Community Impact Projects and Programs By Bold Goal
Collective community impact through RBA (Results-Based Accountability) begins with common understanding of the problem, a shared vision for change, and an agreement for data collection and measurement.
Together with community leaders and local social service agencies, we identified three Bold Goals for our community and decided on data indicators that will help us measure success.
Every program, collaboration, and initiative we facilitate or fund with donor dollars impacts one or more of these Bold Goals: Successful Children, Healthy Families, & Self-Sufficient Residents.

Bold Goal 1: Successful Children
Youth Mentoring (Mid-Ohio Youth Mentoring, Inc.) • Music, Movement & More (Bucyrus Public Library) • Weekend Backpack Program (Ohio Heartland Community Action Commission) • Supervised Child/Family Access Services (Patchworks House) • Mobile Learning Labs (YWCA Childcare Resource & Referral) • Imagination Library • Formula for Impact (Boys & Girls Club of Marion County) • Let’s Read 20 (Marion Public Library) • Youth Mentorship (Marion Mentors) • Safety City of Marion, Ohio • Local Boy & Girl Scout Troops • 3Rs Rights, Respect, Responsibility (Marion Adolescent Pregnancy Program) • Marion County Childcare Coalition • ROX (Ruling Our Experiences) (Carey EVSD) • CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) (CASA of Seneca, Sandusky & Wyandot Counties) • Hope Squad & ROX (Ruling Our Experiences) (Wynford Local Schools) • Youth Theatre Production (Galion Community Theatre) • Summer Story Series (Jer-Zee Drive-In)

Bold Goal 2: Healthy Families
Disaster Response Services & Home Fire Preparedness (American Red Cross of East Central Ohio & American Red Cross of North Central Ohio) • Home Delivered and Congregate Meals (Crawford County Council on Aging) • Crawford Works & Crawford Workforce Support Services (Crawford Works) • RSVP (Retired & Senior Volunteer Program) (Family & Community Services Inc.) • Shelter & Advocacy for Victims of Domestic Violence (Turning Point) • Alpha 12-Step Program • Food Pantry & Emergency Utility Assistance (Cooperative Christian Services of Galion) • Community Center for the Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing (Catalyst Life Services) • Shelter Program for the Homeless (Marion Shelter Program serving Crawford, Marion, & Wyandot) • 2-1-1 Local Help & Resources (Pathways of Central Ohio) • Community Health Improvement Plans • Meals-on-Wheels & Congregate Dining (LifeCare Alliance) • Marion Victim Assistance Program • Mobile Meals of Marion County • Marion Housing Coalition (Marion County Land Reutilization Corporation) • 3Rs Rights, Respect, Responsibility (Marion Adolescent Pregnancy Program) • Programs Addressing Homelessness, Food Insecurity, and More (Open Door Resource Center) • Safety & Stability for Women (Legal Aid Society of Columbus) • Marion Voices in the Schools Folklife & Cultural Arts Residency Program (Marion Voices Folklife & Oral History) • Marion County Transportation Coalition (Marion Matters, Inc.)

Bold Goal 3: Self-Sufficient Residents
Workforce Development & Job Placement (Crawford Works) • Job Readiness Program (Marion Goodwill Industries, Inc.) • Marion Area Employer Resource Network (Marion Matters, Inc.) • Pay It Forward Project (The Ohio State University – Marion) • Community Opportunity (Wyandot County Office of Economic Development, Inc.) • Marion County Transportation Coalition (Marion Matters, Inc.) • Believe in Students, Faculty and Students Together (BIS/FAST) Fund (Marion Technical College) • Marion County Childcare Coalition
COMMUNITY IMPACT PROJECTS & PROGRAMS
Alpha 12-Step Recovery Program
The Alpha 12-Step Recovery Program is a non-profit organization helping families, friends, and those suffering any addictions. Jericho House and Taylor House are community recovery residences offering space for healing from drug and alcohol addictions, as well as other out of control behaviors.
Disaster Response Services & Home Fire Preparedness
American Red Cross of East Central Ohio & American Red Cross of North Central Ohio
The American Red Cross Disaster Cycle services prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors. Their Home Fire Preparedness campaign saves lives by installing smoke alarms and educating families about home fire safety. United Way of North Central Ohio is proud to support these efforts in Crawford, Wyandot, and Marion counties.
Formula For Impact
Boys & Girls Club of Marion County
Formula for Impact is a program developed by Boys & Girls Clubs of America to encourage positive youth development through a safe, positive environment; fun; supportive relationships; opportunities and expectations; and recognition. It also incorporates high-yield learning activities, targeted programs and regular attendance.
740.387.3462 | | | RBA Scorecard
Music, Movement, & More
Bucyrus Public Library
The Music, Movement, & More program at Bucyrus Public Library allows children to experience the joy of music while practicing physical skills, increasing awareness of literacy and language development, and encouraging social-emotional skills.
614.253.2740 | | | RBA Scorecard
Ruling our eXperiences
Carey Exempted Village Schools
The Ruling Our eXperiences (ROX) program is implemented for middle school and high school girls at Carey EVSD. The program works to equip girls with the knowledge and skills to live healthy, independent, and violence-free lives.
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
CASA of Seneca, Sandusky, & Wyandot Counties
CASA is a volunteer-based organization that trains people to become volunteer advocates for children. CASA of Seneca, Sandusky, and Wyandot Counties is a non-profit agency and has been serving locally abused and neglected children since 1990!
Community Center for the Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing
Catalyst Life Services
This program works to develop and enhance the independent living skills of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals living in the community.
419.756.1133 | | | RBA Scorecard
Emergency Food & Utility Assistance
Cooperative Christian Services of Galion
CCSG provides emergency food boxes to supply struggling households with pantry provisions while they are waiting for their next paycheck or assistance allotment. They also provide emergency utility funds for clients in danger of utility shut off. United Way of North Central Ohio is proud to partner with CCSG in supporting this program.
419.462.9305
Home-Delivered & Congregate Meals
Crawford County Council on Aging
The CCCOA Home Delivered Nutrition program provides the delivery of nutritious and safe meals to eligible consumers in a home setting for the purpose of sustaining or improving consumer health. The program also provides participants with regular opportunities for face-to-face contact and conversation, and referral to more services if needed.
419.562.3050 | | | RBA Scorecard
Crawford Works & Crawford Workforce Support Services
Crawford Works
United Way supports Crawford Works in their mission to partner with all willing and capable people living in poverty to assist them in advancing to economic self-sufficiency through sustained employment.
419.310.4653 | | | RBA Scorecard
Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)
Family & Community Services, Inc.
The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) is one of the largest volunteer networks in the nation for people 55 and over. Volunteers can use the skills and talents they’ve learned over the years, or develop new ones while serving in a variety of volunteer activities within their communities.
567.393.6446 | | | RBA Scorecard
Youth Theatre Production
Galion Community Theatre
The Youth Production program is open to kids age 10 to 20 from Galion and the surrounding community, and fosters creativity, self-expression, and confidence in its young cast and crew. GCT is committed to providing a safe and welcoming space for all young members of our community, and UWNCO is proud to help sponsor their efforts.
Safety & Stability for Women
Legal Aid Society of Columbus
LASC’s program advocates for social and economic stability, advancement, and equity for at-risk women in the region through crisis-centered and long-term civil legal advocacy.
740.383.2161 | | | RBA Scorecard
Meals-on-Wheels & Congregate Dining Center Programs
LifeCare Alliance
Provides nourishing food and socialization to older adults and individuals living with a medical challenge or disability in Marion County.
3Rs (Rights, Respect, Responsibility)
Marion Adolescent Pregnancy Program
The Changes & Choices program uses an evidence-based curriculum to equip middle and high school students to make good decisions about sexual activity.
740.387.8336 | | RBA Scorecard
Victim Assistance Program
Marion County Victim Assistance
The Victim Assistance Program provides county wide services to victims of any crime. Victim Assistance minimizes the effects of crime in the lives of crime victims, while Victim Advocates offer victims of crime support services which include emergency assistance, emotional support, agency referrals, and assistance with legal filings as well as court orientation and advocacy.
740.387.4401 | | RBA Scorecard
Youth Mentoring
Marion Mentors
The Marion Mentors program works to support the development of one-to-one relationships between a volunteer adult role model and a student. This unique relationship provides support and encouragement, and can help a young person develop the academic, social, personal, and leadership skills to foster success in their future.
740.725.9622×33 | | | RBA Scorecard
Heart of Ohio Shelter Program for the Homeless
Marion Shelter Program, Inc. serving Crawford, Marion, & Wyandot
Shelter program provides individuals and families safe shelter, basic necessities, and a structured opportunity to regain sustainable self-sufficiency.
740.387.4550 | | | RBA Scorecard
Believe in Students/Faculty & Students Together (BIS/FAST) Fund
Marion Technical College
The BIS/FAST (Believe in Students; Faculty and Students Together) fund at Marion Technical College provides student-focused non-punitive emergency aid to help keep life challenges from impeding the academic success of Marion Technical College students. Cutting out a time-consuming application process, money from the fund is administered through the Student Resource Navigator once all other internal and external resource options have been identified and exhausted.
Marion Voices In the Schools
Marion Voices Folklife & Oral History Program
Collaboration between students and Marion Voices’ culture-keepers and artists introduces local young people to folk and cultural arts traditions in our community, & helps to build culturally-sustaining pedagogy & cultivate reparative pride-in-place in Marion County’s diverse cultural traditions & landscapes.
Youth Mentoring
Mid-Ohio Youth Mentoring
The Youth Mentor program at Mid-Ohio Youth Mentoring provides young people in Crawford County with mentors who support, encourage, and provide opportunities to develop skills that will help them achieve success in life.
419.525.4618 | | | RBA Scorecard
Mobile Meals
Mobile Meals of Marion County
Mobile Meals of Marion County fills an important gap in food service programs, providing minimal-cost meal delivery for Marion County seniors who have been waitlisted for another food service, individuals in need who do not meet Federal food program eligibility or who have a short term need while recovering from illness or injury, and people requiring special diets or food prep.
740.382.1818 | RBA Scorecard
Weekend Backpack Program
Ohio Heartland Community Action Commission
United Way of North Central Ohio supports the Weekend Backpack Program in their efforts to provide accessible, nutritious, and child-friendly food for at-risk children at the weekends and over holidays.
Program Addressing Homelessness, Food Insecurity, & More
Open Door Resource Center
Open Door Resource Center is a faith-based organization that opened in 2010 with the goal of connecting families with resources. The Strong Community Suite of Programs operates in three distinct areas of focus: combating food insecurity, improving employment opportunities, and strengthening families.
419.209.6736 | | | RBA Scorecard
Supervised Family/Child Access Services
Patchworks House
Patchworks House provides services to families to help create plans for safe parenting, including the supervised visitation program. The program’s goal is to expand the safety and comfort for families and children who have experienced conflict or family violence.
419.448.0080
Safety City
Safety City of Marion Ohio
Safety City uses hands-on role playing to give Marion County kindergarteners knowledge and experience in the 9-1-1 system, fire safety, gun safety, and traffic safety, enabling them to make good choices and help them live long, safe and healthy lives.
740.387.5019 | RBA Scorecard
New Washington Community Food Pantry
St. John’s Lutheran Church
St. John’s Lutheran Church serves the community of New Washington and its rural environs with a food pantry. Sponsorship by United Way of North Central Ohio helps support the pantry as well as funding for a pavilion that hosts a seasonal community farmers market.
Shelter & Advocacy for Victims of Domestic Violence
Turning Point
Turning Point provides crisis/hotline, shelter, advocacy, information and referral and victims’ rights advocacy to victims of domestic violence in our community.
740.382.8988 | | | RBA Scorecard
Local Boy & Girl Scout Troops
United Way of North Central Ohio serving Marion County
Scouting Scholarships provides funding for a variety of scouting expenses, including troop dues, summer camp fees, patches, national/district events, weekend camping, day camp, and High Adventure. Scholarship applications are available at the UWNCO; funding is provided through the Scouting Committee which meets monthly to review applications.
Community Opportunity
Wyandot County Office of Economic Development
Community Opportunity is a county-wide workforce development and talent retention tool, which provides a program creating communication and collaboration between local high school youth, educational institutions, and businesses to enhance local career exploration and awareness, and the retention of viable local talent.
Hope Squad & ROX (Ruling Our Experiences)
Wynford Local Schools
Hope Squad’s goal is to reduce youth suicide through education, training, and peer intervention and to eliminate the stigma associated with mental health issues. ROX assists girls in navigating their unique challenges in today’s society.
Mobile Learning Labs
YWCA of Northwest Ohio
United Way supports the Mobile Learning Labs operated by YWCA of Northwest Ohio. The Mobile Learning Lab program is designed to improve kindergarten readiness by providing activities that engage families and children while developing early learning skills.
419.241.3235 | | | RBA Scorecard
COLLABORATIONS & COMMUNITY INITIATIVES
A Note About Collaborations
United Way of North Central Ohio continues to be committed to using RBA and collective impact throughout our funding process, and gives special consideration to funding of community collaborations between agencies and organizations.
A collaboration considered for grant funding will be two or more organizations or entities working together to achieve a common goal to improve life for residents in Crawford, Marion, & Wyandot counties.
A successful collaboration will meet the 5 conditions of collective impact:
- Common Agenda. Common understanding of the problem and a shared vision for change.
- Shared Measurement. Collecting data and measuring results, with a focus on performance measurement. Shared accountability.
- Mutually Reinforcing Activities. Differentiated approaches and coordination through joint plan of action.
- Continuous Communication. Consistent and open communication, and a focus on building trust.
- Backbone Support. Separate organization(s) with staff. Resources and skills to convene and coordinate participating organizations.
Imagination Library
Crawford Partnership, Marion Public Library, & Wyandot County Community Foundation
United Way of North Central Ohio is proud to help support the efforts of Imagination Library in Crawford, Marion, and Wyandot counties. Through a partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio provides every Ohio child from birth to age 5 with a free book each month. This early childhood literacy initiative is made possible through donations and support by multiple community organizations.
Marion County Childcare Coalition
Marion County Childcare Coalition
The Coalition brings together local non-profit organizations including UWNCO, Marion Family YMCA, YWCA, Marion Matters, Inc., Marion Community Foundation, The Boys & Girls Club of Marion County, Marion Goodwill-Ohio, Marion Area Chamber of Commerce and Marion Job & Family Services to address the barriers to accessible, affordable childcare in Marion County. The Coalition’s goal is to remove those barriers and to provide families with improved childcare options as we emerge from the pandemic’s effects. See results from the countywide childcare needs survey and read the Coalition’s Executive Summary of the results data here.
Marion Housing Coalition
Marion County Land Reutilization Corporation
The Marion Housing Coalition works to bring together community residents and agency partners to address housing and blight issues in Marion County.
Marion County Transportation Coalition
Marion Matters Inc.
The goal of the Coalition is to streamline transportation efforts, by working together with the regional mobility manager, to create solutions that are viable to all Marion County residents.
Marion Area Employer Resource Network
Marion Matters
This Marion Matters program works to provide member businesses with a Success Coach, who works on-site to assist employees with removing barriers to employment.
Let’s Read 20
Marion Public Library
Forming the habit of reading at a young age is linked to higher performance and achievement throughout life. Let’s Read 20 is a community-wide initiative that promotes early childhood literacy and is attempting to positively impact the culture of our community and the way it values reading, education and academic success.
Pay It Forward
Ohio State University – Marion
Pay It Forward is a collaborative effort between Ohio State Marion and United Way of North Central Ohio that provides students with experiential learning as they explore the process of grant writing and approval while increasing their awareness of the funding needs of local organizations.
2-1-1 Local Help & Resources
Pathways of Central Ohio
This United Way agency partner provides 24/7 services over the phone, connecting callers with the help they need, including mental health services, emergency food and housing, veterans services, health care, and more. Call 2-1-1 or dial 800-544-1601.