UNITED WAY OPENS COMPETITIVE GRANT OPPORTUNITY

Heart of Florida United Way (HFUW) has officially transitioned to its new business model called Investing in Results (IIR). The organization will now focus its efforts on addressing the root causes of complex community problems as identified by a comprehensive community study conducted last year. Today HFUW opened the competitive funding process for the first of four new focus areas that residents deemed most critical and urgent to address, Building Safe Communities.

Investing in Results is a new and expanded way for HFUW to address the growing health and human service needs in Central Florida. For nearly 70 years, the organization has supported programs that have helped improve the lives of millions of local residents. HFUW is now building on that legacy to create new and lasting solutions. Success will be measured by lives improved and positive changes in community conditions such as the number of children ready for high school graduation or the reduction of crime in our communities – just to name a few.

“Investing in Results is about focusing,” said Ed Timberlake, chair of the Investing in Results Council and Chairman of the Central Florida Board for Seaside National Bank & Trust. “It’s difficult to change community conditions when you’re spread a mile wide and inch deep. That’s why we’re focused on moving the needle in four investment areas, which were identified by a broad cross-section of our community through rigorous research.” These areas include:
• Building Safe Communities
• Improving Financial Stability
• Developing Healthy Children and Families
• Alleviating Hunger and Homelessness

United Way Opens Competitive Grant Opportunity of More Than $1 Million to Qualified
Community Organizations The Building Safe Communities investment area will focus on crime and unsafe neighborhoods, which were two concerns identified by HFUW’s comprehensive 2008 Tri-County Needs Assessment. HFUW is targeting projects that focus on prevention by addressing the root causes of crime and violence and those that have measurable impact on public safety at the community level, such as youth violence, youth crime, truancy and drop-out rates.

“We do not intend to provide protection against or respond to actual crimes. This is obviously the realm of our local police,” stated Robert H. (Bob) Brown, President and CEO of HFUW. “However, through this competitive funding process, we plan on collaborating with law enforcement as well as other community organizations that focus on crime prevention to create safer more cohesive communities.”

The Building Safe Communities RFP Process
The first stage of the competitive funding process for Building Safe Communities is open from April 8 through 22. Those organizations/programs interested in applying for a grant can view the parameters of the application at www.hfuw.org/Investing_in_Results.php. From there, they are encouraged to take the first step and submit a Letter of Interest (LOI).

This process is being overseen by volunteers, all issue experts and community leaders, who will review applications and make funding recommendations to the HFUW Board of Directors. The award recipients will be notified and announced in late September, after final approval by the HFUW board of directors.

HFUW’s full move to Investing in Results will occur over the next three to five years with a gradual transition whereby nearly all of the organization’s partner agencies will participate in the competitive funding process. The remaining two investment areas will be rolled out one at a time to ensure smooth execution and maximum impact: Improving Financial Stability in May 2009 and Developing Healthy Children & Families in early 2010.

To address Alleviating Hunger and Homelessness, United Way is partnering with the Central Florida Regional Commission on Homelessness, which is already working on a 10-year plan to end homelessness. By providing administrative, fundraising, marketing and other support to the
commission, United Way has established a model for other new partnerships that will evolve as
Investing in Results unfolds.

United Way Opens Competitive Grant Opportunity of More Than $1 Million to Qualified
Community Organizations For additional information about Investing in Results or the Building Safe Communities RFP, please visit www.hfuw.org/Investing_in_Results.php or contact the Community Investment department at 407-835-0900 ext. 389.