How has United Way changed?
United Way has always been an effective way to improve quality of life. Recently, United Way, along with community partners:
- Has identified some of our community's most serious problems.
- Is implementing a plan to get to the root cause of these issues.
- Will measure results not only on program-based outcomes, but also on the impact that these partnerships have on the community as a whole.
If I want to support local agencies, why should I give to United Way?
Giving to agencies is important because many programs are needed to help in times of crisis and need, but United Way is focused on getting to the root cause of why people face challenges in the first place. By giving to United Way, your donation is proactively invested in strategies to reduce the number of people who will need help from local agencies in the future.
What makes United Way of Siouxland unique?
Your United Way is an important funding source and community builder.
- United Way is a local community-managed, non-profit organization. Volunteer committees oversee all major functions of the organization and a small professional staff administers the day-to-day operations.
- United Way is dedicated to effectively investing the community's financial and human resources to make a better community for us all.
- United Way raises funds and invests them in 32 community partners and initiatives.
- United Way works with local volunteers, community agencies, and others to find solutions to our community's most pressing problems.
Who benefits from United Way?
People in need--your family, friends, neighbors and you.
- Your local United Way is supported by and helps provide health and human services to everyone who works or lives in northwest Iowa, northeast Nebraska, and southeast South Dakota.
- Last year, United Way of Siouxland, through its member agencies, touched the lives of 1 in 3 people in the Siouxland area.
Where does my money go?
Your United Way investment goes where it's needed most.
- Gifts to United Way help fund more than 32 community partners and initiatives.
- Your gift to United Way enables local agencies to provide the right combination of assistance to local people who need help... in every way they need it. This means a homeless person who needs shelter can also receive food, counseling, and job training.
- Funds are also set aside for unanticipated needs of member agencies and other program providers addressing critical community problems, such as teen pregnancy, homeless families, child care, infant health, and many others.
- United Way also allows you to direct your contribution to help address specific community issues, or to support a specific health and human service agency.
How cost effective is United Way?
100% of your contribution stays in Siouxland.
- United Way of Siouxland has implemented Corporate Champions. A select group of Siouxland businesses that have come together to cover the cost of United Way's administration. These businesses realize that in order to be effective in it's mission, staff costs and general administrative costs are necessary. Because of these Corporate Champions, 100% of all employee, individual and all other corporate gifts go directly to people who need it most through services provided by the 32 community partners and initiatives in the Siouxland area.
Who decides which agencies to fund?
Local volunteers, people like you, invest United Way funds.
- Hundreds of local volunteers, including a Board of Directors, devote thousands of hours to determine how your funds will have the greatest impact in our community.
- During United Way's extensive annual review process, approximately 20 local volunteers assess community needs and determine how to distribute funds.
What requirements must United Way agencies meet?
United Way agencies must meet strict guidelines.
- An agency must demonstrate that it is performing an essential service to the community.
- It must be a tax-exempt, non-profit corporation governed by a volunteer managing board whose members are elected.
- It must undergo an independent annual financial audit or equivalent evaluation and must meet reasonable standards of financial responsibility and efficiency.
Why do some member organizations charge fees?
No service provider is completely funded by United Way dollars.
- Organizations may depend upon service or membership fees, endowments, or grants for financial support.
- Frequently, organizations offer sliding fee schedules so that people are charged, where appropriate, based on their ability to pay.
Who is ultimately responsible for the activities of United Way and for the funds it raises and invests?
Members of our community govern United Way.
- The volunteer members of the Board of Directors are accountable to the community to see that United Way is properly managed.
Where do United Way dollars come from?
United Way contributions come from individuals like you and from companies throughout Siouxland.
How much money did United Way raise in last year's campaign?
United Way raised nearly $3 million in last year's campaign.
If I choose to designate my gift, is it on top of what the program already receives from United Way?
Yes. Designated funds are not taken into consideration when volunteers make their annual funding decisions.
Why do many of the agencies supported by United Way hold fundraisers or ask for contributions? I thought United Way contributions were enough.
- The United Way is the largest private supporter for most agencies, though not the only one.
- United Way directs its funds to specific programs achieving specific outcomes. Other programs provided by the agencies need support as well.
- United Way is the best way to give, but not the only way to give to those causes you support.
How are United Way of Siouxland and United Way Worldwide affiliated?
- United Way of Siouxland is a local, non-profit organization accountable to the local community--not to United Way Worldwide or any other group.
- United Way Worldwide is the national service and training center, supporting its 1,400 independent members with national services that include advertising, training, corporate relations, research, networks, and government relations. The national center does not raise or distribute funds.
- Our local United Way pays a fee for these services (about three-quarters of one cent of every dollar raised.) The United Way of Siouxland, in turn, gets four times this fee back in services and training from United Way Worldwide.
Does United Way of Siouxland fund Planned Parenthood?
No, United Way of Siouxland does not and has never funded Planned Parenthood. Each of the 1,400 United Ways has their own board of directors and funding decisions are made by local volunteers to ensure the values of the community are upheld.
What else does United Way do?
There's more to United Way...lots more! Your United Way provides a variety of services to the community that enhance the programs offered by our agency partners.
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