UTICA — United Way of the Mohawk Valley recently unveiled a new strategic plan that will guide the nonprofit organization as it works to help the community over the next two years. It was time, says CEO/Executive Director Susan Litera, who has been in the role for about 18 months. The needs of the community […]
UTICA — United Way of the Mohawk Valley recently unveiled a new strategic plan that will guide the nonprofit organization as it works to help the community over the next two years.
It was time, says CEO/Executive Director Susan Litera, who has been in the role for about 18 months. The needs of the community have changed in recent years, and the United Way’s strategic plan needed to better align with those needs.
“Before we really launched into it, my team and I spent a lot of time pulling data and analyzing it,” Litera says. The organization also polled the community, members, partners, and other agencies “to make sure the work we going to do makes the most sense for the community.”
After pouring through all that data, the community’s needs became apparent, she says. “There weren’t a ton of surprises, but it was tough to see.”
Food and housing insecurity are among the top issues the community faces, and those numbers have increased dramatically in recent years, Litera says. “Transportation is another one.”
Those needs all fall into three impact areas the United Way of the Mohawk Valley outlined in the plan — health and wellness, economic stability, and community responsiveness.
Through health and wellness outreach, the United Way works to support people with complex needs and those who struggle to afford basic needs. Under economic stability, the United Way is working to strengthen and broaden its revenue streams to address issues including housing, employment, transportation, and education. Finally, under community responsiveness, the United Way works with community partners to develop a comprehensive response system that supports the community during critical and urgent needs.
“We’ve got a plan, we’ve got a mission, and now we just execute,” Litera says. The organization supports one out of every three people in Herkimer and Oneida counties in some way.
The new plan recently came into play after two tornadoes struck Oneida County in late June. The United Way’s plan calls for a proactive emergency response plan – formulated after last July’s tornado that struck downtown Rome. Rather than reactively work to raise funds after a disaster strikes, the new plan incorporates a disaster relief fund, and the United Way was able to utilize that fund after the June tornadoes to support clean-up and other efforts.
The new strategic plan also trends heavily toward collaboration and working in partnership with other community organizations, Litera notes. “Everything is centered on and based around collaboration,” she says. “Even agencies doing similar work have gaps.”
Working together with other agencies helps ensure wraparound care that helps people with long-term solutions, not just short-term fixes, Litera says.
The United Way of the Mohawk Valley is also shifting its fundraising and gifting model as the agency finds itself doing more direct support along with its traditional grants to other organizations. Working collaboratively with other agencies also helps increase the odds of obtaining funding, she adds.
The United Way of the Mohawk Valley has served the area since 1921.
