Michigan United Way to Change Giving Priorities

The United Way for Southeastern Michigan, in Detroit, plans to announce today changes to the way it distributes approximately $35-million a year to some 150 nonprofit organizations, the Detroit Free Press reports.

Like many other United Ways nationwide, the Detroit United Way will no longer give money to a broad range of health and social-service causes and will instead support groups working to solve specific community needs.

United Ways have found that such an approach has been more popular with donors than their traditional approach, The Chronicle of Philanthropy has reported.

In Detroit, the United Way will allot money to charities that are working to get children ready to learn, helping families achieve financial stability, and delivering basic health and welfare services to those in need.

Michael Brennan, president of the organization said some groups may lose support entirely, but in most other cases, charities that have traditionally received aid will get support for programs that focus on at least one of the United Way’s three priorities.

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