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Contact Our Local United Way
Basic Facts About United Way
As the nation's leading community solutions provider, United Way invests in
and activates the resources to make the greatest possible impact in
communities across America. The United Way movement includes approximately
1,400 community-based United Way organizations. Each is independent,
separately incorporated, and governed by local volunteers.
United Ways bring communities together to focus on the most important needs
in the community -- building partnerships, forging consensus and leveraging
resources to make a measurable difference.
In 2001-2002, United Ways across the nation generated an estimated $5
billion to help America's communities address their most critical issues.
This represents an increase of 6.8% from $4.7 billion in 2000. Generous
gifts to the September 11th Fund were the predominant driver of this growth.
The resources raised include the annual campaign at $3.95 billion
representing a 0.9% increase over last year's campaign. In addition, revenue
beyond the campaign (e.g. government grants, gifts to initiatives) totaled
$212 million, compared to $191.5 million in 2000.
Other resources leveraged include: revocable planned gift expectancies and
contingent gifts at $35.6 million; in-kind donations valued at $267.8
million; leveraged community resources from other key United Way partners,
$235 million; and $501 million from the September 11th Fund (a collaboration
between United Way of New York City and the New York Community Trust.)
United Ways ensure that each organization in which they invest is a
non-profit, tax-exempt charity governed by volunteers, and that it submits
to an annual, independent financial audit, provides services at a reasonable
cost, and maintains a policy of non-discrimination.
A vast network of volunteers and the simplicity of corporate payroll
deduction keep administrative expenses low - averaging 13 percent of all
funds raised at the largest United Ways. This figure compares favorably with
the suggested Better Business
Bureau guidelines of up to 35 percent.
United Way of America is the national organization dedicated to leading the
United Way movement in making measurable impact in every community across
America. It invests in the programs and services that strengthen the ability
of local United Ways to identify and build a coalition around a set of
community priorities and measure success based on community impact.
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