A trusted, mission-driven organization adapts to a rapidly changing landscape

United Way Monterey County

United Way Monterey County (UMWC) is a public charity with roots dating back to 1929 and a countywide presence since 2000. UWMC is dedicated to building a stronger, more equitable community by creating pathways to prosperity. Through innovative programs and cross-sector partnerships, the organization focuses on opportunities for youth, financial security, and community health.

• Project purpose

  To sustain its high-level of service, UWMC prioritizes thoughtful and ongoing strategic planning. From 2022–2025, its planning efforts included continued relief from the pandemic and a focus on equity. Its strategic plan for 2025–2028 builds on that strong foundation and addresses new goals for sustainability and impact. Our role was to design a structured, inclusive, and data-informed process to help UWMC move forward with a strategy that truly reflects who it is and where it wants to go.

• Objectives

  • Conduct an organizational self-assessment to evaluate internal capacity and effectiveness.

  • Perform financial analysis to understand trends and sustainability.

  • Conduct focus groups with board members, staff, and community partners.

  • Conduct a senior staff survey to capture leadership perspectives and insights.

  • Conduct a board survey to assess governance, alignment, and strategic priorities.

• Outcomes

  We helped develop five goals along with specific strategies and actions to achieve them. The strategies answer questions about what to grow, what to refine, and what to let go. The actions provide tangible steps for turning the plan into a day-to-day reality to promote equity, ensure accountability, and embed measurable outcomes across all areas of its work.

• Timeline

  Jan–Sep 2025

• Project team

  Jordan Greene — Project supervisor, tool design, client communication, data collection and analysis, in-person strategic planning, and report writing

  Nat Bauer — Graphic and layout design, creative direction, data visualization

“We enjoyed the process of working with Sweet Grass and received not only detailed finished products but appreciated the design work that went into to them to intentionally align with our rebranding.” —Katy Castagna, United Way Monterey County

---