United Way of the Cape Fear Area is on an important journey toward investing its finite amount of resources in specific measurable achievements.  We have strategically chosen this journey for the following reasons: 

• Current social conditions in our community need improvement.
• It is necessary to address not only the symptoms, but the root causes.
• Donors and funders expect evidence that their investments are making a measurable difference.
• Focusing on measurable improvements will increase the likelihood of success.
• Focusing on results will help determine what resources are needed to achieve success.
• Resources must be invested in strategies that work.
• The Community Impact Business Model defines and achieves what matters most in our community.
• It takes the community working together, sharing responsibility and accountability, to create lasting change in community conditions.

This journey towards Community Impact represents necessary change and we are committed to its implementation in a positive and effective manner. Communities and organizations across the United States are moving toward this concept of impact in order to achieve measurable results.  Our vision is to identify important “impact” issues and a process to improve community conditions.  Creating lasting changes in community conditions is challenging and requires the entire community to work together to be successful. The Community Impact Business Model includes:

• Identifying the Cape Fear Area’s most critical needs.
• Identifying measurable indicators of community results.
• Identifying reliable data sources and establishing current baselines, targets, and timeframes for improvement.  
• Assisting local organizations in identifying measurable program outcomes.
• Investing United Way resources in local organizations who address critical needs.
• Participating in larger community efforts to achieve community indicators of success that no one organization can achieve alone. These will require new forms of intensive, long-term collaboration amongst nonprofit and public agencies, businesses, faith-based entities and other stakeholders.