Investment in UCP's Affiliate Network
UCP administers two funds to assist its affiliate network in achieving life without limits for people with disabilities. The Bellows Fund is a multimillion-dollar fund used to provide assistive technology devices to individuals with disabilities who are in financial need. Affiliates are qualified to receive funds to purchase assistive technology equipment and devices for a person in need in their communities, and allocations are available on an annual basis.
The Ewing Housing Loan Program is another UCP administered program offering a short-term, low-interest loan program for affiliates to construct or rehabilitate/modify accessible housing for people with disabilities. The funds are intended to assist affiliates with costs until long-term financing is secured.
Bellows Fund
UCP distributed $222,035 in fiscal year 2010 and $161,585 in fiscal year 2011 to affiliates as grants for assistive technology.
Ewing Trust
To date, the Ewing Loan program has provided resources for ten individuals to move into homes in the community. UCP made a low-interest loan to UCP of Pittsburgh for $100,000 to fund construction of a duplex home for four people with disabilities, with attendant care provided by the affiliate. UCP CLASS received another $100,000 loan for four people people after paying off its first loan. UCP of Georgia also received an additional $100,000 Ewing Loan for four people after paying off its first loan.
National Relationships Create Local Benefits
UCP provides opportunities for affiliates to enhance their funding from local franchise representatives and outlets of national corporate partners. Our team of fund-raising professionals expands the national corporate partner network by actively seeking to acquire new potential sponsors and to maintain and build existing sponsor relationships.
Annual Conferences
UCP's Annual Conference brings together its nearly 100 international affiliates and partners for a three-day exploration of topics important to the disability community.
2010, Chicago, Ill.
2011, New Orleans, La.
Publications
Sharing Success: A Resource Guide Created by UCP Affiliates
UCP created internal committees focused on program advancement and resource development, with an aim to capture, in some meaningful way, the rich entrepreneurship and innovative practices that has become synonymous with UCP affiliates. Comprised of affiliate leaders, the committees collaborated on this guide to provide UCP affiliates with successful best practices in Program Advancement, Fundraising and Social Enterprise that can easily be implemented.
Affiliation Guide
This is UCP-authored reference guide outlines the opportunities of engagement with UCP, including a brief history of the organization and a summary of the benefits and services that network members receive.
UCP Affiliate Network: http://www.ucp.org/affiliates
