2-1-1
In 2004, 2-1-1 service expanded to reach 35% of the United States population. While services that are offered through 2-1-1 vary from community to community, 2-1-1 provides callers with information and referrals to human services for every day needs and in times of crisis. In 2004, the Florida 2-1-1 Network responded to thousands of telephone calls directing victims of Hurricanes Charley, Frances, and Jeanne to services such as shelters, food, medical assistance, disaster preparedness and response activities, post-disaster assistance, and recovery information.

Standards of Excellence
With a clear commitment to the system’s mission to improve peoples’ lives by mobilizing the caring power of community, United Ways must strive for excellence in everyday work. What does excellence look like in a community impact United Way? Development of updated Standards of Excellence began in 2004 to create a roadmap of benchmark standards and practices for United Ways to enhance effectiveness and impact.

Early Childhood: Success by 6 ® (SB6)
In more than 350 communities, SB6® coalitions are changing the way things work so young children can come to school ready to succeed. Operating under local United Way organizations, SB6® coalitions are galvanizing business, government and non-profit leaders around early learning. At the national level, United Way Success By 6® provides a strategic framework and support for local innovation. In the last 5 years, more than 500,000 children have benefited from SB6® early learning, child care, parent education, health, literacy and family resource center programs.

Center for Community Leadership
In 2004, United Way of America launched the Center for Community Leadership to accelerate learning and the development of new leaders. CCL’s work is based on three points: to help local United Ways find solutions to community problems and in the process to share best and promising practices; to attract talent and develop new skills and mindsets to support United Way’s transformation; and to deliver national conferences and other learning opportunities that provide training and development programs for United Way staff and volunteers.

Partnerships
United Way brings people together from government, business, organized labor, faith groups, nonprofits and ordinary citizens. Together we tackle the issues that matter most. United Way of America maintains partnerships with other national organizations including the labor movement, the Ad Council, the Alliance for Information and Referral Systems and more than 140 major corporations. These partners extend our reach, provide expertise on solving social problems and help us mobilize the caring power of America’s communities.

2004 marked the 30th anniversary of the National Football League’s partnership with United Way in building stronger communities. During the 2004 Hometown Huddle events, more than 300 NFL players, team representatives and their families interacted with approximately 3,000 United Way agency recipients. During this national day of community service, NFL heroes from each of the 32 NFL teams put down their shoulder pads and picked up paintbrushes, boxes of canned goods or spatulas to lend aid and assistance to members of their communities.

Membership and Financial Accountability
In 2004, United Way of America implemented financial accountability standards that ensure consistency among United Way audited financial statements, other financial reporting and in the preparation of the IRS Form 990. These requirements conform to those of regulatory and governing bodies as well as to generally accepted accounting principles. The United Way system adopted the IRS Form 990 as the source for the calculation of the overhead ratio, creating a transparent calculation of operating efficiencies.