For 133 years, United Ways across the country have served those crushed under the weight of impoverished environments. That service has looked, felt, and sounded like charity: direct social services in response to existing, immediate needs. Yet the issues have not gone away; they have gotten worse and that’s especially true for Black and Brown communities. The next 133 years demand more. Through a strategic and community-driven Request for Proposals (RFP) process conducted every other year, United Way of the Greater Triangle shows the Triangle that it’s not just up to the challenge to act, it’s committed to funding the most impactful nonprofit partners for the greatest impact.
To do this, however, they needed to empower community leaders so that they could truly listen to their community and ensure they’re focusing on the right things. Using technology to empower their community partner organizations and leveraging the voices of over 300 community leaders, UWGT is able to more accurately determine the needs of the community, have more speed in responding, and create a bigger impact for those most in need.
Join us in a conversation with Nick Allen, Chief Programs Officer, and Jeff Howell, Director of Community Investment at UWGT, along with Sam Caplan, VP of Social Impact at Submittable, to hear how they leveraged technology and a common force for good to create more efficiencies internally and greater impacts to the community.
You’ll learn how United Way Greater Triangle:
Nick Allen, United Way of the Greater Triangle
Nick Allen is the Chief Program Officer for the United Way of the Greater Triangle; a role that includes managing the strategies and execution of: philanthropic storytelling, transformative community engagement and multi-million dollar impact investments across a four county region. Prior to joining the United Way, 15+ years of experience in youth development and community organizing has left Nick with the belief that community centered approaches rooted in racial equity are the key ingredients to significant, positive changes in the Triangle community. A creative thinker and a practical doer, Nick brings radical re-imagination and bold vision influenced by both statistical data and lived experiences of those we serve, to his work.Nick and his wife Nicky are raising their daughter, Audrey Rose, and son Oliver Rhys to love fearlessly, live passionately and eat well. Born and raised in Baltimore, Durham, NC is now home. Nick is also a Tar Heel, a house renovator, a farmer and a chef.
Jeff Howell, United Way of the Greater Triangle
Jeff Howell is the Director of Community Investment for the United Way of the Greater Triangle where he is responsible for the strategy and implementation of financial investments in traditional 501c3 organizations, supporting Triangle-area nonprofits, and understanding the impact United Way of the Greater Triangle has in the community. Previously, Jeff has spent time with an international nonprofit, the local public school system, and leading a local grassroots organization. Jeff is driven by the belief in demystifying philanthropy, addressing power imbalances, and supporting impactful local organizations all while building authentic relationships with nonprofits across the region.
A Yinzer at his heart, Jeff and his husband currently live in Durham and are extremely content in only having one child - a spoiled dog named Quinn.
Sam Caplan, Submittable
Sam Caplan is the Vice President of Social Impact at Submittable. He has served as founder of New Spark Strategy, Chief Information Officer at the Walton Family Foundation, and director of technology at the Walmart Foundation. Driven by an interest in the intersection of technology and philanthropy, he consults and writes prolifically, recently publishing a series of whitepapers titled “The Strategic Role of Technology in Philanthropy.”
