Quote of the Month: September 2018

Our September Quote of the Month comes from Pat Berger, President/CEO of United Way of Grand Forks, East Grand Forks & Area, Grand Forks, North Dakota:

“An issue focus has changed everything, from how we speak about our work to how we measure our success.” – Pat Berger, President/CEO, United Way of Grand Forks, East Grand Forks & Area

In 2015, United Way of Grand Forks, East Grand Forks & Area became an issue-focused United Way and chose poverty as their issue. Pat says the community is now talking about United Way and their work to help people move up and out of poverty: “Our donors now understand and praise our activities.” One of the biggest changes, according to Pat, is that they now only award grants for programs that address poverty in their community. Pat says: “I strongly believe adopting an issue focus is the way to go. United Ways cannot be all things to everyone.” We have information about the issue focus model and the benefits and challenges of an issue focus on our website. If you have a quote you would like to share for our Quote of the Month, please let me know at gary@perspectives4uw.com