Wednesday, February 01, 2006

MEMORANDUM

TO: Wilmington and Cape Fear Area Media

FROM: Mimi Cunningham, UNCW

Leanne M. Strawn, Cape Fear Area United Way

DATE: Jan. 31, 2006

RE: News Conference Announcing Partnership Initiative to Aid Non-Profits in Brunswick, New Hanover and Pender Counties

10 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 7, United Way Office

The North Carolina Secretary of State has registered 1,526 non-profit organizations in Brunswick, New Hanover and Pender counties, excluding homeowners' associations and churches. Four local funders (Cape Fear Area United Way, Cape Fear Memorial Foundation, City of Wilmington, and the Landfall Foundation) distribute approximately $5.4 million each year to non-profit agencies located in the three counties.

Yet there is little consistency of management capabilities and leadership skills of executive directors and staff of these non-profits, and there is minimal public accountability for how these organizations administer the grant dollars and few measures for how effective their efforts are in achieving their missions. Also, no avenue currently exists in Southeastern North Carolina for non-profits to receive training, technical assistance, or organizational development. Non-profit administrators and staff note that they must devote time and resources to travel at least two hours away to receive the training they need.

Please join us for a news conference at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 7, at the United Way Office at 613 Shipyard Boulevard, Suite 100 to announce a partnership among the area's major funders, citizen activists, and the University of North Carolina Wilmington designed to help non-profits be more successful and generate more confidence among donors. In addition to UNCW, participants include the Cape Fear Area United Way, Cape Fear Memorial Foundation, the Community Foundation of Southeastern NC, Southeastern Alliance for Community Change, and the NC Discovery Alliance.

If you have questions, please contact Mimi Cunningham 910/962-3171 or Leanne Strawn 910/798-3897.