Solutions Begin With Investing in Community. Here’s How Angela F. Williams - United Way Worldwide
go to original August 15, 2022

The last several years have exposed deep fault lines in our society. As our problems become increasingly complex, so do their solutions. There is no silver bullet that will solve systemic problems like income inequality, hyper-polarization, or poverty. But as CEO of United Way Worldwide, the largest community-based nonprofit in the world, I believe that progress is possible. It starts by reimagining philanthropy to focus on the place where all of our global ills and solutions ultimately begin: community.

Communities are the cornerstone of society. But too often, philanthropies view local investment as a nicety that can be overlooked, instead of a necessary first step in solving global problems. Now more than ever, we cannot afford to abandon the power of local community. We need to innovate and invest in it like never before.

Here’s how:

First, we must start with a deep understanding of local needs. It is a simple concept but one that’s often overlooked and surprisingly difficult to execute: If we want to solve global problems, we need to know where and how those problems begin. At United Way Worldwide we represent more than 1,100 affiliates in 95 percent of U.S. communities and 37 countries across the globe. Although we are a global organization, our power lies entirely in understanding the local communities we serve.

In any given community, for example, your local United Way organization will know where unhoused individuals most often go to seek shelter, what exactly is keeping people from accessing a well-intentioned philanthropic or government program, and how long it takes an average family to travel to the grocery store, visit a doctor, or find a park. This gives us unparalleled access to information about the underlying factors of community needs that, if addressed effectively, can change lives.

Philanthropic funders are notoriously action-oriented, and nonprofits are understandably more focused on fixing the problem than exploring its root causes. But as nonprofits, we cannot underestimate the importance of understanding before action. Only by knowing exactly where the gaps are can we design targeted solutions that work—first in communities, and then around the world.

Second, we must reflect the people we seek to serve. Nonprofits must remember that we are partners—not saviors. If we want to solve community and global problems, we must not only listen to the community but ensure that our people reflect the voices and experiences of those we serve.

That’s why hiring and retaining diverse workforces aren’t just a nice thing to do; they make organizations better at what they do. United Way Worldwide now has one of the most diverse executive leadership teams in the sector. We serve one of the most diverse networks in the world. If we are going to come up with innovative solutions to address our biggest challenges, the people in the rooms where funding and allocation decisions are made must look like those we’re seeking to help.

Finally, we must be in it for the long haul. There is nothing more detrimental to our efforts to empower communities than failing to live up to our promises. Historically, our sector has done far too much of that. Philanthropic funders are often too focused on short-term reports rather than sustained, long-term investment. Nonprofits are given a specific timeline to deliver results, and if funders don’t see progress quickly enough, the program is pulled.

Realistically, however, community change takes time. It can be difficult to see or clearly measure, but if we want to meet and address urgent global needs in rapidly changing times, we need to invest for the long term.

Read the rest at Philanthropy News Digest

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