2023 Year in Review

We are so excited to share and celebrate the accomplishments of Heart of Missouri United Way, its volunteers, and team members in 2023.

GOAL 1: ADVANCE COMMUNITY IMPACT

• UW Board of Directors approved 15 new Health and Basic Needs grants at 14 partner organizations.
• We analyzed Community Impact data from 2021 and compiled an annual report that was shared online and in print. This was a huge collaboration and accomplishment from all.
• We had a successful Read Across Columbia day. MU Health Care had TJ arrive by ambulance to deliver books to Benton Elementary School. MU Health Care leadership read to students. MU Women’s Basketball Coach Robin Pingeton and players delivered books to Alpha Hart Elementary, and the author of one of the books read to students at Grant Elementary.
• University of Missouri held its first Live United Rally to organize a supplies drive for partner agencies. The event brought in nearly 1,000 items worth more than $6,000.
• We certified 29 nonprofit organizations to partner with United Way and receive impact grant funding.
• We engaged several new volunteers to serve on the UW Health and Basic Needs Advisory Council.
• Through a grant from DoorDash and United Way Worldwide, we partnered with a certified partner organization to deliver over 100 basic needs/food boxes to community members unable to otherwise access those critical items.
• We updated and restructured the funding guidelines to further clarify our investment strategy.
• We attended Deck the Columns at the University of Missouri and collected donations of winter hats, gloves, and scarves for our unhoused neighbors.
• We continued participation in Boone Impact Group (BIG) with the City and County, as well as support for the Boone Indicators Dashboard (BID).

GOAL 2: BUILD VOLUNTEERISM SO UNITED WAY IS A CENTRALIZED VOLUNTEER ORGANIZER IN MID-MO

• We hosted our first-ever Day of Action with MU Health Care and had 75 volunteers help out at several local nonprofits and City parks.
• We hosted 3 Give 5 Cohort Graduations and matched many talented retirees with their passion and purpose in our community!
• We hosted the first Give 5 reunion with past graduates gathering at MEM to share their volunteering experiences.
• Wellness kits were put together by company partners to provide essential items to our community’s most vulnerable. Companies included: Columbia College, Paytient, EquipmentShare

GOAL 3: INCREASE REVENUE

• We successfully launched the GoodWorld donation platform for Campaign and raised over half a million through the platform!
• We launched our Sponsorship Catalog and secured sponsorships for our events and initiatives. We also expanded the Catalog to include even more sponsorships, and Andrew/Adonica worked on our first sponsorship blitz!
• We hosted our first Level Up Day on October 8th as a way of thanking and recognizing Leadership Circle donors, sponsored by Level Up.
• Pacesetters raised a total of $1,551,141!
• We increased the number of donors and amount pledged by University of Missouri employees and retirees.
• We conducted the 2nd Annual Fight for Literacy game at MU Men’s Basketball game. More than 1,000 books were donated and a matching gift from International Paper was presented during halftime.
• We hosted an MU Leadership Circle event at the new Stephens Indoor Practice Facility.
• We held a Tocqueville Society event at  MU Chancellor’s Residence, where we awarded the 2023 Bo Fraser Leadership Award to Vicki Russell.

GOAL 4: STRENGTHEN MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS

• We officially launched our monthly newsletter this March and have successfully shared many stories, news releases, blogs, photos, volunteer opportunities, and events.
• We created our 2023 campaign tagline “Building Futures, Together” and shared updated campaign talking points and materials.
• We participated in the MU Homecoming Parade and received a check at halftime recognizing the generous MU Employees.

GOAL 5: BUILD CAPACITY BY ADVANCING INTERNAL GROWTH AND ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

• We reviewed and updated all current staff position descriptions and finalized succession plans.
• We secured a grant from MU Division of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity to advance equity-focused capacity building in the nonprofit sector.
• We welcomed new Board members who started in May: Jennifer Gordon, Sharon Horbyk, Cat Meagher, Claire Owen, Bill Watkins.
• United Way Staff and Board participated in United Way Worldwide Equity Trainings.