Campaign FAQs
Is United Way really different from other nonprofits?
Why should I choose The Community Fund?
Can I designate my contribution to a specific agency?
Does United Way send a lot of money to its National Office?
If my company offers a great benefits package, do my coworkers still need United Way’s help?
How do I know United Way if financially accountable for its activities?
Is United Way really different from other nonprofits?
Only United Way has the reach and experience to bring together member agencies, other nonprofits, local donors, volunteers and companies to pursue common goals. By assessing critical needs and working with a broad range of partners, United Way is able to address the underlying causes of the most pressing problems in our community. By reaching local donors through an efficient workplace campaign, United Way allows everyone to make a difference in York County.
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Why should I choose The Community Fund?
The Community Fund is the best way that we, as a community, can address the issues that affect us all.
Through The Community Fund, contributions are invested in three Focus Areas identified as key to a healthy community - Education, Income and Health. Volunteers work hard to ensure that only programs that demonstrate a measurable impact on people's lives are trusted with United Way dollars;
making our community stronger, safer and healthier. For the first time, donors may choose to designate to any of the three focus areas.
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Can I designate my contribution to a specific agency?
Contributors are encouraged to direct their gift to The Community Fund, thereby helping all 34 partner agencies. However, if there is a 501(c)3 nonprofit agency important to you and your family, you may choose to direct all or a portion of your gift to that agency. If the organization is not a partner agency, an administrative fee will be assessed. The fee for the 2011/12 campaign is 11.4%.
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Does United Way send a lot of money to its National Office?
United Way of America is a national organization that functions much like a trade association and provides support to help local United Way organizations. United Way of York County is a member of United Way of America and pays dues equal to approximately 1% of the amount we raise during our annual campaign. Training credits, material discounts, market reports, fund raising reports and data, access to national organizations with coordinated fund raising and staff and volunteer training programs are some of the benefits provided.
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If my company offers a great benefits package, do my coworkers still need United Way’s help?
More than 50,000 calls for help are answered every year thanks to United Way-funded information and referral services. None of us can be certain that the service we need now or in the future will be available. We can, however, invest in the continuation of service by giving now in the event a friend or family member needs it in the future. Many of us already utilize services, such as YMCA’s activities for school-age children, the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts organizations, the Red Cross CPR and Water-Safety classes and other programs funded by United Way.
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How do I know United Way is financially accountable for its actions?
United Way of York County is an independent organization serving the people of our community. We are committed to being the most efficient and effective community builder possible, while upholding high standards of professionalism, accountability and ethics. Our organization is accountable for its actions by working with committed volunteer leaders in our community, developing and implementing fair and thoughtful policies and having our books audited every year by a local, independent firm, which ensures that our financial statements are in accordance with generally-accepted accounting principles. We strive to meet the philanthropic goals of the York County community by being fair, honest and effective. To view our most recent annual report, audited financial statements and IRS Form 990, please click here.
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