Nearly $1.19 million of the money raised last year was allocated this spring by United Way of Kosciusko County to its 27 member agencies.

The allocations also included a $5,000 venture grant to Housing Opportunities of Warsaw, which is not a United Way agency.

According to Brad Bishop, president of the United Way board of directors, the United Way funds programs, not organizations.

"To assure the community that it's getting what it thinks it's getting, we fund the programs," he said.

For example, Cardinal Center Inc. received $125,120 in funding for three programs - First Steps, Healthy Families and Sus Amigos - even though CCI has many other programs.

Allocations are made annually by a seven-member committee, which is currently headed by Mike Kissane. In February or March, each agency turns in its budget package, which includes financial information as well as details about the agency's programs, Kissane said.

The allocations committee, as well as the executive director, Patricia Coy, reviews each agency's information, looking at the agency's performance over the past year and other sources of funding for the agency.

In May, the allocations committee meets daily for a week, Kissane said, and every agency requesting United Way funds makes a presentation.

"Then the committee tries to figure out how to divide the pie," Kissane said.

The allocations committee makes its recommendations to the full board, Bishop said. "The board has final approval." The board may discuss the recommended allocations, but rarely disapproves, he said.

Charitable organizations that serve a beneficial purpose in the community but are not United Way agencies also may make a presentation, Kissane said. "To help them get off the ground, we may give them a venture grant, a one-time grant, year by year."

Money that has been allocated is directly deposited monthly in each agency's bank account.

The allocations committee members, which are selected by the United Way board, are business leaders, community residents and board members, Kissane said.

This year's allocations committee members, besides Kissane, are Jim Tinkey, Philip Eherenman, Christi Price, Bill Tidmore, Dan Rice and Jeff Thornburgh.

This year the United Way board established an emergency fund of approximately $97,000, said Coy.

"Currently there's no place for a nonprofit to go if an emergency arises, if other funding sources drop off or if equipment breaks," she said.

Other problems can include a drop in state or federal funding. Coy said that is occurring now in child care, with federal funding that is funneled through the state for child care programs being reduced.

Last year's United Way goal was $1.1 million, and $1.4 million was collected. That is the money used to fund the allocations this year, Coy said.

This year's goal is $1.2 million. Money raised this year will be allocated in 2003.

Besides the allocations to the agencies and the emergency fund, approximately 5 percent of the money raised goes to administration and other costs, and about 5 percent is designated by the donors to organizations in other counties.

Coy also said they must plan on approximately 10 percent in "pledge losses" by people who pledge a donation then move out of the area or lose their jobs and don't follow through on their donation.

Members of the United Way board of directors are: Bill Tidmore, Clare Baumgardt, Mike Kissane, Kurt Kamholz, Dean Zentz, Karen Dady, David Findlay, Brenda Rigdon, Rev. Frank Beard, Lori Morel, Rebecca Kubacki, Maureen Hall, Dennis Gaerte, Mindy Creighton, Sally Baily, Jeff Neumann, Brad Tandy, Brad Bishop, Grant McGuire, John Kibiger, Dr. Anita Kishan, Philip Lund, Jeff Thornburgh, John Warren, Becky White and Mike Wilson. [[In-content Ad]]