The United Way of the Pennyrile is entering a key phase of its annual campaign cycle after completing two weeks of in-person visits with partner agencies across the region.
Executive Director Melanie Noffsinger said the visits—known as agency panel visits—offer a firsthand look at how local nonprofits operate and the impact they have on the community.
“We just finished our two weeks of agency panel visits, which were amazing,” Noffsinger said. “It’s just their opportunity to showcase their program, their facilities… and hear really touching and inspiring stories from some of their clients.”
The organization serves Christian, Todd and Trigg counties, investing donor dollars into health and human service programs that address education, financial stability and community health.
Following the visits, the process now shifts to the Community Investment Committee, a group of board members tasked with reviewing funding applications and determining how campaign dollars will be distributed.
“We’ll sit down and discuss… review each agency’s ask, and then divvy up the money,” Noffsinger said. “It definitely is more of an art and not necessarily a science.”
United Way of the Pennyrile supports a network of partner agencies providing services ranging from emergency assistance to youth development programs. Many of those organizations rely heavily on the funding to sustain operations.
“All of our agencies are non-profits. Many of them have a very small staff… truly without United Way funds, some of the programs that they offer truly would not exist,” Noffsinger said.
The organization also distributes funds to non-partner agencies when donors designate contributions outside the traditional network, expanding its reach beyond its core partners.
That funding process follows a strong campaign year. The most recent fundraising effort brought in $800,292—surpassing its goal and marking one of the highest totals since before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Noffsinger said the success reflects widespread community support.
“The amount of money that we are reinvesting into the community is so huge… that just shows that all the community has a really big heart,” she said.
United Way officials estimate that approximately $1.7 million has been reinvested locally over the past two years, with more than $8 million distributed over the past decade, according to Noffsinger.
The organization’s mission is centered on “uniting people and resources to improve lives and strengthen communities throughout the Pennyrile,” with a focus on long-term solutions to local challenges.
Looking ahead, United Way plans to announce its new campaign co-chairs and theme in May, with the next fundraising campaign set to begin in July and a formal kickoff planned for early September.
Noffsinger said community involvement remains essential to sustaining that momentum.
As allocation decisions move forward, United Way leaders say their focus remains on directing funds where they can have the greatest impact across the region’s nonprofit network.
