Do you sit on an United Way or other non-profit board?  Here is a new feature, just for you!  Any time you see a gavel logo (like the one shown here), you'll know the article is related to non-profit governance.  Thanks for reading!

United Way efforts making a difference in Shelby County, county schools look for new way to partner  

Metro United Way has spent roughly $20,000 over the past two years, helping the Shelby County School District administer a developmental screening test to incoming kindergarten students. According to an article in the Shelby County Sentinel-News, through analyzing that data, United Way helped the district learn that between 80 and 88 percent of Shelby County's kindergarten students are entering school prepared, a figure between 10 and 30 percent higher than the national average.

The study also helped determine factors that help students enter school prepared, including pre-k attendance, educational attainment of the parents, race or ethnicity, regular dental screenings and more.

Two years into the partnership, District Superintendent James Neihof is now asking his board and Metro United Way to move some those funds from the kindergarten testing to helping with the Master It! program and helping advance the African-American student population.

Master It! (Mentoring African-American Students To Effectively Reach Intentional Tomorrows!) is a program aimed at finding mentors for African-American students and helping them establish individual growth plans that will push them to more rigorous advanced classes and AP classes.

The district learned last year through the Kentucky Core Content and No Child Left Behind test scores that African-American students were not advancing at the same rate as the overall student population. That's one reason the district started the Master It! program this year with incoming sixth-grade students, and now officials hope to have the help of Metro United Way to grow the program from its 24 current members.  Read the full article from the Sentinel-News.

Research shows investing in early childhood yields high economic returns 

According to a University of Minnesota study, for every $1 invested in early childhood education programming, nearly $11 is projected to return to society over the children's lifetimes. 

For the analysis, researchers evaluated the effectiveness of the Chicago Public Schools' federally funded Child Parent Centers (CPCs) established in 1967.  Their work represents the first long-term economic analysis of an existing, large-scale early education program.  Researchers surveyed study participants and their parents, and analyzed education, employment, public aid, criminal justice, substance use and child welfare records for the participants through to age 26.  Read the full article at Science Daily.

 

Strategic Planning...is it the right tool?  Maybe not... 

Jan Masaoka, Editor of the non-profit online magazine, Blue Avocado, thinks that these days, a non-profit without a strategic plan is practically unheard of.   Unfortunately, while strategic planning has been "a useful and effective tool for many organizations", the process can be inefficient, expensive and leaves important issues like organizational financial sustainability and the financial viability of implementing the plan unresolved.  Further, the solutions garnered by strategic planning can often be produced using alternative, more efficient, frameworks.  This is the first part of a two part series entitled Strategic Planning: Failures and Alternatives from Blue Avocado.  Click here to read more.
 

Thinking about working from home...it may be good idea.  

A recent article from TechSoup, a non-profit technology partner, says that working from home is greener, saves money, improves productivity and reduces turnover.  Not convinced?  Check out this white paper and article from TechSoup.org - you might change your mind.  Also check out this blog post for a series of tips and resources regarding the transition to telecommuting.

 

Kentucky United Way Career Opportunities 

 

United Way of the Coalfield (based in Madisonville, serving Hopkins and Muhlenberg Counties) is seeking an individual that is highly self-motivated, energetic and an enthusiastic self-starter for the position of Executive Director.  Responsibilities include directing the fundraising campaign, marketing, community and agency relations, volunteer relations, managing office staff, fiscal management, providing strategic direction to the United Way Board and implementation of special projects.

Experience in fundraising, volunteer recruitment, and executive leadership a plus, with a preference to those holding a bachelor's degree or equivalent. This position requires the ability to speak publicly to groups of all sizes.  Applicants must have the ability to effectively interact with persons at all levels within the community.  Please send resume to United Way, P.O. Box 366, Madisonville, KY 42431, by March 11, 2011.

United Way of Central Kentucky (based in Elizabethtown, serving Hardin, Grayson, Larue and Meade Counties) is seeking an experienced administrative assistant with a minimum of five years experience in the administrative support field. UWCK is seeking someone with a minimum of 2 years general office and accounting experience, who is highly organized and flexible, with strong interpersonal and time management skills, and who is comfortable working closely with the public and volunteers.

If you or someone you know is interested, download the full position description here.  Resume and cover letter submissions should be sent to Christopher Wilborn at cwilborn@unitedwayck.org by March 25, 2011.