After raising more than $1.9 million during its capital campaign last year, the United Way Sudbury and District has announced it's stepping up its funding for local programs.

“We will be increasing our funding this year due to the increase in campaign revenue in 2011, thanks to the generosity of the people of Greater Sudbury,” Michael Cullen, executive director for United Way Sudbury and District, said in a press release.

“We will be providing funding to 41 external and seven internal programs, and distributing four community grants to new programs. We work hard every day at United Way to keep our administration costs at a low 18 per cent to ensure that donor dollars are being spent wisely.”

Funding will be given to 41 external programs that operate out of 27 agencies.

These programs represent the agency's three focus areas: from poverty to possibility; healthy people, strong communities; and all that kids can be.

The four new programs receiving community grants are doing exciting work to improve lives in Greater Sudbury every single day, the press release said.

Also, United Way invests $300,000 in the community through seven internal programs.

This investment provides more than $150,000 worth of income tax preparation for the low-income community, and more than $90,000 in professional training and development for the voluntary sector in Greater Sudbury.

Through the Outcomes Measurement training, non-profit agencies are provided better tools to measure the impact of their work and also to put them in a position to attract more funding to the community.

For more information, visit www.unitedwaysudbury.com or phone 705-560-3330.

Posted by Arron Pickard