Q: Who
is United Way and what do you do?
A: We’re
a local not-for-profit organization, governed by a Board
of Directors made up of business and community leaders from
throughout Warren County. Staff and volunteers run an annual
workplace and residential campaign to raise money and awareness
for the vital United Way programs throughout the County.
The United Way Citizen Review Process trains volunteers to
visit agencies, review programs, make all funding decisions
and set the investment agenda for your United Way. United
Way of Warren County offers personalized service to people
and organizations that want to help others, supporting vital
local services that help many. All the decisions our United
Way makes—what programs to offer, what services to
support—what strategic direction to take-- are made
by people like you, right here in Warren County.
Q: How does United
Way of Warren County raise money?
A: United
Way runs an annual campaign that includes a workplace campaign,
residential mailings and corporate sponsored events raising
money for United Way. By far the largest portion of the annual
campaign is the workplace campaign. There are two components
of a workplace campaign: the corporate gift and the employee
giving campaign.
United Way of Warren County enjoys a good relationship
with many corporations who give generous corporate gifts
every year. Many companies base the amount of their gift
on a per capita basis, reflecting how many employees work
for the company. The average per capita gift ranges between
$20.00 and $50.00 per employee depending on the industry
or business grouping.
The employee giving campaign provides would-be donors with
a private, convenient, and budget friendly manner in which
to contribute. While cash and checks are gladly accepted,
by far the most popular option is the payroll deduction option.
The payroll deduction option provides several benefits to
the donor and United Way. For the price of a soda or a pizza
a week you can choose a contribution, which
will be automatically taken out of your pay and sent to United
Way. Most people will not miss one or several dollars a week,
and at years end your W-2 tax form will reflect your tax-deductible
contribution.
The cost of managing this program to United Way is minimal
as we are not paying for expensive fundraising events, or
spending a lot on collecting the money. This allows us to
spend the majority of your gift on the programs that you
support.
Q: How much are
your administrative costs?
A: Between
15 percent and 20 percent is being spent
on fundraising expenses and other administrative costs, including
dues to United Way of America. It’s an investment well
made when you consider that nationally accepted maximum limits
for non-profit overhead costs vary from 40 percent to 50
percent. The Philanthropic Advisory Service of the Council
of Better Business Bureaus sets the maximum permissible rate
for overhead costs at non-profit organizations at 50 percent.
The National Charities Information Bureau sets the rate at
40 percent. Our goal is to keep the administrative costs
as low as we can. As we increase our local campaign and raise
more money in the future, that percentage will be even
lower.
Q: I’m
an active supporter of my community but I don’t
want my employees to be coerced or feel obligated to
give. Does your United Way use heavy handed tactics to
raise money?
A: United
Way strongly believes that whether to give, how much to give,
and who to give to, are highly personal decisions for each
and every individual. United Way volunteers and staff only
want to explain the services that we provide, and let people
decide for themselves. When we come to your company, we consider
it a privilege and honor to be a guest in your place of business.
United Way provides many options for how and where to direct
the money of those who choose to give.
Successful workplace campaigns are fun events that boost
employee morale. They leave donors feeling good about themselves
and happy that their company provided them with the opportunity
to give something back to the community.
Simply stated, we want to provide employees with the opportunity to
give in a manner which is private, convenient and easy on
the budget. Ultimately participation is a choice, one that
is appreciated but not expected.
If you feel you are, or have been a victim of coercive
tactics to require you to give, please notify the campaign
coordinator at your company or your supervisor, or contact
United Way. We will happily and discreetly return your money,
and take whatever steps necessary to ensure that coercion
does not play a part in your company’s campaign.
Q: Who decides
where the money goes?
A: People
like you, right here in Warren County. Volunteers from all
walks of life review program applications, visit agencies,
make all funding decisions and prioritize the needs in the
community to ensure that your dollars are being spent wisely
and efficiently. If you would like to serve as a funds distribution
volunteer, just contact the United Way.
Q: Do you cooperate
with other United Ways?
A: With
a strategic focus on collaborations with United Ways throughout
the New Jersey and the Tri-State area, United Way
of Warren County is actively leveraging resources and dollars
into Warren County in support of its work in Warren County.
Q: Why do I see “United
Way agencies” doing
their own fundraising?
A: Technically,
your United Way does not fund “agencies,” it
funds programs. Your United Way can ensure that donors’ gifts
are going directly to important services that help people
in specific service areas. Most agencies depend on United
Way funded dollars as a critical part of their overall budget.
United Way can increase the credibility of agencies, making
it easier for them to win foundation, state and federal grants.
Q: Will the money
I give to United Way go outside the community?
A: :
No. The money raised in Warren County stays in 4Warren County,
unless you the donor request that it be sent to another United
Way. Your local United Way does pay annual dues to United
Way of America, the membership organization for United Ways.
Those dues—which amount to less than one cent of every
dollar given, are used to help underwrite the costs of the
United Way/NFL television spots; help defray the costs of
marketing materials that our local United Way uses; and support
training for United Way staff. Those dues represent the only
money that leaves Warren County—and those dollars are
ultimately returned to the community in services received.
Q: Who sets policy
for our local United Way?
A: People
who live and work in Warren County are making all policy
decisions for your United Way. United Way of Warren County
is governed by its Board of Directors, comprised of local
business and community leaders, and assisted by scores of
volunteers from Warren County.
All United Way organizations are separate entities accountable
to the volunteers in their community. Everything from human
resource policies to funding policies are made from community
to community.
Q: How does United
Way pay for its events?
A: Annual
events, such as Day of Caring and the Campaign Wrap-Up celebration,
are designed to boost morale and create a synergy among volunteers.
Nearly all the costs for these events are paid through ticket
prices and generous corporate sponsorships.
Q: Why should
I give to United Way and not directly to an agency of
my choice? I want to make sure my money goes where it
is needed most.
A: Designating
your United Way contribution to the specific agency of your
choice is a popular option that we are happy to honor. Many
people do designate a portion or their entire gift to an
agency of their choice.
That being said, when you give an undesignated gift to
United Way, you are giving to a system of agencies that work
closely together to best serve our community’s needs.
In many cases, one agency cannot meet a family’s or
individual’s total needs by itself. That’s why
it’s so important that all agencies receive adequate
funding. Scores of local volunteers, drawn from Warren County
companies and organizations, visit United Way agencies, review
their programs and budgets, and decide how much money each
program should receive, based on community needs and the
program’s effectiveness in meeting those needs.
Q: What if I
don’t live in Warren County
and I want my gift to benefit the community where I live?
A: Through
United Way’s Donor Choice program, you have
the option of designating your United Way gift back to the
community in which you live, so that it will benefit programs
there.
We do ask people to also consider supporting the community
that provides you with the opportunity to make a good living.
Many people who live somewhere else do donate all or part
of their money right here in Warren County. The choice is
yours, and we appreciate you taking the time to decide.
Q: When
I designate my dollars to a particular agency, does my
designation increase that agency’s “normal” allocation?
A: Yes.
While United Way strongly supports donors’ rights
to choose which agencies will receive their support, we want
donors to know that designating gifts bypasses one of United
Way’s greatest values—the citizen review process
that not only identifies our communities’ greatest
needs, but those agencies that are working most effectively
and efficiently to address them. United Way’s volunteers
do not take designated gifts into account when they decide
on the annual allocation amount. Therefore, any dollars designated
to an agency are a gift over and above the United Way allocation
amount.
All of the agencies receiving United Way funding are valued.
But no one agency can provide our community with all the
social services needed. An undesignated gift to United Way
acts as a security blanket for Warren County residents, providing
a broad range of essential services.
Q: What if I
don’t like one of the agencies
that United Way supports?
A: You
can specify that the agency in question not receive United
Way funds. You can also specify which agency or agencies
will receive your gift by designating your gift. Donor designation
forms can be obtained from a campaign solicitor.
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