The United Way of Southwest Michigan has released its 2025-2028 Community Impact Agenda for Change, a document that outlines its priorities for the next three years.
United Way Director of Organizational Sustainability Zack East tells us the Agenda for Change is useful to non-profits seeking support from the United Way because it can show them how best to address the organization’s goals.
“So if I’m a nonprofit within the area and I’m doing work to, for example, sustain a healthy community, or maybe the work that my nonprofit does or a program at my nonprofit is all about healthy communities, then I might read the agenda for change and see which eligibility requirements allow me to apply for funding,” East said.
East says the new Agenda for Change identifies four key impact priorities. They are healthy communities, financial security, youth opportunities, and community resiliency.
Specific issues the United Way wants to tackle include the ALICE population – that is, those who make too much money to qualify for aid but still can’t afford the cost of living — and equity across different populations.
“Maybe it’s financial security, education among those who need financial security, tax preparation, youth opportunities, and in addition to that, community resiliency.”
East says the United Way will weigh applications for support in the coming years against the goals outlined in the agenda and also follow up throughout the year to ensure the awards it gives out are being fully utilized by non-profits. The organization typically awards between $3 million and $4 million per year to the community, depending on the results of its annual campaign.