United Way Capital Area FAQ
ABOUT US
What does United Way do?
United Way Capital Area's mission addresses critical social issues by bringing people and resources together to create opportunities for individuals, families and neighborhoods to prosper.
We not only meet the immediate needs in our community, we also create long-lasting changes that prevent problems from happening in the first place.
What social issues does United Way Capital Area address?
United Way works to advance the common good by focusing on education, financial stability and health. These are the building blocks for a good life - a quality education that leads to a stable job, enough income to support a family through retirement, and good health.
We support the delivery of results-driven programs that target needs in these three focus areas:
- Education: Helping children and youth achieve their potential through education
- Financial Stability: Helping families become financially stable and independent
- Health: Improving people's health
How?
United Way delivers our mission by working with community partners to:
- Assess our area's most pressing health and human service needs;
- Invest your contribution in proven programs that meet these critical needs; and
- Deliver results in terms of lives changed and United Way's direct impact on key issues that matter locally.
The best way to change the issues affecting our community is through a gift to United Way.
What Geographic area does United Way Capital Area serve?
United Way Capital Area serves 10 counties in Central Texas. These are: Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Fayette, Hays, Lee, Llano, Travis, and Williamson.
What makes United Way special?
- Our unique ability to convene, collaborate and direct resources where most needed
- We concentrate on those issues that no single agency can solve on its' own Our commitment to efficiency, transparency and accountability
- The thorough research that supports our community investments
- Advocacy for favorable public policy that benefits those in need of health and human services
- Compassionate and knowledgeable volunteer leadership
What does it mean to advocate or volunteer?
"Living United" means that you're involved with United Way beyond your donation of money. It means you're also involved with advocacy or volunteer service, in order to make the most impact on our community's condition.
Advocacy can mean anything from encouraging your teammates to give to United Way to writing your legislator in favor of stronger early childhood education programs. Volunteering can involve service to United Way or volunteering for any cause you care about. The volunteer arm of United Way is known as Hands On Central Texas.
GIVING
Why support United Way when I could just give money directly to one of United Way's agencies?
A gift to United Way is the most powerful option for investing in your community. It targets the building blocks of a good life: education, financial stability and health, to change the lives of those who need your help most.
Why?
- We're committed to delivering results that matter. United Way assesses critical community needs, invests your contribution and delivers measurable results.
- We do the research for you. United Way determines what needs in our community are the most pressing and which programs offer the best results in these areas of need.
- Needs are not one-dimensional. United Way funds a strategic network of programs that address the layered issues that accompany different social service problems, such as homelessness.
- Better accountability. Volunteer oversight assures that United Way partner agencies adhere to sound fiscal policies and provide quality services.
Why is giving through United Way good for the agency?
- Agencies can focus on helping people. Giving through United Way reduces costly and time-consuming fundraising efforts for the agencies, allowing them to devote more resources to programs.
- More impact for agencies. United Way affiliation enables agencies to leverage more public and private dollars in addition to their United Way funding. This multiplies the effect of your contribution.
Why donate to United Way if I already support other charities?
United Way celebrates all giving to our community. United Way does not want to take contributions away from other organizations. However, individual charities do not meet all of the needs addressed by United Way. Because no organization does more with your contribution, many people choose to add United Way to their overall charitable giving plan.
United Way is much more than a collector and distributor of money for charitable organizations. United Way exists to help us come together to identify and work on the most pressing issues in our community. We focus on those issues that are bigger than any single agency can handle. Our goal is to not only meet the immediate needs in our community, but to create long-lasting changes that prevent problems from happening in the first place.
By working together and combining our monetary donations, we leverage contributions from individual donors with matching funds from other sources to create a larger impact. Each and every day, your funds are focused on addressing the most critical needs in our community. From childcare to job placement programs, United Way makes a difference.
Why should I give to United Way if I never use agency services and don't know anyone who does?
You never know when you or someone you know may need a United Way service. Job loss, loss of a loved one, illness, accidents, disabilities, family problems, natural disasters, mental disorders and the problems of growing up and growing old can affect anyone, regardless of ethnicity or income level. Last year, United Way programs touched the lives of adults and children from all walks of life. United Way is focused on making the community a better place for all, now and in the future.
I don't live in Austin, so why should I give?
Actually, United Way Capital Area works in a large ten-county area: Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Fayette, Hays, Lee, Llano, Travis, and Williamson counties. Many people who live outside of Austin receive services from Austin-based agencies.
Does my donation go to agencies in Central Texas?
Absolutely! United Way organizations are independently incorporated and led by local volunteers. If you wish to direct your gift to a United Way in another city you may do so, but the purpose of the United Way Capital Area campaign drive is to collect resources to benefit community programs in Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Fayette, Hays, Lee, Llano, Travis, and Williamson counties.
Don't tax dollars take care of the less fortunate?
No, government funded social services programs are unable to meet our community's vast health and human service needs. United Way connects people to the services they need thru the 2-1-1/United Way Helpline while also funding programs and working with agencies that help those receiving assistance to be more independent. Additionally, United Way Capital Area is one of the largest non-governmental funding sources for health and human services in Central Texas.
Can I use my credit card to make a donation?
Yes. You can donate by credit card through your workplace giving campaign (if the company offers this as a donation option) or online 24/7 at www.unitedwaycapitalarea.org/give
I feel as if I'm being pressured to give to United Way.
We're sorry to hear that, because United Way believes that giving is a personal choice. Exerting pressure or coercion to give to United Way is directly opposed to our philosophy of giving, which is based on donors making informed personal decisions.
Is my United Way contribution tax deductible?
Giving to United Way and to other nonprofit organizations classified under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code may entitle taxpayers who file itemized returns a tax deduction. Consult your tax advisor for more information and assistance.
I don't wish to help those who won't help themselves.
It's our experience that most of the clients served by our programs truly want to help themselves but are unable to for some reason. There are many individuals who are incapable of helping themselves, such as abused children, handicapped children, the mentally ill, the elderly and many others. We believe in a "hand up", not a "hand-out."
I heard about someone who didn't get help when they needed it.
It is very frustrating for individuals to need a specific service and not be able to find the type of help needed. United Way funded programs can't always provide the help requested, but will do everything they can to help people in need identify the referral sources that do exist. In fact, United Way operates the 2-1-1 Texas/United Way Helpline, an information and referral line to help connect people to available services.
I know United Way Capital Area is a local organization, but don't some of the dollars go to United Way Worldwide?
For a minimal investment of less than one percent of the money we raise, United Way Capital Area is a member of United Way Worldwide. As a member we benefit from receiving national advertising, research, access to best practices, advocacy efforts, government relations and continuing education. While a member of United Way Worldwide, United Way Capital Area is a totally autonomous agency, governed by local volunteers.
How can we give when our businesses and families are struggling?
United Way understands all Central Texans are feeling a strain on their finances. And at the same time there is an increased need for health and human services. For those with the resources, now is the best time to give, when demand for services is so high. Your gift to United Way is appreciated more than ever as thousands of Central Texans and many nonprofit agencies depend on United Way to meet community needs.
What happens to my gift if my agency can not be located?
UWCA makes a reasonable effort to locate and make payouts to all designated agency gifts. However, if the agency can not be identified or located, UWCA staff will make every effort to locate the donor and request a new agency and/or clear agency information. Unfortunately however not all donor gifts come with employee information due to corporate employee privacy policies, therefore, gifts from those employees who can not be identified/reached will be designated to UWCA.
To ensure accurate pledge payouts we ask that corporate campaign staff review all pledge forms for accurate designation information (complete address/contact information) and work with the donor to capture accurate information prior to submitting to UW or corporate offices for processing.
FINANCES
Who oversees the operations and finances of United Way?
- The financial operations of United Way Capital Area are audited by an independent accounting firm and carefully reviewed by volunteers who serve on the United Way Finance Committee and United Way Board of Directors.
- United Way is governed by a local volunteer board of directors whose members are respected community and business leaders. Although we consider guidelines set forth by United Way Worldwide, all policy and funding decisions are made locally.
- The community volunteers who lead United Way reflect our community's diversity and represent a wealth of professions. A knowledgeable professional staff works closely with these volunteers, handling United Way's daily operations.
I've heard some United Way executives get paid too much.
While we cannot speak for any of the 1,300 separately-incorporated United Way organizations, we can tell you United Way Capital Area is a totally autonomous non-profit, governed by local volunteers. United Way Capital Area salary ranges are determined and approved by our volunteer board of directors - in other words, salaries are set by local volunteers. It is important to note that when we say "volunteers" we are talking about long-time supporters and donors who want to ensure United Way's future success.
Do United Way staff and executives have inflated salaries here in Austin?
Just like most organizations, non-profit and otherwise, payroll expenses represent a very substantial portion of our operating budget, and rightly so. As any hiring manager or president can tell you, it takes talented, qualified, energetic people to manage and implement an organization's critical functions. Additionally, the president and other executives are held accountable for the ultimate success of our campaign and community investment activities. So the part of your contribution that goes to support operational costs is ensuring that United Way is in a position to hire and retain the best staff possible to fulfill the delivery of our mission.
Also, we want you to be aware that the United Way salary ranges are determined by our volunteer board of directors - in other words, salaries are set by local volunteers. It is important to note that when we say "volunteers" we are talking about long-time supporters and donors who want to ensure United Way's future success.
If you would like to view the executive's salary, you can view our 990 tax return which is accessible through our website.
What is the administrative cost for United Way Capital Area?
United Way's annual overhead rate is approximately 12%. Charity Navigator and Guidestar, two national independent non-profit rating services, both state that any overhead below 25% is very acceptable for a non-profits operating expenses. So we're proud to be considerably under that percentage, as it demonstrates that donations and resources are being prudently used.
COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND AGENCIES
How do I know that agencies supported by United Way will use the funds responsibly?
Volunteer oversight ensures that funded United Way agencies adhere to sound fiscal policies, and provide quality services with measurable results. As part of our program funding agreement with any agency, the agency reports back to us on its results every six months.
Why does United Way support some agencies and not others?
In the last funding cycle we received applications for $13.7 million in funding, when we had $3.9 million available. Clearly some difficult decisions as to who received funding had to be made. In order to have the most impact on our community, United Way invests donor dollars in the programs that the volunteer committees decided were the most effective in addressing our community's most pressing health and human service needs. Applications for United Way funding can by made by any local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Not all agencies choose to apply for United Way funding. We also support and partner with many agencies in other ways. For example we are partnering with PeopleFund (who we don't fund) in developing a new financial stability initiative called Bank on Central Texas.
Does United Way support religious agencies?
United Way doesn't provide direct support to churches, but we do fund church-sponsored programs, such as The Salvation Army, that meet health and human service needs. UWCA will honor designations made through its campaign to any religious organization or church, that is classified under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Can I give to some but not all of United Way's agencies?
The best way to exclude certain agencies from receiving your donation would be to direct your dollars to one specific organization. While this gift is not as powerful as a donation to United Way, it allows you to direct exactly where your gift will go.
Why doesn't United Way Capital Area fund the Boy Scouts any more?
Actually UWCA does continue to honor individual donor designations made through its campaign to the Boy Scouts. For example, last year's (2008-09) UWCA campaign collected and distributed $46,000 of funding to the Boy Scouts. Additionally many Central Texas boy scouts continue to volunteer with United Way, especially on our Success By 6, Childcare Facilities Improvement Project.
Can you tell me about agency allocations?
At United Way, we're committed to investing your donation in programs that we believe are meeting the most pressing health and human service needs of our community. We don't invest these dollars in agencies, we invest them in programs managed by reputable agencies. When applying for grants, each agency starts with "zero"….in other words, our volunteers only consider funding based on the needs of our community…they don't consider what the agency got last year, or the visibility of the agency (in other words, volunteers don't recommend funding based on the fact that an agency is large or well known.)
For the last funding cycle that began in January 2008, funding decisions were guided by more than 160 volunteers who spent more than 1,800 hours reviewing, evaluating and making funding recommendations. We invested approximately 46% of our community investment grants in Education (24% in Success by 6 and 22% in Youth Education), 20% of our funding in Financial Stability and 28% in Health. We also provided transitional funding for organizations outside of these areas. Our largest programs funded included the Communities In Schools/Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentoring program ($240,000), Any Baby Can's Home Visiting Program ($180,000), The Children's Outpatient Mental Health and Evaluation Services Program of the Austin Child Guidance Center ($177,880) and Foundation Communities' Financial Stability program ($170,000).
These grants are made possible through gifts to United Way. However, if you wish to designate your gift to a particular agency, you are welcome to do so, United Way will honor that pledge and ensure your money is directed to the agencies of your choice.
I heard an agency's funding was cut, what happened?
First, it is important to note that no agency gets a "cut" in funding from the Community Investment Grant process. This is because all agencies start from $0 in funding. Our volunteers only consider funding based on the needs of our community…they don't consider what the agency got last year, or the visibility of the agency (in other words, volunteers don't recommend funding based on the fact that an agency is large or well known.) These grants are made through our Community Action Fund, and that's why we recommend that you as a donor direct your gift to that fund: so that your gift can do the most good in our community.
VOLUNTEERING
How can I volunteer with United Way?
Please visit www.unitedwaycapitalarea.org/volunteer for information on ways to volunteer with United Way and our community partners. It's an excellent way for you to really get connected to what United Way is doing in our community.
If I volunteer, should I give?
Absolutely! Volunteers have the chance to witness the true needs that our work is meeting. Giving takes a number of different forms: time, talent, money. Many of the agencies could not exist if it were not for the hundreds of volunteer hours "given" each year. Keep in mind, however, that basic overhead (water, electricity, space, staff) cannot be paid with "in-kind" contributions. That is why cash contributions are also critical to the survival of community services.
Austin, TX 78702
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