In a year where nonprofits struggle harder than ever to meet the increasing economic need of residents, the Covington-Newton County United Way met its fundraising goal for 2011 a few weeks early. The annual fundraising campaign has raised $357,000 to date, Executive Director Doris Strickland said Tuesday, and she expects donations to total around $400,000 by campaign’s end. The local United Way set a goal of $350,000 for its annual fundraising campaign, down from the goal of $475,000 the past few years because donations had been steadily decreasing.