United Way faces ‘scary’ campaign shortfall

United Way of Northern Ozaukee is $100,000 short of its goal with only weeks to go before its annual campaign closes on March 31.

“The urgency of the situation cannot be overstated,” Executive Director Barbara Bates-Nelson said, noting a shortfall in the campaign means United Way will not be able to meet the needs of the 14 agencies it supports.

Although the campaign often is down a bit at this time, a gap of $100,000 is “scary.”

“We have a responsibility to our partner agencies,” Bates-Nelson said. “They’re all struggling too with donors. I don’t want this to be a double-whammy. The needs don’t end.”

Bates-Nelson said that while residents are generous, she believes the shortfall is a result of current economic conditions and uncertainty.

“With everything going on, I think people are being a little more cautious,” she said. “It’s the uncertainty of everything that’s going on — the cost of living, tight household budgets. People have been juggling things for years. People don’t necessarily have that disposable income.”

She noted that residential donations are down about $30,000 and one large workplace campaign ended this year, resulting in a loss of about $55,000.

United Way set its fundraising goal of $500,000 in September, matching the record-setting goal set and achieved last year.

“The goal is reflective of what we saw as the needs in September,” Bates-Nelson said.

She noted that the agencies United Way helps fund have experienced increased demands for their programs and services of between 21% to 67%.

“This surge often results in wait list increases and delays,” she said.

Nonprofit groups have also had to deal with worker shortages and operational cost increases, Bates-Nelson said.

“Plagued by economic concerns, including inflation and the financial crisis, they are overwhelmed by the growing demand for immediate access to food, housing and quality health education and services,” she added.

Last year, Bates-Nelson said, United Way invested more than $397,000 in initiatives to provide critical support to people facing hardships, ensure safety and rebuilding opportunities for people affected by domestic violence or child abuse, connect people with health services and aid educational programs that prepare young people for success.

More than 15,000 Ozaukee County residents benefited from United Way-funded programs last year, she said, including 196 people who received assistance to avoid eviction and more than 2,100 people who participated in “transformative” learning initiatives. In addition, United Way helped meet more than 13,000 basic needs, she said.

  Bates-Nelson said she hopes people will step forward and help close the gap before the campaign ends.

“We need your help now to ensure our neighbors facing community challenges get the resources they need to get by, get ahead and be productive today and tomorrow,” she said in a press release.

If United Way doesn’t meet its goal, she said, it can use some of its reserve funds to make up part of the shortfall, but those reserves are set aside to help pay for the community services navigator program that helps match people with needed services.

“We made a commitment to keep this program going and make it sustainable,” she said.

Donations can be sent to United Way of Northern Ozaukee, P.O. Box 39, Port Washington, WI 53074 or made online at unitedwayno.org/Donate.