Swift Current United Way ceasing operations
The Swift Current United Way will be ceasing operations effective December 31.
A special United Way board meeting was held on December 19 to formally approve a resolution to voluntarily dissolve. The member agencies were part of the official decision to voluntarily close as of Monday.
The closure spells the end of the agency which had invested over $2.5 million into Swift Current and region since 1967.
Stacey Schwartz, Executive Director of the Swift Current United Way, explained that since 2012 their operational costs and staffing funding was covered thanks to a bequest from the John “Jack” Pratt estate. That arrangement allowed 100 per cent of donations and fund raising dollars to go to the agencies they support. But at the end of 2017 that bequest funding had run out.
“So this year, 2018, was financially a really restricting year. And so even staffing we had to cut down hours just to make ends meet so that we could still put back 100 per cent of what we raised through the Foundation of Hope Gala and donations, back into these programs,” Schwartz said.
This resulted in the board starting to have conversations of how they could still have a community impact despite transitioning to not having a physical United Way office in the community.
“We just felt that that was the most sustainable decision going forward of how we could still look at how that impact can advance in 2019, without taking away from our community resources by trying to keep our local doors open. It just didn’t make sense for us of taking away those dollars when we know that there’s other supports around the province and the United Way’s that can help do some of these back-in-office things and also allocate those dollars back into the community.”
Schwartz added that 2018 was a challenging fundraising year. The first ever Foundation of Hope Gala raised $100,000, but this year resulted in only a $60,000 net profit.
“It makes sense to me the change that’s happening. What we can do with our little office and one staff person, it’s not sustainable. The community impact has absolutely been impacted, or limited to, what we could do because of that,” she said of being the lone paid staff member.
“I see there’s more opportunity because now we’re partnering and we’re working with bigger United Ways. They have the resources. They already have the existing programs that are working in their communities. So I just see opportunity for them to bring some of those into our communities.”
opens door for new opportunity, but would rather stifle community by trying to force it to stay open.
On Wednesday, the United Way distributed their final $65,000 in funding allotments in support of the local agencies to receive funding through the Foundation of Hope Gale. She was pleased they were able to fully fulfil seven of the funding requests they received this year, and 75 per cent of the other request.
“We were quite happy about that,” she admitted. “It was a harder year financially and we kind of were expecting that with the economy and just seeing the transition over the last couple of years. So the fact that we could fill those grant requests and really end on that high note, and the non-profits even for them to have that 12 month advance notice. Cause this is for 2019 programs so they now have at least 12 months to kind of figure out where they can get those dollars for 2020 programs.”
Schwartz said a new partnership with the United Way of Regina has the potential to allow additional programs and services to be provided in the community.
“I think as far as United Way in Saskatchewan, it’s going to look different as a whole of even just what community impact looks like. I think it’ll be more innovative actually. And I’m optimistic and excited about some of the discussions and ideas that have come forward of how the United Way can still impact communities here, and really support Swift Current United Way, and become more than just a transaction organization that brings in dollars and allocates it back out, to actually have an organization that could potentially bring programs or things like that into the community that’s going to support smaller rural areas as well as the urban centres.”
The closure of Swift Current’s United Way will leave just five remaining Saskatchewan United Way’s in operation (Regina, Saskatoon, Battlefords, Estevan and Yorkton). This is down from 10 United Way’s working in the province in 2000.
Robyn Edwards-bentz, CEO of United Way Regina, said discussions and collaborations are ongoing in order to make sure that there is a presence of the United Way in more communities across the province.
“The actual entity of the United Way Swift Current will discontinue, but we will continue to work with partners in the community and have a United Way presence and build community here too.”
“The conversations will continue. What does it look like going forward? We have to find ways to be innovative. And it doesn’t change that we still need to advance our mission, that we are really important in communities across the province. But our presence might look different, and the way we support and serve may have to change. But the need is growing in communities across the country. And so we have to be present. We have to do what we have to do to innovate and find new ways to help people that need help,” Edwards-bentz said.
Archie Green, who had been involved with the Swift Current United Way since their inaugural year in 1967, said it was a bitter sweet moment to conclude 52 years of volunteer work with the organization.
Green, who was involved in the first United Way campaign, remained on the board of directors until the final meeting and was saluted by the board for his 51 years of service.
“I feel a little remorse. A little sad I guess. But that’s the way society goes, things change and you have to adapt to it.”
Green was a mainstay with the United Way for over five decades despite the numerous changes which occurred at the board level and a changing group of charitable organizations.
“What made you feel good was when you were able to present the cheque that the agencies that were part of the United Way wanted for their charitable work, and when you could present them with a cheque that was more than what they were asking for - that’s when you really felt good. Because you felt you were really contributing to make things run nice and smooth.”
Green reflected that the Day of Caring became an annual highlight, because many people got involved and it provided manpower for projects benefiting United Way member agencies. The Foundation of Hope Gala has also been a highlight event.
“In general, if you could satisfy the requirements for the agencies that were part of the United Way over the years, I think that was the most satisfying part of the whole operation. Because you knew that money was going to a good cause…it always made you feel good.”