Frequently Asked Questions
United Way of Jackson County
Frequently Asked Questions
What is United Way?
United
Way is a locally incorporated, locally governed nonprofit organization that
builds bridges between people in the community who need services and want to be
part of a stronger, healthier community; human service agencies; and the people
who have the ability to offer financial resources. United Way of Jackson County is a
community-based organization that conducts one annual fundraising campaign to
provide outcome-based program funding of health and human-care services. Currently, United Way funds 48 different programs at
34 local health and human service agencies.
What Distinguishes United Way From Other Fundraising Efforts?
United
Way is focused on education (helping every child reach their full potential),
income (helping families be financially stable and independent), and health
(helping children and youth engage in less risky behaviors). Our work with the Meth Task Force has reduced
the epidemic and been named the model for community collaboration by Scott
Burns, Deputy Drug Czar. Our learning
community brought together 140 leaders from education, nonprofits, business,
government and faith to learn skills in systems thinking, mental models, shared
visioning, team learning and personal mastery to grow the way we work on
underlying issues. Our Breaking the
Cycle of Poverty project is crafting a plan with broad community input to Break
the Cycle and let children living in poverty have a different life experience
than their parent.
United
Way eliminates many drives in one workplace setting. The United
Way of Jackson
combines at least 34 separate appeals into a one-time community effort. Because United Way has access to workplaces and
payroll deduction authorization, it is able to raise funds that agencies
working alone can't raise.
United
Way provides and economical and efficient method of raising funds. Separate drives commonly cost as high as 30%
to over 70% of funds raised.
United
Way provides outcomes-based program funding for local people in need. Funds raised through campaign efforts are
invested in people who live in Jackson
County who need specific
programs and services, but can't pay for them.
United
Way raises the standard of local services.
Every two years United Way
volunteers come together in vision councils to review agency applications,
conduct site visits and hold panel discussions to allocate valuable resources.
Who Operates the United Way?
Volunteers. The United
Way of Jackson
County has 29 board members and more
than 1500 volunteers serving on committees, councils, the Day of Caring and the
campaign. While there are United Ways around
the world, all United Ways
are governed locally.
How Much of My Money Goes to Providing Service?
80
cents of every $1.00 goes directly to providing service. Because United Way leverages donations three to
one, that 80 cents provides at least $2.40 in goods and services to United Way agencies.
How Do I Know My Gift Will Be Used to Help People?
United
Way values and deeply respects the public trust. Volunteers review agency use of funds each
year. Audits, financial reviews, or
government filings are required from agencies as well and are kept on file at
the United Way
office.
There are So Many Good Causes, Why Should I Give to United Way?
Giving
to United Way
means your charitable choice is the community.
One gift to the community fund helps one in three people in Jackson County through 48 programs at 34 local
agencies.
Who Determines How Much Each Agency Receives?
More
than 150 volunteers review agency applications, conduct site visits, and review
funding requests. Panel recommendations
go on to the United Way Board of Directors for the final decision.
What about United Way of America?
United
Way of Jackson County is a proud member of the United Way of America. United Way of America provides us with
professional expertise in many areas: research, marketing, campaign support,
national public policy lobbying and more.
Only 1% of campaign revenues are paid in membership dues.
United
Way of America does not make funding decisions for local United Ways and does not take positions
on local funding issues.