As a custodian of community contributions, United Way must assure that services meet changing needs and accepted standards and reflect effective and efficient use of funds. Central to this mission is the working relationship between United Way and its partner agencies.

The Community Investment Committee is the point at which community financial resources and the needs of the people meet. Sometimes difficult decisions have to be made in light of overall community priorities and available funding potential.

In our six county area, as in most places, the United Way dollar represents only a part of the total annual expenditures for local health, family and child care, youth and character building services. As such, it is important that United Way dollars are used to buy effective, meaningful, unduplicated services from the member agencies at the lowest cost to the giving public.

When an agency becomes a partner of the Konza United Way the budget assumes added importance. It is the medium through which the agency's service is interpreted to this financing body.  It forms the basis for the annual grant and payment of funds and the accounting for their use.  It is the device through which the United Way can assure the contributors that their money is being used efficiently.  It is the instrument through which community planning may be made effective: expansion in services, reorganization of programs, and consolidation and re-definition of function.

The Community Investment Committee is given the responsibility of reviewing funding applications and determining whether those applications, presented yearly by participating agencies, show an accurate analysis of program services and dollars required for such operations. Members of this committee are volunteers -- persons who give their time and thought to study agency and community needs in relation to available funds.

Through objective study and judgment, this committee represents the citizen-givers in determining how contributed funds can best be granted for the most effective well-balanced community services.