Three Chapters of United Way to Combine

By Chris Gosier -- Staff Writer
THE ADVOCATE - February 23, 2007

STAMFORD - Three United Way chapters, including Stamford's, will merge in the next four months to stay competitive in a tough fundraising climate, chapter officials saidyesterday.

The new regional organization will be called the United Way of Western Connecticut, said June Renzulli, president and chief executive officer of the United Way of Northern Fairfield County in Danbury. That chapter will merge with the United Way of Stamford and the Housatonic/Shepaug United Way in New Milford by July, she said.

The boards of each chapter approved resolutions of intent this week, she said. "The problems that we're facing are getting more difficult and more challenging," Renzulli said. "The more we can work together, the better results we can achieve."

The new organization will do regional fundraising to tackle concerns such as affordable housing that cross town borders, she said. Local offices will continue to raise funds for their particular areas and spend them there.

The new organization, to be based at the Northern Fairfield chapter's headquarters in Danbury, will have a governing board with members of each community. That board will work with the local chapters' boards of directors, to be called community councils. The merger has been in the works for the past year, said Re nzulli, adding that she's been talking to other United Way chapters in the area about joining the merger as well. The change is driven in part by greater competition for money among nonprofits agencies, said Michelle James, president and chief executive officer of the Stamford chapter.

"The climate is tougher for all of us to raise money in," with many charities competing, she said. "I hope that by consolidating some processes, both of us will be able to raise more money." Savings will come from consolidating marketing, financial management, information technology and personnel functions, she said.

The Stamford chapter's name may change with the merger, officials said. The merger will bring no layoffs, Renzulli said, and James said the staff in Stamford will increase. Joe Speranzo, executive director of the Housatonic/Shepaug chapter, said keeping the local focus was "a key point for our community." But he was happy about the merger.

"It's difficult to accomplish everything you want to do with a limited staff, so we're kind of excited about the resources we can tap into as we move forward," he said. Speranzo said his chapter's fundraising has declined in recent years, with companies leaving the area or cutting back on charitable giving. "There's not a broad enough base of business and industry in this area, probably, to justify us staying on our own at this point," he said.