Barbara Milligan, president and CEO of the Cape and Islands United Way
BARNSTABLE – The Cape and Islands United Way will shift its focus in the coming year, moving to a new model to impact the community with long-term solutions to societal issues.
Barbara Milligan, president and CEO of the Cape and Islands United Way, said, “The community impact model is about really understanding what are the most pressing issues in our community and then working within or organizing community coalitions and collaborations to address those needs and really identify long-term solutions.”
Milligan said she likes to stress to people that all United Ways are local and the Cape and Islands United Way is no exception. There are 1,800 United Ways across the country.
“Our United Way is independent. We raise money on the Cape and Islands and we organize volunteers to advance the mission of our local nonprofits and improve lives and build stronger communities right here on Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. We are a local organization with a national brand behind us and some terrific resources that we can bring to bear right here for our local communities,” Milligan said.
In other news this year, the Cape and Islands United Way has taken the Cape Cod Volunteers under its wing this year. Cape Cod Volunteers was originally started under the Cape Cod Foundation. Now the United Way will take on the function of matching volunteers with potential volunteer opportunities at 400 nonprofits in the region.
A large part of the United Way’s work locally is through grants. Through its funding, the Cape and Islands United Way helps 30 to 40 nonprofits annually. Last year, the organization gave out $610,000 in grant funding. The focus of the grants this year will be on education, financial stability, health and housing and homelessness.
To hear more, listen below to Barbara Milligan of the Cape and Islands United Way.
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