Non-profits make their pitch for United Way funding

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- Although it's early in 2025, seventeen United Way partner agencies are making presentations to United Way for 2026 funding.

Each year, volunteers assist the United Way Board and Investment Council in determining how United Way of Greater St. Joseph funds will be distributed.

Community volunteer Donna Zion, of North American Savings Bank in St. Joseph, said the process of volunteering to assess various United Way partners has given her a greater appreciation for the work St. Joseph non-profits do for the community.

"It is a very humbling experience to get to interact with these partner agencies and see what they do for the community," Zion said. "We look at financials and programming, and we look at any possible duplication of service, and then we make decisions based upon the feedback of our volunteers."

This year, 180 volunteers from the community meet with representatives of the partner agencies in a small group setting and ask pertinent questions about funding and impact. They then make recommendations to the Investment Council, who works in conjunct with the board of directors to make final funding decisions. These decisions are announced later in the year.

Nichi Seckinger, Executive Director of AFL-CIO of St. Joseph, said as a longtime participant, the process makes sure the community is making best use of the funds given by businesses and individuals to the work of serving others.

"The process is challenging, but it's a way of protecting the dollars of people who donate to the United Way," Seckinger said. "It keeps us all, you know, in line and keeps us thinking about what we're doing and why we're doing it."

Seckinger also said, although her organization receives relatively little federal funding, the concerns about cuts to non-profits weighs on everyone applying for funds from sources like United Way.

Jodi Flurry, Director of Community Investment for United Way, said at the end of the day, process is about maximizing dollars to help these partner agencies change lives.

"We get to hear stories from these organizations about how lives are changed for the better," Flurry said. "The feedback provided by our volunteers about how the United Way should invest gives people in the community who are donors or even past recipients of help a way to be an important part of the ongoing funding process."

For more information about the 17 partner agencies the United Way supports, visit stjosephunitedway.org.