When you look at our list of Certified Partner Agencies, you find most of the region’s very best health and human services nonprofits on the roster.

What may not be readily apparent to you is how much work it takes—for the agencies and for us—to compile that list.

We really make agencies jump through hoops to be listed—and they’re willing to do it because being on that list is like having the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval.

We make them submit their tax returns (IRS Form 990) and their audit reports. They have to give us their board rosters and a list of their board meeting dates.

They have to give us their annual reports so that we can see what services they provide and verify that they really do serve this regional community.

So they have to work hard to fill out their applications, and in turn, we have to work hard to deal with all that paper (sometimes 30 pages or more per agency).

But things have just gotten a lot easier for both the agencies and United Way thanks to a talented group of eight seniors from Sac State’s College of Business Administration, MIS-160 class.

There was a time when our United Way was criticized because it resisted letting donors designate where their gifts should go. “Designation” was tantamount to a four-letter word. “Just give us the money and trust us to make sure it is used wisely,” we used to tell people.

That was 20 years ago. Today we are perhaps the most donor-choice-friendly United Way. Typically, 60% of what we raise passes through us to another nonprofit. Back in the early 1990s, when I was a volunteer on our board, we voted to listen to our customers and change it.

Unless you’ve been abroad or hiding in a cave, you’ve undoubtedly heard about “Waiting for Superman,” the controversial documentary film about problems with public school systems around the country. It was on Oprah, for gosh sakes, so you know it’s gotta be big!

Seriously, I first saw the film in mid July at a special screening for CEOs of some of the country’s larger United Ways. I’ve seen it twice since and still find it moving—which makes what I’m about to share with you seem odd, but…

Like many of you, I spent part of Father’s Day weekend viewing the U.S. Open golf tournament at Pebble Beach on the TV, watching all the ups and downs of the world’s best golfers battling one of the world’s great golf courses.

Employers, when was the last time someone offered you a great developmental opportunity for your employees for free—and it was actually free?

Well, have I got a deal for you! We call it our Loaned Executive Program. Among the graduates of our program are elected officials and corporate and nonprofit leaders. Here’s how it works:

Your organization loans United Way an employee for three to four months (August through Thanksgiving).. The employee stays on your payroll but works full-time with us on our campaign (fundraising) staff.

We know you’re out there. We know you’re community-minded. We know you like helping other people. We just don’t know how to find and connect with you.

Who am I talking to/about? Retirees. People who used to be United Way volunteers and donors. People with whom we’ve lost touch over the years.

Literally thousands upon thousands of people donate to the nonprofits of their choice through our many workplace fundraising campaigns each year.

This is going to sound strange coming from the CEO of a nonprofit whose mission is health and human services, but I’m very concerned about the impact of the current economic situation on education and the arts.

Healthy communities need vibrant arts and culture and strong educational systems. Arts and education can be overlooked in times like these, when so much attention gets focused on human services needs. That’s unfortunate.