We’ve just launched our 2010 internal United Way fundraising campaign. We have a goal of 100% of our staff contributing. (And if all of us do, the whole company gets an extra day off in December—go team!) As you might expect, we have a very high participation rate to begin with, usually around 90-95%. But 100% is a stretch goal, even for us. Wish us luck!

As part of our kickoff event we saw the new United Way “When you can’t do, donate” ads. They are great fun.

Attention all you budding artists out there: There is also a “design your own” component to this ad campaign. There will be a contest—open to anyone in the community—and the winner will get their ad professionally developed by Campbell Mithun. Very cool. This will launch in September, so watch for more information on United Way’s website.

But wait, there’s more! There is also the Join my Dream Team competition. This isn’t just for our internal campaign, but open to anyone in the community (or, well, really—anyone in the world). When you sign up for a team,

$1 will be contributed to the cause of your choice—hunger, shelter, wellness, or literacy. I personally encourage you to join Team Literacy. It is MY team of choice and we are currently in last place. Each cause is sponsored by a local company (Land O’Lakes, Xcel Energy, HealthPartners, Target) that contributes one dollar for every person that signs on to a team. You lose nothing and the community gains. Sign up now!

The Join My Dream Team competition goes until September 3, giving you plenty of time to sign up, and then four weeks to get your friends and family to sign up.

LIVE UNITED!

Wednesday morning I went to United Front 2010, sponsored by United Way and General Mills. The event was a half-day conference focused on the nonprofit sector in the new economy. Tom Stinson, the state economist, was the keynote speaker. The good news: The recession is over. But the Great Recession and demographic changes are going to change the economic landscape in Minnesota as far into the future as we can see. Stinson (and others) are calling this the New Normal.

The demographic changes include the aging of our population (we are going to see large increases in the 55-75 age group in the next 10 years) and very slow growth on the part of the labor force. What this means for the near future:

• More retirees
• Less consumption, more saving
• Slower economic growth
• Higher interest rates
• More uncertainty about the future

In 2020, the number of Minnesotans age 65+ will outnumber school-age kids—this is a huge demographic shift which could lead to some challenging funding priorities between health care (age 65+) and education (ages 5-17). Overlay a $5.8 billion budget gap (expected for Minnesota in 2012-2013) on that challenge and it doesn’t take a crystal ball to see exceptionally rocky roads ahead.

But all is not lost, and according to Stinson, this New Normal plays to Minnesota’s strengths. Education has been the key to Minnesota’s productivity and prosperity, and if we make the right decisions and investments now, they will help us weather—and perhaps even prosper in—the New Normal.

You can view Dr. Stinson’s complete powerpoint or, if you’d rather see and hear the presentation, check out the video.

Quarterly Economic Pulse December 2009

The most recent Quarterly Economic Pulse has just been published—local data about the economy and what that means and how it affects the nonprofit sector. The Pulse is a joint venture of Greater Twin Cities United Way and Twin Cities Compass, and this is our third issue (see previous issues here—you have to scroll down a little bit for the links).

The good news: The economy is inching its way out of recession, reflected in Gross Domestic Product, employment figures, consumer confidence and the stock market. Key word: inching.

The bad news: Because this is expected to be a long, slow, jobless (or nearly jobless) recovery with employment and wages depressed through much of 2010, there will be little relief for the social service sector, which is expected to see high levels of need—especially in the areas of food, housing/shelter, and healthcare—continue through much of the year.

However, some hope is better than no hope, and things will eventually turn the corner for the nonprofit sector as well.

In the meantime, if you’re looking for some interesting reading material to start out the new year, check out The Spirit Level: Why Greater Equality Makes Societies Stronger. More on this later….

Lauren Segal, president and CEO of Greater Twin Cities United Way, is leaving us at the end of this month for greener pastures. She kindly agreed to answer a few questions as she’s wrapping things up:

• What are you most proud of having accomplished while you were at United Way?

Lauren: There are two things that come to mind. The first is the combination of the Minneapolis and St. Paul United Ways in 2001.  No one expected it, no one thought it would happen or could happen—and we did it!  It was great fun to build a whole new organization.

The second accomplishment, without a doubt, is the development of the Agenda for Lasting Change and our focus on people at or near the poverty line.  The focus on issues that people hear and know about, and showing measurable impact on a community scale, is incredibly rewarding.

•  What will you miss most about your job?  

Lauren: The opportunity to work with the dedicated staff and volunteers to build pathways out of poverty.

•  What will you miss the least?

Lauren: This position required me to be in many different places, often at the same time!  It was not unusual for me to start my day at 7:30 a.m., and, because of community events, be out until 9:00 or 10:00 at night.  Not to mention emails, reading, etc. relegated to the weekends.  I am looking forward to spending more quality time with my husband.

•  What is/was your favorite moment at United Way?

Lauren: There were too many to name just one!  Most of them were times when I had the opportunity to work with volunteers packing food at food shelves, building a Habitat house with the future residents, or reading to children, or to witness the success of a program or initiative we had started. 

•  What was your funniest moment at United Way?

Lauren: Let’s see—it’s between wearing pajamas and singing “I’m a Little Teapot” with the senior leadership team for the internal campaign, or dancing the evening—and early morning hours—away at our staff holiday party. 

• What are you most looking forward to in the next phase of your life?

Lauren: Climbing a new mountain—finding new ways to help volunteers, staff, and organizations transform themselves to meet future challenges.  And as I said before, having a little more balance in my life, so I can spend time with my husband, Rich, take up a hobby, spend time with friends, and volunteer.

Thank you Lauren, for your many years of service and dedication to United Way. We will miss you!