As we enter into a new year, many people have made resolutions to improve in various aspects of their life, from choosing to eat healthier or going to the gym more often, to traveling more frequently or spending more time with family and friends.

At your United Way, you have probably reviewed how you did the previous year and set a goal to raise more money this year. However, as workplace giving decreases and campaigns continue to decline, many United Ways across the country have recognized that something needs to change in order to succeed.

The essential question you must be able to answer is "What is your United Way’s purpose?" However, just like New Year’s resolutions, it can be challenging to have the discipline to answer this question.

The good news is that we are here to guide you. During our Introductory Board Retreat, we will facilitate a conversation with your board and staff about your United Way’s reason for existence, and whether your United Way exists to raise money or make an impact. If you feel passionately that your role is to serve as a fundraiser in your community, then it’s important to have a conversation about what you are currently doing, whether or not it’s working, and to discuss ideas for how to improve and be the best fundraiser you can be in your community. However, if you decide that making an impact in your community is your United Way’s purpose and you truly want to maximize your impact, then you may want to consider looking at becoming issue-focused.

During our retreat, we will explain what it means to become issue-focused and share the benefits of being issue-focused. Your board and staff will leave the retreat with an understanding of how to maximize your impact with an issue focus, and with enough information to determine if an issue focus is the right direction for your United Way.

Don’t wait to have this important conversation – make the commitment to get this year off to a great start by scheduling a retreat to have a conversation with your board and staff about your United Way’s reason for existence.

P.S. We are here to help you succeed! As you plan for your United Way’s success in 2018, we invite you and your staff to attend our free, 90-minute webinar, "Trends 2018: The Top 5 Trends That Will Change Your United Way."