You have no doubt been feeling the winds of change lately. It is impossible not to see how Boston's business and social environments have shifted, bringing with it new challenges and demands for an evolving society. Today presents us with a new world and a new way of doing things. It is a new day for our community, and in many ways it is a new United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley.
For 70 years, our organization has brought the community together to help improve people's lives and strengthen the neighborhoods of our region. This mission has not changed, but what has and will change are the needs of the community and its people. Therefore, the focus of our work must continue to change in response. This strategy of listening to and changing with the needs of the community has also led our organization to evolve the way we work with our partner agencies.
Changes to the funding process have been implemented for the fiscal year 2008, and those of you who participated in our recent conversations know this will require a new approach to investing. We know that in order to achieve our vision, we will need to invest in:
- best practices in programming;
- leveraging resources to maximize impact;
- innovation;
- affecting public policy; and
- inspiring the support of the larger community.
We have entered a new era for philanthropy and human services. The reality of declining government funding and the slow growth of private contributions to nonprofits is inescapable. But the inevitability of change presents us with an incredible opportunity, as the question is not whether to change but how to work together and change for the better. Creating a new funding strategy is an important move toward greater accountability and more effective partnerships. Together, it is our next step toward building a greater Boston for everyone.
Thank you for your time and commitment to the community. I am optimistic that our collective efforts will bring this vision to life, and I look forward to our continued partnership.