Trident United Way>>>for what matters in South Carolina - Charleston, North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, West Ashley, Goose Creek, Summerville, Monks Corner, James Island

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	Community Investments Nurturing Youth Success By 6 Child Care Resources Achieving Successful Aging Health & Wellness Service Centers Creating Economic Stability Volunteering

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community building

Download Trident United Way's 2007 - 2008 Community Investments.

Trident United Way's goal is to use the resources available to the Lowcountry to help solve the most pressing problems facing our community. Accomplishing this ambitious goal requires Results Matter thousands of volunteer hours, an exhaustive investment process focused on outcomes, and many difficult decisions. There are always more needs than resources.

All United Way investments must answer three important questions:

1. Does this program address a critical community need?
2. Is this an efficient and effective use of our donors' contributions?
3. Does the program achieve the community outcomes we seek?

Based on an assessment of community needs, more than 200 volunteers have determined that United Way should direct its investments to six areas of most critical need:

Each year, more than 100 Community Investment volunteers from Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester Counties review applications for programs addressing and determine which provide the best return on the donor’s investment.

Trident United Way employs several investment tools to achieve its goals.

Direct Services – Programs and initiatives established and operated by United Way to fill community needs. These include 2-1-1 Hotline, Child Care Resource & Referral, and Child Care Accreditation, to name just three.

Annual Investments – Programs that address critical issues and measurably improve people’s lives.

Strategic Grants – Community assessment and strategic planning around critical community issues. A 2004 Strategic Grant created the Health & Wellness initiative that is working to improve our community's personal health choices

Promoting Volunteerism – Initiatives that bring people together to strengthen our community. Last year’s Day of Caring partnered 4,000 people with 81 non-profits for a day of volunteer service worth roughly $1 million.

Resource Development – Trident United Way raises some money from outside the community – mostly through foundation grants -- that flows into the budgets of other organizations.

Community Building – No one organization can tackle the tough issues alone, so United Way brings together diverse stakeholders to develop community agenda. Our groundbreaking 2003 Child Care Report is helping business, government, non-profits and individual families rally together to develop a better system for quality early childhood education.