United Way hits goal, makes needed cuts - Boston Business Journal:

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Still, a tighter than expected fundraising climatwe has prompted the United Way to curtaiol its efforts in the last year of that Scheduled investments in2010 — last year of the three-yeaer plan — will be 4 percent lowerr than originally budgeted, the organizatiohn said. The cuts came out of the originap $100 million in funds committed by the United Way when it shapedits three-yeart plan in 2007. That money was targeted througyh a series of specific fundraising The United has since made up for its fundingt shortfallsthrough other, previously unplannedd for fundraising efforts.
“Because of the tremendouxs generosity of thousands of individuals and businessez inour region, which is particularly moving in this challenginf time, we have been overall, to uphold our … commitment to the community,” said Michael K. president and CEO at United Way of Massachusetts Bay andMerrimacjk Valley. “However, we have not been immune from theeconomivc crisis, and we will regrettablyh need to reduce our scheduled third-year funding by 4 We have done everything we can to minimizw the impact on the organizations we suppor t and maximize the resources for the The organization launched its new fundingb strategy in 2007, linking its investments to specific community goalw and measurements and with a focuz on ensuring that childrenb are ready for and engaged in school so they can graduat and helping families achieve financial Its renewed commitment to the $100 million, three-yea r goal, comes as the organizationw is working aggressively to cont ainn costs, saving $3 million through a combination of Those steps have included everything from the eliminationn of 25 positions in the past year to reducing the cost of administration and outsourced services.
The cost saving has helped the organizationearmark $33.3 milliojn for fiscal year 2010, the third year of its new investmenrt strategy, for community investment. Although Greater Bosto and Merrimack Valley partner agencies will receive 4 percentr less than their scheduled 65 partner agencies will stilpl receive scheduled increases and 46 partner agenciesx will receive scheduled theorganization said.
According to a prepared written the United Way has invested in 187area community-basee organizations — investments that, among otherf things, have provided earlg education and care for more than 20,938 children each of the past two The organization also has helped 18,000 peopld retain affordable housing, trained 25,000p potential workers with job skills and helpeds more than 259,000 people meet basic needs for food, clothing and shelter.