Website
http://www.uwci.org/
Primary Contact
Beth Cline
Director of Volunteer Engagement
Contact via email
Mission statement
The United Way of Central Indiana (UWCI) is a not-for-profit that exists to help residents in Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion and Morgan Counties learn more, earn more and lead safe and healthy lives. United Way works to bring together businesses, community organizations, volunteers, government, private foundations and nonprofit agencies around a shared vision — improving lives; maximizing the impact of everyone involved.
Actions
Actions are activities derived from the Plan 2020 planning process that a partner has committed to implement.
United Way of Central Indiana (UWCI) is working on the following actions:
Strategy
Work to ensure that residents, non-profits and government agencies understand where there are opportunities for citizens to engage and where there are gaps.
Action
Maintain and grow a volunteerism clearinghouse and tracking mechanism
Start Date:
August 1, 2016
Completion Date:
December 31, 2020
Progress
100%
Strategy
Work to ensure that residents, non-profits and government agencies understand where there are opportunities for citizens to engage and where there are gaps.
Action
Working with mission aligned partners, schools and community development organizations, identify gaps in volunteer needs
Start Date:
July 1, 2017
Completion Date:
July 31, 2019
Progress
100%
We work with organizations to help fill their volunteer needs through our www.volunteercentralindiana.org website or by connecting company employees with volunteer needs. Additionally, as a result of COVID-19 we worked closely with other community-based organizations to share their most immediate needs while dealing with the coronavirus while connecting volunteers to safe opportunities in their communities.
Strategy
Work to ensure that residents, non-profits and government agencies understand where there are opportunities for citizens to engage and where there are gaps.
Action
Highlight local champions, initiatives and community programs that address specific interests, needs and concerns
Start Date:
August 1, 2016
Completion Date:
December 31, 2020
Progress
100%
100 heroes recognized for their work in the community through our 100 celebration (January – April 2018) Awards given during our annual meeting each year to companies for their work in the community. Corporate Champions acknowledged at Annual Meeting (June 2019 and July 2020). Indiana’s young professionals who exemplify the leadership, philanthropy and the ingenuity needed to move our community forward on important social causes (Feb 2020)
Strategy
Work to ensure that residents, non-profits and government agencies understand where there are opportunities for citizens to engage and where there are gaps.
Action
Create a menu for businesses of all sizes, that presents volunteer and community engagement opportunities around social and community issues, such as education, tutoring, mentoring, food insecurity, skills development and literacy
Start Date:
January 1, 2017
Completion Date:
June 30, 2017
Progress
100%
A corporate volunteer tool kit is currently available on UWCI website; www.volunteercentralindiana.org is available for companies, individuals, etc. to find volunteer and community engagement opportunities. Responded to volunteer needs/requests due to COVID-19, in-person, virtually or remotely. Specific page set up on our website and through our volunteer portal for volunteer and community engagement.
Strategy
Work to ensure that residents, non-profits and government agencies understand where there are opportunities for citizens to engage and where there are gaps.
Action
Leverage 5 meaningful projects and initiatives each year that address core social issues in identified communities at risk
Start Date:
August 1, 2016
Completion Date:
December 31, 2020
Progress
100%
The launch of our new Impact Funds model provides a specific, targeted approach to addressing Central Indiana’s most pressing issues by providing basic needs, strengthening opportunities for families to reach self-sufficiency, and spurring social innovation in our sector. Events: Community Baby Shower (June 2016 & 2017) MLK Service Day Project (January 2017) New Home Kits (September 2016) Hometown Huddle (September 2016 & 2017) Restock the Classroom (April 2018)
Strategy
Develop a strong, compelling communication plan and message for the various communities, stakeholders and residents of Marion County.
Action
Aggregate data from community agencies, institutions and consulting firms to support the purpose and benefits of community engagement and volunteerism (part 1 of 5)
Start Date:
July 1, 2017
Completion Date:
December 31, 2020
Progress
10%
Working with other Plan2020 Civic Engagement partners to create benchmarks for volunteerism and civic engagement
Strategy
Develop a strong, compelling communication plan and message for the various communities, stakeholders and residents of Marion County.
Action
Disseminate local and national findings on how community engagement and responsibility grows communities, neighborhoods, businesses and people (part 2 of 5)
Start Date:
July 1, 2018
Completion Date:
December 31, 2020
Progress
0%
Strategy
Develop a strong, compelling communication plan and message for the various communities, stakeholders and residents of Marion County.
Action
Collaborate with other Plan 2020 partners to develop a compelling message and strong communication plan (part 3 of 5)
Start Date:
July 1, 2018
Completion Date:
December 31, 2020
Progress
0%
Strategy
Develop a strong, compelling communication plan and message for the various communities, stakeholders and residents of Marion County.
Action
Help identify themes, project and initiatives that support and promote Plan 2020, specifically Serve Indy (part 4 of 5)
Start Date:
July 1, 2018
Completion Date:
December 31, 2020
Progress
0%
Strategy
Develop a strong, compelling communication plan and message for the various communities, stakeholders and residents of Marion County.
Action
Help identify and engage media partners (part 5 of 5)
Start Date:
July 1, 2018
Completion Date:
December 31, 2020
Progress
0%
Strategy
Ensure that local child care centers and institutions of early childhood education are of high quality.
Action
Create and maintain a network of partner organizations / referral agencies for partnership potential for children from birth to 5 years of age
Start Date:
January 1, 2011
Completion Date:
December 31, 2020
Progress
100%
United Way has 80+ partner commnity based organizations. We also collaborate and partner with local and national ECE experts to collect data and push legislation to ensure child care centers and institutions are high quality. Over 42% of Central Indiana child care centers are high quality. Up from 15% in 2011.
Strategy
Ensure that local child care centers and institutions of early childhood education are of high quality.
Action
Assess the need, supply and demand for high quality child care in Marion County
Start Date:
January 1, 2016
Completion Date:
December 31, 2020
Progress
100%
Assessment done annually. Quarterly reports developed to track # of high quality sites.
Strategy
Ensure that local child care centers and institutions of early childhood education are of high quality.
Action
Manage, house and publish yearly reports on progress toward child care goals, and include an evaluation and re-assessment of current capacities and opportunities for growth the following year
Start Date:
January 1, 2016
Completion Date:
December 31, 2020
Progress
100%
102% to goal: 82 Registered Ministries (RM), 30 Licensed Centers (LC)
Strategy
Ensure that local child care centers and institutions of early childhood education are of high quality.
Action
Develop and implement a framework for parental engagement in early childhood education
Start Date:
July 1, 2017
Completion Date:
December 31, 2020
Progress
100%
Completed as part of the Great Families 2020
Strategy
Ensure that local child care centers and institutions of early childhood education are of high quality.
Action
Create a campaign to increase utilization of available resources for early childhood development and K-12 education
Start Date:
January 1, 2012
Completion Date:
December 31, 2020
Progress
100%
Campaign for early childhood development has been in place since 2012, but campaign for K-12 education has not yet.
Strategy
Help more students graduate on-time.
Action
Assist in getting at least 90% of high school students to graduate on time
Start Date:
January 1, 2014
Completion Date:
December 31, 2020
Progress
92%
Current graduation rate is 88%
Strategy
Ensure that more K-12 students are able to read at their grade level.
Action
Assist in getting at least 90% of 3rd grade students reading at their grade level
Start Date:
January 1, 2010
Completion Date:
December 31, 2020
Progress
74%
The ISTEP ELA was replaced by ILEARN ELA test in 2018-19. The baseline results have been provided. The constant change in the testing instrument has severely impacted reading test results.
Strategy
Grow supportive services for adult workers seeking to overcome barriers to gaining employment at wages that will get them out of poverty.
Action
Expand the number of Centers for Working Families to 13 in Marion County, and increase the number of families served by each center
Start Date:
July 1, 2015
Completion Date:
December 31, 2020
Progress
100%
Last year, almost 5,000 individuals were served by Centers. For Working Families (CWF) which included a network of 10 neighborhood sites. No additional sites being added
Affiliate Projects
Affiliate projects are independent projects that are significantly aligned with the strategies of The Bicentennial Plan, and while not derived directly from the Plan 2020 planning process, have been accepted as mutually reinforcing activities.
United Way of Central Indiana (UWCI) is working on the following projects:
Great Families 2020
http://www.uwci.org/great-families-2020Using a federal grant from the Social Innovation Fund, a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service, the Great Families 2020 initiative targets neighborhoods on Indianapolis’ near West Side, Northwest/Midtown, near Eastside and Far Eastside to establish neighborhood support networks that provide integrated services in post-secondary education and workforce development, early childhood education, financial support, and health and well-being to families living in poverty. Modeled after what is known as the Two Generation approach, Great Families 2020 is a framework developed by Ascend at the Aspen Institute, a nationally recognized hub for innovative ideas and collaborations that move children and their parents toward educational success and economic security. By establishing a neighborhood network of comprehensive, integrated services that serve the whole family, more children are prepared to enter kindergarten ready to learn, more parents acquire the skills needed for a career, and more families become financially stable.