Advocacy
Lend us your Voice! Advocates are always needed to help spread the word about United Way, our Partner Agencies and how we’re changing lives in Flagler and Volusia Counties. It can be as simple as a “like” and a click or as in depth as meeting with elected officials about advancing the common good.
Being an advocate is about raising your voice and improving awareness about United Way and the issues that we face in our community.
Throughout our history, United Way has done extraordinary work to improve people’s lives and build strong communities. With our focus on community impact, United Way has a key role to play in advocating for good public policy. Without community input, our priorities in Education, Income, Health and Basic Needs will lose critical government policy and funding support.
Join us and advocate for an Education, Income, Health, Basic Needs or nonprofit strengthening issue that you are passionate about. Your community needs you to have an impact on public policy decisions. Advocating in your community does not simply mean lobbying on a specific piece of legislation.
There are many ways that you can advocate. See below for ways you can make a meaningful impact in your local community.
SPEAK OUT
Florida’s United Ways have joined together in a unified effort to advocate for legislative issues of critical importance to the communities they serve throughout the state. It includes guiding principles urging Florida Legislators to use a scalpel if the budget needs cutting, to maximize federal revenues, to support the authority of local government and communities to determine the best use of resources, and to focus on prevention.
The complete consensus agenda can be found on United Way of Florida’s advocacy page.
Additional Resources:
- Find your Florida Representatives
- Find your Federal Representative
- Find your Senators
- Legislative Link – weekly newsletter during the annual 8 week Florida Legislative Session
- United Way of Florida’s Advocacy Toolkit: Communicating with Policy Makers
- United Way Worldwide’s Advocacy and Public Policy Page
(Includes pre-generated emails that can be sent to your legislators)
BE INFORMED
A number of resources are available to help our community make informed policy decisions. United Way VFC supports research and community learning opportunities in a variety of ways. Here are just a few tools to help better understand our community and how united, we can make a difference.
Community Reports and Resources:
RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT UNITED WAY, OUR PROGRAMS AND OUR PARTNER AGENCIES!
Use social media tools to educate your friends and networks about an issue you care about.
Be a Fundraiser
Being a fundraiser for United Way is easier than you think!
Peer2Peer Campaign: Recruit your friends, family, co-workers and acquaintances to donate to United Way. We’ll set up an online portal just for YOU! (Similar to fundraising events on social media.) This can be centered round a special day such as your birthday or GivingTuesday but it doesn’t have to be.
Team Peer2Peer (Called Crowdfunding): Recruit team members (friends, family, co-workers, etc.), set a goal and raise money as a team for United Way. Each team member will have their own donation link. A great way to involve a social or civic group to which you belong AND build a little friendly competition among team members…all for a great cause!
As an individual or as part of a team, our Resource Development staff will set you up for success with email and social media scripts for you to personalize. Contact our Resource Development team.
United Way’s ALICE Report
United Way coined the acronym ALICE which stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. The ALICE Report places a spotlight on a large population of hardworking residents who work yet have little or no savings, and are one emergency from falling into poverty. The Report, compiled by Rutgers University, is the most comprehensive depiction to date of financial need in each county across Florida, using the latest data from a variety of sources, including the U.S. Census. The Report unveils new measures, based on households’ income levels and expenses that quantify the size of who in Florida’s workforce is struggling financially, and why.