About United Way

Allocations Process

Step 1: Priority Ranking

In 2001, the Seven Valleys Health Coalition began working with COPC of SUNY Cortland, the County Health Department, Cortland Regional Medical Center, and the United Way for Cortland County to develop a comprehensive community assets and needs assessment.  The group compiles data from all areas of health and human service in order to create a ‘report card’ for Cortland County. See Report Cards

In 2003 the United Way Board of Directors and Allocations Committee members began using these reports to create a ranked scale of the areas that needed the most attention in this community.  See Priority Levels (pdf)
United Way funding is allocated to programs based on these priorities.

NOTE: The United Way Board and Allocations Committee are currently in the process of reviewing and updating the Priority Levels based on the most current Cortland Counts Needs Assessment data.

Step 2: Applications

Each United Way member agency applies for funding for one or more of their programs. See the application (pdf). The application must be filled out for each program for which they are requesting funding.

Step 3: Rating the Programs

When all requests are received, each Allocations Committee member is given a copy of the applications to review on their own and rate each program with a 1, 2, 3 or 4, based on where they believe it ranks on the Priority Scale. The ratings are then anonymously compiled and given an average score.

Step 4: Program Presentations and Reviews

After the scores are compiled, the Allocations Committee holds forums where the agencies present their programs answer any questions from the committee.

Step 5: Decisions

The committee holds discussion and allocates funding to programs based on their priority ranking, their requests and their presentations. 

Allocations Committee

John Shirley - Committee Chair
Walt Priest - Committee Vice Chair

Tarla Arnold
John Mason
Johanna Ames
Tom Gallagher
Gary Nelson
Sheila Abbey
Elaine Lambert
John Mason
Mike Shafer
Garry VanGorder
Steve Breen
JoAnn Wickman
Matt Neuman
Jim Nunciato
Manny Lann
Barbara Kasperek