

Tulsa Area United Way’s Community Investments process is essential in funding allocations that are determined through a rigorous community-based decision-making process.
Each spring, our Community Investments department and a team of 200+ volunteers determine how to allocate resources among our partner nonprofits.
As you can see in the below list, our Community Investments Process involves an extensive analysis of each agency’s finances and operations.
Step 1: Review the partner nonprofit funding applications and financial information.
Step 2: Conduct partner nonprofit site visits.
Step 3: Panels assess performance and analyze the agencies’ financial condition.
Step 4: Divisions’ chairs receive and review funding recommendations.
Step 5: Community Investments Cabinet finalizes agency funding amounts.
Step 6: The campaign fundraising goal is set to meet the needs of the community.
Step 7: Nearly 800 companies & organizations run campaigns, with more than 23,000 donors.
Step 8: Goals met and dollars invested!
OUR PLEDGE TO YOU
By pledging to support Tulsa Area United Way, you are improving the lives of thousands of your friends and neighbors in the Tulsa region, making your community a better place to live.
In turn, this is our pledge to you: your contributions will be invested wisely and locally – with a direct and immediate impact on your community.
Tulsa Area United Way employs a reliable system of investing in our community, recognized and emulated across the nation. Our system provides assurance to our contributors, who are confident their dollars will make a difference.
We utilize more than 180 community volunteers to determine how and where your dollars will be invested in the community. These important decisions are made by you – our volunteers – not United Way staff members.
Join A Community investments panel
Each year, the Tulsa Area United Way (TAUW) engages the Tulsa community to determine the best investment of resources to its partner non-profit agencies. Community volunteers play a vital role in this process. Panel volunteers work on 8- to 10-member panels assigned to review 3 to 6 partner nonprofits and will make funding recommendations for the next calendar year. Each panel is led by experienced co-chairs and facilitated by a Community Investments staff member.
Panel Volunteer Expectations:
- Attend volunteer training
- Read all agency application materials
- Attend panel meetings
- Attend site visits for agencies
- Maintain confidentiality
- Share your questions, thoughts and insights
Timeline:
- January – Panel Volunteer Online Training (2 hours)
- February – First Panel Meeting (3-4 hours)
- March – Site Visits at Partner Nonprofits (approximately 1-1.5 hours per agency)
- April – Final Panel Meeting (3-4 hours)
For additional information about this important volunteer opportunity, please contact:
Betsy Guyer
(918) 295-6644
Online here