The United Way currently helps to support 25 agencies providing services in Marshall County. Each year these agencies must complete a budget request form for the next calendar year detailing their expenses for the previous year, the current year and the next proposed calendar year.

In this budget request form the agency makes a formal request for a specific dollar amount from the Marshalltown Area United Way. The budgets are submitted and distributed to the 21-member board of directors and several community volunteers who help with the allocation process.

Each agency is assigned a liaison team from the board and community volunteers. The teams visit 2 agencies to gather information and to see what the agency does in the community. The liaison teams make a recommendation on what the agency should be allocated based on their visit.

The liaison teams make their visits between October and December. In January the board and community volunteers are broken into three 8-member panels which listen to presentations from United Way agencies. The panels then make a recommendation on funding based on the presentations.

The entire board meets later in January and makes a final decision on what dollar amount (allocation) each agency will receive for that calendar year, based on funds raised by the just-completed campaign. The funded agencies must comply with the US Patriot Act regarding counter-terrorism before receiving funds.

How does an agency become part of the United Way?

In order for an agency to be part of the Marshalltown Area United Way, they must be a non-profit and hold a tax-exempt status 501(c)(3) issued by the federal tax department. They also must be listed as a non-profit with the State of Iowa. The agency also must have by-laws and a Board of Directors that meet on a regular basis throughout the year.

The United Way has a formal admission procedure for agencies. The process begins in January of each year. If your agency is interested in applying, please e-mail us at unitedway@mailmis.com for more information.

Not every agency that applies is admitted as an agency. The United Way board of directors makes those decisions. Some things to be considered are:

• Need of the type of services the agency is offering.
• Duplication of services by already existing agencies and
• The availability of funds from the United Way campaign.

If you are interested in being a community volunteer in the allocation process, please e-mail us at unitedway@mailmis.com