June 2010: United Front Impressions

Commentary by Dave Goodwin, CEO of Reviva, United Way board member and United Way Tocqueville Society member

On June 9, United Way convened nearly 900 health and human service leaders to take a hard look at the challenges and opportunities facing nonprofits in what state economist, Tom Stinson, calls the “new normal.” Greater Twin Cities United Way understands this reality and our future budgets have been adjusted accordingly. Stinson and several other speakers, including United Way’s new CEO Sarah Caruso, shared their expertise with the audience of board and staff leaders who will ultimately be leading the sector through strategic changes that will reshape the way we care for people in need in our community.

It is not surprising that a United Way survey of agencies earlier this year found 74 percent reported seeing more clients in need of services and 81 percent reported lost revenue. More need for services and fewer resources available—not a sustainable situation. That’s why it was so important for United Way to lead the conversation about making tough choices and making changes in the way we do business.

Event attendees were offered many tools and resources, along with case studies, to aid their strategic assessment and planning going forward. As Tocqueville members, we can be part of the process and help create, support and implement smart changes going forward.

More specifically, we can help in the following ways:

• Just as in the private sector, the strong often become stronger during times of stress. Have we been guilty of propping up agencies that should be allowed to fail?
• Encourage United Way and its partner agencies to adopt strategies and practices that will ensure sustainability—both for their organizations and, more importantly, for the critical work they do to serve people most in need? In my company, adopting lean principles accomplished both objectives. The same can be true in nonprofits where wasting scarce resources is all too common.
• Continue to convince nonprofits to partner with other successful nonprofits and the private sector to find much more cost effective options than outmoded government programs.

United Way uniquely engages and mobilizes a broad range of community leaders—private, public, and nonprofit groups, emerging leaders, volunteers, foundations, philanthropic citizens, government agencies, schools, and of course, the general public. I know that Sarah Caruso is deeply concerned that United Way’s message about the future of the nonprofit sector be as clear and compelling as possible. As Tocqueville members, we can help deliver that message and influence the way it is perceived by many people in our community. Applying our collective experience and wisdom to help nonprofit agencies change and find opportunity during these difficult times is needed now every bit as much as our financial support.

April 2010: Sarah Caruso—One of 200 Minnesotans You Should Know

United Way President and CEO Sarah Caruso was recently named one of 200 Minnesotans you should know by Twin Cities Business Magazine. Read the 200 Minnesotans list.

March 2010: Meet Sarah Caruso, United Way's new CEO