PLATINUM2023

Heartland United Way, Inc.

Improving Lives and Creating Possibilities in Hall, Hamilton, Howard and Merrick Counties

aka HUW   |   Grand Island, NE   |  www.heartlandunitedway.org

Mission

Heartland United Way, founded in 1947, was created to improve people's lives and create possibilities for people in Hall, Hamilton, Howard and Merrick Counties. The Heartland United Way fights for the health, education and financial stability of every person in every community.

Ruling year info

1963

President and Chief Professional Officer

Ms. Karen Rathke

Main address

1441 N Webb Rd

Grand Island, NE 68803 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

47-0469492

NTEE code info

Other Philanthropy, Voluntarism, and Grantmaking Foundations N.E.C. (T99)

Community, Neighborhood Development, Improvement (S20)

Human Service Organizations (P20)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

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Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

The city of Grand Island suffers a higher poverty rate than the surrounding communities and the state overall. Grand Island's poverty rate has grown to 17%, compared to the state average of 12.7% (U.S. Census Quickfacts). When Grand Island's children are factored into the poverty data, 25% of related children five and under are in poverty, compared to the state average of 18.2%. Another indicator of children in poverty is Grand Island's rate of students eligible for free and reduced lunch. Over 68% of students in Grand Island Public Schools, preschool through 12th grade, qualified for free or reduced price meals in the last school year (Nebraska Education Profile).

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Imagination Library

The Imagination Library promotes early childhood literacy by providing free age-appropriate books delivered to the mailboxes of children under five who live in Hall, Hamilton, Howard and Merrick Counties.

Population(s) Served
Infants and toddlers

2-1-1 is an easy number for people to call to access local community service referrals. Access to care is a major barrier for people in need. When someone calls 2-1-1, trained operators help callers assess their needs and directs them to appropriate resources ranging from basic needs to public information.

Population(s) Served
Adults

Where we work

Affiliations & memberships

Charity Navigator 4 Star Charity 2020

United Way Worldwide Member 2020

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.

Number of organizations applying for grants

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Children and youth, Families, Parents, Economically disadvantaged people, Immigrants and migrants

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Number of children who have access to books when they receive a free book every month in the mail.

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Infants and toddlers

Related Program

Imagination Library

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Holding steady

Number of referrals to resources offered

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Adults

Related Program

2-11 Call for Help

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Number of volunteers mobilized to have an impact

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Adults

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Percentage of parents reporting they read more to their children.

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Infants and toddlers

Related Program

Imagination Library

Type of Metric

Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues

Direction of Success

Increasing

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

Our bold goal is to connect communities to decrease childhood poverty to give children a chance and families a future.

The Heartland United Way's strategic directives include the following:
Revitalize and expand diversified funding streams
Engage, empower and track volunteers
Articulate and align a community agenda with a collective vision to decrease childhood poverty
Influence public policy.

For 75 years, the Heartland United Way has been a strong community impact organization that has relied on strong, generative leadership from a 28 member board of directors. A few years ago, the Heartland United Way hosted four Community Conversations about childhood poverty and then hosted a Poverty Summit to identify priorities to achieve our bold goal. Community Task Forces are working on the priority areas. The Heartland United Way also mobilized 950 volunteers to make a difference in our communities. We collected and distributed 15,962 pounds of food for use in local shelters, school backpack programs and area food programs. Over 3000 children under the age of 5 are enrolled in the Imagination Library program and receive a free book every month in the mail. We raised $2,165,210 to fund local community services and programs and provided 2,256 people with basic needs, food and toys during the holidays. In addition, we raised $1,470,481 in a one day of giving in partnership with Greater Grand Island Community Foundation. Donors have invested in our work and trusted our efforts to make a difference in Hall, Hamilton, Howard and Merrick Counties. This strong network of leaders, volunteers and donors collectively influence change and make great things happen in our communities.

The Heartland United Way hosted four Community Conversations about childhood poverty and then hosted a Poverty Summit to identify priorities to achieve our bold goal. Community Task Forces work on priority areas that impact the achievement of our bold goal. The three priority areas are to:
1. Support the Grand Island Area to be a more welcoming community by working collaboratively with partners to address barriers and improve opportunities for people to be successful.
2. Help stabilize housing by mobilizing local resources to improve safety, affordability and availability.
3. Increase kidergarten readiness by supporting Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Program and establishing Free Little Libraries in areas of need.

Not accomplished:
- Secured ERA2 funding for rural Nebraskans for housing development, housing stability, rent & utility assistance, and support services
- We have not been able to secure funding to ensure all children have a library of their own in our Imagination Library program

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We demonstrated a willingness to learn more by reviewing resources about feedback practice.
done We shared information about our current feedback practices.

  • Who are the people you serve with your mission?

    Program participants participating in Imagination Library program, holiday programs and receiving financial assistance. People who call 211 for help are randomly surveyed. Volunteers for United Way programs and events also provide feedback.

  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals

  • What significant change resulted from feedback?

    We provided financial assistance for a family to secure housing. During the follow-up conversations, we learned the property was unsafe for the family to be housed. As a result, the family was relocated.

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

    We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, We don’t have the right technology to collect and aggregate feedback efficiently, It is difficult to find the ongoing funding to support feedback collection, Staff find it hard to prioritize feedback collection and review due to lack of time

Financials

Heartland United Way, Inc.
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

Heartland United Way, Inc.

Board of directors
as of 02/23/2023
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board co-chair

Zach Butz

Wolf, McDermott, Depue, Sabott, Butz, Porto, LLC

Term: 2021 - 2022


Board co-chair

Shauna Graham

You Are Worth It, LLC

Term: 2022 - 2023

Tom Gdowski

Equitable Bank

Mary Berlie

GI Area Economic Development Corp

Zach Butz

Shamberg Wolf McDermott & Depue

Tammy Erikson

Home Federal Bank

Matthew Gotschall

Central Community College

Shauna Graham

You Are Worth It, LLC

Tawana Grover

Grand Island Public Schools

Holly Herzberg

Hampton Public Schools

Renee Miller

CHI Saint Francis

Jodi Rauert

First National Bank

Alec Ananai

Five Points Bank

Steve Stauffer, Jr

CNHi

Neil Wardyn

Lutz

Julie Wright

Tally Creative

Lisa Albers

Anesthesia Group of GI

Sandra Barrera

UNL Extension

Kent Brown

Nebraska Truck Center

Robert Falldorf

City of Grand Island Police Department

Barrett Hahn

Merrick Machine

Nancy Harrington

Community Volunteer

Morganne Manivong

Bosselman Enterprises

Mike Morrow

Chief Industries BonnaVilla

Jim Pirnie

GIX Logistics/Grand Island Express

Dan Quick

Community Volunteer

Kavir Saxena

Heartland Health Center Medical and Behavioral

Angela Simdorn

Hornady Manufacturing Company

Monisha Sood

Community Volunteer

Ryan Hand

Eakes Office Solutions

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 2/23/2023
info Candid has made improvements to the race and ethnicity options.

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Female, Not transgender (cisgender)
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

 

Sexual orientation

No data

Disability

No data