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Charity merger merits mulled

Butler County United Way president wants to ‘join forces’ with Warren counterpart.

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By Ed Richter, Staff Writer 1:00 AM Sunday, January 10, 2010

LEBANON — By the end of the month, two organizations that supply the bulk of funding for many nonprofit groups in the region may merge to become the United Way of Warren and Butler Counties.

The Butler County United Way Board of Directors has approved the merger. A vote is still to come in Warren County, where some worry about losing identity with donors.

The organizations provided funding to more than 100 programs last year and have 59 partner agencies. With contribution campaigns of $2.45 million in Butler County and $2.4 million in Warren County, a lot is at stake.

“We decided that the demographics are pretty similar in the two counties,” said Bruce Jewett, president of the Butler County board. “There’s a lot of agencies that serve populations in both counties, and it seemed to us to be a good opportunity to join forces.”

Tina Osso, executive director of the Shared Harvest Foodbank, said she can see the benefits of a two-county fund-raising campaign and other efficiencies through a consolidation.

But Osso said the boards need to look at how a merger might affect donors.

“I’m not sure that bigger is always better,” Osso said.

Warren UW has worries about merger

Despite assurances from the Butler County United Way of a smooth, fair transition, some Warren County United Way directors are against merging the two agencies, worried about loss of both identity and donors.

Then two organizations provided funding to more than 100 programs last year and have 59 partner agencies, with contribution campaigns of $2.45 million in Butler County and $2.4 million in Warren County.

Discussions about creating a regional United Way — composed of the Greater Cincinnati (which includes Middletown and Trenton), Dayton, Butler County and Warren County organizations — began three years ago.

Dayton pulled out of the talks this past August, saying no compelling business case had been made for a consolidated regional organization. In early September, the Warren County group cited the same concern as it pulled out of the broader talks but agreed to discussion with Butler County.

On Dec. 15, the Warren and Butler county boards held simultaneous meetings at Butler Tech.

The Butler board approved the merger, while the Warren board voted to proceed with the merger process. The Warren board is required under its bylaws to follow a two-step process, with another vote to come.

Opposing concerns

About two dozen people attended an “unofficial” Warren County board meeting Jan. 6 presided over by Dan Engen, vice president of allocations. He has said he is not opposed to the merger, but disagrees with the board about how much information should be shared with the organization’s volunteers, donors and stakeholders.

Engen expressed several concerns, including a lack of a formal business plan for the new entity if the merger is approved; loss of identity; reduction of Warren staff members; difference in demographics between Butler and Warren; possible litigation; and loss of donors who prefer the local organization.

Bruce Jewett, president of the Butler County board, said issues such as staffing would have to be decided later, but maintains the merger would be a win-win.

“Both organizations have seen their campaigns challenged in recent years,” he said.

“It’s been a tough environment and we think there’s some synergy from this merger that would lead to a stronger organization and more possibilities, not less.”

Jewett said he would expect the agency to maintain a presence in both counties, with perhaps a main office located in the area of Mason or West Chester Twp.

Partner agencies concerned

Tina Osso, executive director of the Shared Harvest Foodbank, said she can see the benefits of a merger, but there are differences in how both organizations allocate funding and obtain accountability reporting from partner agencies and programs.

She said to comply with Butler’s reporting requirements, a person has to be “computer literate” as detailed information is collected online. Osso said a number of Warren’s food pantries are all-volunteer organizations that don’t use computers and still submit paper reports.

“I hope there’s some consideration made for smaller agencies,” she said. “Some Warren County organizations get food from our foodbanks and their services are drastically needed.”

Osso said she and other partner agencies were surprised when news broke about the proposed merger.

“There are concerns about the transparency on how this took place,” she said. “I’m concerned about the effect on smaller organizations. There hasn’t been any discussion about this. They’re voting on a merger without details. How do you really know what you’re voting on?”

Osso said she believes both United Ways want to do what’s best. “I don’t think it’s about ego or being a larger United Way,” she said.

Jewett said a combined agency would make things much easier for agencies who serve both counties.

“The potential impact ultimately is we would be a stronger organization with an ability to generate more resources for services for people who need them in Butler and Warren counties,” Jewett said.

The merger process

Jonathan Sams, the Warren County board’s attorney and spokesman, said the organization has to determine which active members will vote on the merger question.

As of Friday, Jan. 8, lists had been compiled and will be discussed and vetted by the Warren board at its Jan. 14 meeting, Sams said.

Engen said Friday that the list contains about 50 names; 200 were submitted.

He said there should be a “quick consensus on who should or should not be on the final list,” based on how the organization’s bylaws are interpreted.

Once the voting membership is determined, the board will hold an “official information meeting” to present the merger proposal, Sams said.

After that meeting, a 10-day notice is required before the voting membership can address the merger question, which requires a simple majority, Sams said.

“We’re anxious for it to be decided,” Jewett said.

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