Your Questions Answered
For the most part, you’ll see few changes. The same people will be doing the same work right in your community. Your local United Way will continue to use its current name for many local activities such as local fundraising. Most of the change will come as we’re able to use our merged organization to leverage existing resources, potentially draw new resources, and generate new ideas to make a bigger impact locally.
There will be a regional governing board of directors made up of equal representation from the merging United Ways. Each community will also have a community leadership committee that reports to the governing board to ensure regional knowledge and representation. There will be a CEO for the merged organization plus a local executive, selected from existing local staff, in each community.
No. The merger isn’t about cutting staff. We expect the merger to create new capabilities for greater impact locally and regionally.
Local staff will continue to report to their current supervisors. Some reporting relationships may change over time.
No. We’re committed to keeping our local presence now and into the future.
A lot of mergers involve a bigger partner swallowing a smaller one. That’s not the case here. Each of our local United Ways enters into this merger as equals, with equal representation and equal say. That speaks to the importance of each United Way and its work.
Donations given locally will go to local programs and impact. That was the very first absolute agreement we made the moment we started exploring a merger. We’ll give donors the option to invest in the bigger region if they wish, but the default will be to keep local gifts local.
The governing board of directors will select a CEO to oversee the newly merged United Way. Local executives will lead at the local level.
None of these will change in the near term. Over time, our hope is that our merged organization will be able to stabilize current resources and tap new resources to create even greater impact locally and regionally.
Some will serve on the governing board. Some will serve on the local leadership committee, which helps advise the governing board on local needs.
The new organization will have a new name. But we also realize that, when it comes to local fundraising and other local activities, the local name and brand is important to each community. Some have had their local United Way around for a century! By keeping those names, we recognize their local legacy of impact while underscoring that this is truly a merger of equals.
All three of our United Ways enjoy a strong, lasting partnership with Labor in our respective communities. It’s vital that the relationship remain and grow. We’ve committed to having dedicated Governing Board seats, recruiting and engaging Labor in local and regional committees, and maintaining Labor Liaisons in each local office. Local employee units at Capital Area and Battle Creek will continue. We will consult and engage local Labor leaders and central Labor council regions in shaping our ongoing Labor strategy.
Equity, diversity and inclusion are core values at all three of our United Ways. While some of us are farther along in that journey than others, the commitment is foundational for all. So let’s be clear: That commitment will not diminish. The merger will not slow our progress; in fact, it will accelerate it for all of us.
We’re committed to intentionally increasing diversity at every level of the new United Way. We are currently exploring a leadership role that would be part of the merged organization (i.e. Chief Equity Officer) to ensure our work internally and externally is directly supported. We’re also talking with our current vendors about how they can help us make sure our values of equity, diversity and inclusion are incorporated in Board, leadership, staff and development strategies as we move through merger and integration.
Two of our United Ways—Battle Creek/Kalamazoo, and Capital Area—have gone through mergers before. Both were successful in creating efficiencies, generating new ideas, and advancing local partnerships and impact. They also bring valuable lessons that will help as we integrate our three United Ways as smoothly as possible.
Our United Ways have a shared history of working well with each other and with other United Ways. For example, we’ve partnered with several local United Ways on a shared Human Resources model and support. We’ve also worked together on fundraising events, shared ideas across communities, and even led statewide campaign kickoffs.
As part of our exploration of a merger, we met with a number of major donors and corporate partners in every community. The support for a merger has been overwhelming. They see the value in combining our strengths to create greater impact locally and beyond.
You’ll see no change in how you give in the near term. Over time, we’ll look to build on our existing tools to give you more flexibility than ever to support United Way.
You’ll see no change in the near term. We hope to create even more opportunities to volunteer and be personally involved in our work.