United Way presents year-end outcomes; committee presses on missing targets as holiday intake shows higher need

United Way of Kaw Valley presented a year-end outcomes packet to the Topeka City Social Services Grants Committee on Nov. 6 and explained that several partner programs did not enter projected targets required to calculate success percentages.

Brett Martin, a presenter for United Way, said the packet lists agency and program names, the chosen outcomes and indicators, and numerical data showing outputs and participation. Committee members raised questions about specific providers, including the Boys and Girls Club of Topeka, the Salvation Army emergency-assistance program and GraceMed. Neil Dobler asked why some entries showed no percentage for achievement. Martin answered that in several cases programs reported outputs'the number of people served'but did not enter projected targets before the grant year began, which prevents calculation of an outcome percentage: "If we have some, actual achieving that they have in their records, we would be able to do that. But we wouldn't be able to have the ratio or percentage of how successful they were on the indicator because they didn't put a target in there initially." (Brett Martin)

Martin said United Way has implemented additional internal review layers, led by the new director of grant administration, Akia, to require data entry of projected targets at the outset of future grant cycles so that outcomes can be measured consistently.

Separately during the meeting, Martin described increased need during the start of the agency's Christmas Bureau intake and linked that surge to uncertainty from recent federal funding disruptions. He told the committee that intake volunteers reported they had "never seen a more anxious or fearful group of folks" arriving for assistance, and he thanked city staff and nonprofit partners helping to manage extra demand.

Committee members and United Way staff also clarified eligibility rules discussed for the 2027 cycle: programs must have been in operation two years prior to the application date to be considered under the city's standard process; newer programs may be accepted for application but are unlikely to be funded unless unallocated dollars remain after funding established programs.

No committee action was taken on the year-end packet during the meeting; committee members requested United Way follow up with missing data where available and to tighten the data-entry review process before the next cycle.