The funds received through the annual fundraising campaign for Otsego County United Way are allocated to agency programs within the community. The process is very simple, but here is how it works...

Four panels of volunteers are established based on the four impact areas of United Way funding:

Health & Community
Emergency Services
Youth Development
Strengthening Families

1. We receive the money and establish the budget.

2. We accept applications for funding from area programs.

3. Volunteers receive the information 1-2 weeks prior to the time allocation panels meet.

4. Times are arranged for each panel and a half hour is allowed for each program.

5. During the panel the program representative is given approximately 15-20 minutes to present to present their request.

6. Panel volunteers are given 10-15 minutes to ask questions.

7. Each panel evaluates all of the programs upon completion of all of the presentations and recommends a minimum and maximum dollar amount to be allocated to each program based on evaluation score.

8. Recommendations from individual panels  are taken to an allocation committee with representatives from each panel for further review and comparison.

9. Final recommendations are made from the allocation committee to the Board of Directors for the Otsego County United Way for final approval.

What is the difference between allocations and designations?

If a donor pledges to Otsego County United Way but elects to have their money go directly to a specific agency or another United Way organization it is called a designation. When those funds are received they go directly to that organization and are not included in the general fund to be allocated.