FRANKLIN TWP — The United Way of Butler County at its annual meeting Thursday afternoon put the wraps on its 2015 campaign that fell short of the fundraising goal.

Executive director Kierston Hobaugh said the organization raised about $1 million for its 2015 campaign, failing to meet the goal of $1.43 million that it set in September.

She said this morning that board members still are discussing how to distribute the grant allocations to partner agencies since there is less money than planned.

Hobaugh also said there was no single reason why the goal was not met.

She noted that giving to the United Way nationwide is down, and that a few large companies changed how they collected employee pledges which reduced donations.

And she added that workers who switch jobs or retire often do not fulfill their pledges.

The organization also has reorganized when its fundraising campaign is scheduled, Hobaugh said. It now runs annually, starting and ending on March 31, meaning the United Way is already into its 2016-17 fundraising effort.

Hobaugh said the reorganization of the campaign calendar would more accurately reflect the reporting timetable required by the United Way’s national headquarters.

In the first example of how the organization’s shift toward an issue-based focus will change its operation, Hobaugh said the group would not announce a fundraising goal for its current campaign.

She addressed the shift, which the United Way announced this spring, in comments at the meeting.

“We want to be able to show the community ‘here’s how we’re helping people,’ not just ‘here’s how much money we raised,’” Hobaugh said.

She acknowledged that the shift away from a defined, monetary campaign goal, and the search for a single issue for the organization to focus on has generated questions and concerns among member agencies. Hobaugh said the United Way is holding one-on-one meetings with donors and partner agencies to explain the transition process and respond to their concerns.

This shift in focus for the United Way is expected to take up to two years.

Overall, Hobaugh said, reaction to the United Way’s announcement has been positive.

The newly elected board officers all said they supported the move saying it would improve the United Way’s ability to do good in communities across the county.

“It’s more so using a rifle than a shotgun,” said Ron Bowser, who is the new board chairman for the year. “I think it’s going to be far better for the community because we can find the major issues and try to get them advanced.”

Kenny Bonus, who is board treasurer, said the shift would improve communication and collaboration between the United Way and its partner agencies. Bonus said he wants the United Way to focus more on being in communication with the agencies it helps to fund.

“I think being in constant contact … that’s only going to make us a better resource (for agencies),” Bonus said. “Sometimes we act as that connection, and I think we really need to embrace that.”

Co-chairman Beverly Wogan said she saw the shift as lending more power and efficacy to the United Way.

“Our goal is to strengthen the community,” Wogan said. “We want the United Way of Butler County to be serving in a way that’s deeper and greater than before.”

The centerpiece of the transition — selecting an issue for the organization to make its focus — isn’t likely to be completed until fall of 2017 at the earliest, Hobaugh said.

“It won’t be an overnight transition. But our end goal is to make everyone stronger … and to spotlight the great work that’s being done, Hobaugh said.