Year in Review:
Pop Up Giving

Did you attend a Pop Up Giving this year? If so, you know that they are eye-opening, impactful, and always involve good eats. We hope you also know that you made a difference. Pop Up Giving popped up four times this year, and between donations from attendees, match sponsors and event sponsors, we were able…

Read More

Impact Week: Initiatives, Advocacy Move the Work Forward

Grantmaking, in one form or another, has been a part of United Way’s history for decades. For a lot of people, it’s what we’re known for, and supporting our partners with funding is still a big part of how we drive impact. However, grantmaking alone won’t propel us to our community level goals of increased…

Read More

Impact Week: Volunteers are the Heart

Volunteers create lasting change and provide invaluable support for the nonprofit community. National statistics from the Independent Sector show that in 2019, a volunteer’s time was valued at an average of $25.43 per hour. United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region alone worked with 6,259 volunteers just last year. “Volunteers are transforming our…

Read More

Impact Week: The Power of Story

We can learn a lot by looking at data. Yesterday, we shared how the data we collect can reveal the impact United Way has made in the community. Data alone, however, cannot tell the whole story. The rest is best left to the people whose lives have been touched by United Way in big and…

Read More

Impact Week: Data’s Role in Driving Impact

Editor’s note: This is the first story in a week-long series exploring the meaning of impact in our organization. At United Way, we talk a lot about impact. The word appears in our mission statement, on the cover of our annual report, in our culture statement, and so many more places in the organization. But…

Read More

New Report Highlights Impact, Key Learnings

The causes and effects of social issues in our community, from poverty to infant health, are complicated and require a shared, relentless focus to solve them. That’s the key finding in a new report from United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region. Our Impact 2019 Edition describes the outcomes of programs and partnerships…

Read More

Volunteers Unite to Tackle Hunger – 100,000 Times!

With bells, cheers and upbeat music, more than 300 volunteers put together 100,000 meals in two hours to feed hungry families. The volunteers at United Way BCKR’s third annual United Against Hunger event brought more energy than ever, according to Stephanie Slingerland, Director of Philanthropy/Social Impact at Kellogg Company. Kellogg was the presenting sponsor. “Our…

Read More