Monadnock United Way

We unite people from all sectors of the Monadnock Region to solve problems in our community. We believe that when we work together, we make all our region’s communities stronger. The problems challenging us are complex; they are issues that no single organization or individual alone can solve.

Monadnock United Way’s goal is to create long-lasting changes by addressing the underlying causes of these problems. United Way has the networks, partnerships and strategic initiatives to improve the lives of our family, friends and neighbors.

Real change is possible when nonprofit, public and private sectors team up to work together. Advancing the common good is less about helping one person at a time and more about changing systems to help all of us.

We invest strategically in programs and collective initiatives we believe will achieve specific outcomes in our three focus areas: Children, Education and Financial Stability. In addition to the focus areas, MUW invests in programs that meet the basic needs of community members: food, shelter, heat and transportation.

We invite individual agencies and collective initiatives that align with one or more of our focus areas to submit funding proposals. Funding recommendations are made by our Investment Review Teams — groups of volunteers who spend more than 100 hours each year reviewing, analyzing and evaluating all grant applications for the most effective and promising solutions that support our focus areas.

We also directly fund Impact Monadnock, MUW’s signature early childhood initiative focused on children 0-8 and their families.

All our investments must align with the vision outlined in our community-backed strategic plan, and must be approved by our Board of Directors. The vision for each focus area is as follows:

Children: Community children live in safe, nurturing, healthy homes and communities.
Education: Community members receive an education that enables them to achieve their fullest potential.
Financial stability: Community members have the financial resources they need to live healthy, happy and productive lives.

Key internal resources and capabilities include: staff, campaign and grant revenue, office space, technology, leadership and expertise.

Key external resources and capabilities include: networks of partnerships with local non-profits, foundations/philanthropic organizations, businesses, volunteers, academic institutions, policymakers and advocates for community well-being.

MUW invests in experienced staff with specialties in resource development, community impact, volunteerism and communications. Each year, MUW's dynamic resource development team raises funds through a community campaign, foundation support, grants and other opportunities. MUW's community impact team manages an annual request for proposals process for human service non-profits seeking funding; the team engages and manages community volunteers who review funding proposals and make investment recommendations. Over MUW's history, it has continually refined and strengthened its resource development and allocations practices and processes to both meet community needs and increase the organization's efficiencies.

Community Investments
MUW invests in programs and initiatives that impact the lives of thousands of citizens in need.
- More than 2,600 individuals received support services like home visiting, parent education, and social engagement opportunities through the alliance for families collective
- 371 community members received life saving emergency shelter and basic needs essentials through the emergency housing collective
- 900+ children accessed structured afterschool academic enrichment, physical fitness, nutritional and life skill programming through the afterschool collective
- 2000+ neighbors received fresh food and produce regularly through the food pantries collective

MUW seeks to grow the impact of its funded partners by supporting system-building collaborations and increased efficiencies across the region's non-profits.