The programs we invest in are helping real people right here in our community, which is why real people just like you determine where the donations go.
Through our fundraising efforts, United Way of St. Lucie & Okeechobee brings together local resources, and we work with volunteers to ensure those dollars have the maximum return on the investment our donors deserve.
With over 400 nonprofits in St. Lucie & Okeechobee Counties, identifying which programs align with our community’s goals and aspirations is no small task. Many people do not realize that United Way staff does not decide who receives grants through our annual funding process. The Citizen Review process is the method by which local community representatives volunteer to evaluate the proposals from programs seeking United Way funding.
Our role is to help train United Way representatives from the local community who evaluate proposals from grant seekers. Every application for funding is vetted by these Citizen Review volunteers who live and work in our community. The goal is to identify the programs that best align with our work in Basic Needs, Financial Stability, and Health and can demonstrate measurable results in their respective area of focus.
What do citizen review volunteers do?
- Review grant application instruments
- Recommend evaluation scores for each program to aid in funding decisions
How much time does it take?
The entire process takes approximately 2 to 3 6-hour days, including:
- Attending a volunteer training
- For each program you agree to review:
- One to two hours to review grant application materials
- Attend and score agency presentations.
What qualifications do I need to do this job?
- Passion for our community;
- Desire to be a change agent;
- Be a game changer in our community by financially investing in United Way of St. Lucie & Okeechobee; and
- Knowledge or experience that is aligned with one or more of the following areas:
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Community Needs (i.e. knowledge of community collaborations, needs assessments, census data, direct client service, etc.).
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Results Driven (i.e. outcome measurements, data collection, program evaluation, etc.).
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Diversity and Inclusion (equal opportunity or accessibility expertise, familiarity with disproportionality, experience with inclusion efforts, etc.).
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Governance (i.e. board of director’s experience, strategic planning, bylaw review, committee work, etc.).
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Management (human resources experience, volunteer management, knowledge of public relations or marketing, program leadership or supervision, etc.).
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Finances (knowledge of financial ratios, annual audits, bookkeeping, experience in nonprofit finances or financial management, etc.).
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