The annual Aloha United Way fundraising drive is under way, and with the campaign AUW has begun its departure from the original course of a "big tent" charity network.

This year, all of the nonprofit organizations under the umbrella of the "community safety net" will continue to reap their share of the general contributions that come in, but AUW on Friday decided to put the philanthropic focus on a narrower set of charities.

The narrower roster of charities is still being drawn up, but essentially it will be made up of groups that fill one of four key social needs: family and individual self-sufficiency, early childhood development, homelessness and crime and drug use. A fifth qualifying category would include agencies that form the "emergency and crisis-service safety net."

It's unfortunate, but understandable, that AUW has taken this action. There was something undeniably appealing about the notion of helping the broadest possible range of groups.

Sadly, various factors — including economic downturns and competing fundraising strategies — have led to a decline in AUW collections over the past decade or more, officials said. The hope is that focused giving will produce more measurable social improvements, progress that, in turn, will inspire more giving.

The good news is that charities not on the final list will be weaned off their portion of the funds, collecting 80 percent and then a half-share before being cut off.

Also, AUW will continue to invite donors to specify that individual organizations receive their gifts, whether or not they're part of the priority class.

AUW plans to meet with de-listed agencies individually over the next year to help them plan alternative fund-raising strategies, which should soften the blow.

But the rest of us — people who want to see all charities succeed — have to do our part, too. Despite the critical needs in the targeted categories, groups that offer all kinds of kokua should not be forgotten in a place with a tradition of community caring.