UNITED WAY OF GREATER LORAIN COUNTY INC

Programs

1. Community impact - involves the process of planning, investing and evaluating resources to achieve measurable and sustainable community change in three priority areas: empowering children and youth to achieve their full potential, helping working families become financially stable and independent, and creating a healthier community. More than 150 organizations have pledged to work collectively on achieving this high level of community impact.united way of greater lorain county (uwglc) places a high priority on working with systems and partners to ensure that children enter kindergarten ready to learn and that early adolescents have the tools and resources to succeed in high school and beyond. Uwglc is investing in a variety of initiatives, including afterschool and summer academic and cultural enrichment, in-school academic support, mental health and behavioral health support, exercise and nutrition improvement, parenting education and resourcing, and risky behavior prevention and intervention. Multi-year funding has made it possible for collaborative partners to measure baseline data, pilot test best-practice programs with small groups, and implement larger-scale programs with…

   $1,455,891 spentof which $1,013,319 as grants
   78% of program spending

2. Information and referral refers people to services and volunteer opportunities at local agencies through united way's 2-1-1 first call for help, a confidential, free information and referral service. There were 14,820 calls and 29,126 unique website users.

   $134,418 spent
   7% of program spending

3. Transportation initiatives access to reliable and affordable transportation affects the health and wellbeing of people in all parts of greater lorain county. United way invests in efforts to link riders with criticlly needed rides, such as to medical and mental health appointments, maximizing the use of locally-available and coordinated resources through mobility management. This project seeks to continue partnering in the elyria and lorain via lc pilot in the upcoming 12 months. The 2024-2028 lorain county coordinated transportation plan was updated for the ohio department of transportation; 197 hours of individualized travel training was provided; and carfit certification was maintaned and used to assist event attendees in making their vehicles safely accessible.

   $95,745 spent
   5% of program spending

4. Direct services - direct services are provided by uwglc through the lorain county free tax prep coalition. Taxfiler surveys note that their refunds are used for essential needs such as utilities, groceries, and rent/mortgage payments, demonstrating tax refunds directly support family satbility and overall community well-being. Income tax preparation partners coordinated by uwglc completed 2,221 federal (and a similar number state) tax returns for a total refund of $2,082,479, of which $598,989 was from the earned income tax credit. The free tax program saved taxfilers an estimated $832,875 in prep and filing fees.united way volunteer engagement initiatives match individuals and groups of people to volunteer opportunies within the community and strives to increase the effectiveness and participation of all segments of volunteer resources through recruitment, training, education and recognition. 675 duplicated (234 unduplicated) volunteers provided 2,367 volunteer hours during the fiscal year.

   $84,759 spent
   5% of program spending

5. Homeless management information systems (also known as continuum of care coordination) homelessness should be rare, brief, and resolvable through safe, affordable housing and support services. United way invests in a continuum of care that seeks to prevent homelessness, align emergency services for those who are unhoused, assure extra services are available during extreme weather, and results in service-enriched permanent housing. Housing related resources were coordinated for over 50 persons (duplicated) monthly; and between 5 and 10 landlords receive landlord-tenant counseling and crisis intervention each month. 1,107 additional overflow cots for emergency shelter were made available during the most recent extreme weather seasons, including 98 motel vouchers at a voucher cost of $9,999.37.

   $100,967 spent
   5% of program spending

The 5 programs described on its FY2024 Form 990, listed largest first by expense. Program spending in total: $1,871,780.