's a really good process to get the organizations the help they need," Gafner said.
Having a hand in the United Way made Gafner feel like she was able to reach further into the community and, now newly retired, said she enjoyed knowing where the needs were.
"It's just good to know what's happening in the community," Gafner said.
Programs that have previously received funds are automatically renewed, Speer said. United Way specifically works to fund programs, not usually facilities, and the majority of its programming supports people with financial and basic needs.
The United Way's budget is spread out. About 85 percent is designated for programming, meaning 85 cents from every dollar given to United Way goes back to the community. Of the remaining 15 percent, one cent per dollar goes toward the national organization, which provides several marketing materials, other benefits and membership standards. The remaining funds, 14-and-a-half percent, is the Green County budget.
"Our budget is very lean, because we have such a generous business community supporting our efforts," Speer said.
United Way is housed at the kindness of Wisconsin Bank & Trust providing it an office space. There are two part-time employees, including Speer and an administrative assistant.
The United Way's goals for 2018 are to focus on some nationwide problems affecting Green County. Speer said she hopes to provide more access to mental health and opioid addiction resources.
"It's hard to put it into a goal," Speer said. "But we're part of group discussions to provide better services, create exposure, help educate and get Green County through this epidemic."