Q.   What is the Capital Area United Way?

A.    Capital Area United Way is a local charity that strives to improve the lives of people in the tri-county area. United Way is about advancing the common good, creating opportunities for a better life for all. . United Way also collaborates with other community organizations to take aim at the root causes of big community issues. We determine what the community’s unmet needs are and then we invest resources in programs that target those needs.   United Way funds programs that will help promote healthy, caring communities; ensure safe, stable households; and provide opportunities to learn from birth to young adult.

Q.    How is United Way different from other nonprofit organizations?

A.    United Way exists for one reason - to strengthen our community through individual and family well-being. Community volunteers from all walks of life identify critical needs in our community and addresses them with collective focus and action through three priority areas:  Healthy, Caring Communities; Safe, Stable  Households; and Learning from Youth to Young Adult.  United Way also engages community leaders, businesses and governmental agencies to work together to make our community a better place for everyone.

Q.    Isn't United Way just another charity?

A.    Local community volunteers determine the mission and vision of Capital Area United Way. It is a volunteer driven organization that seeks solutions to our local issues and problems. United Way touches the lives of children, families and seniors in the tri-county area.  United Way also determines what the critical needs are in our community and directs funding to those needs.  Programs such as Central Michigan 2-1-1, the Volunteer Center and Women’s Leadership Council would not be available to our friends and neighbors if it weren’t for United Way.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Q.    What if I don't like an agency that CAUW funds through its grants?

A.    Capital Area United Way funds programs, not agencies.  Agencies that submit a proposal for funding must meet guidelines set forth by community volunteers that meet a critical need in our community.  Funding is not guaranteed and programs receiving funding must supply documentation that they are meeting their proposed outcomes.  If a donor so chooses, they can direct their gift to a specific program rather than to the Community Investment Fund that supports the grants we make.

Q.    How do I know my gift is really helping those in need?

A.    Capital Area United Way works closely with nonprofit organizations and other local service providers to define health and human service problems in our community and develop plans to help meet critical community needs. We focus on results and require programs to measure their outcomes. Our agency affiliates provide reports on their progress and that they are meeting their proposed outcomes.

Q.    How come one of my favorite charities did not receive grant funding this year?

A.    Our community is experiencing unprecedented tough economic times and a significant drop in contributions.  Community volunteers made the decision to fund crucial unmet community needs – shelter, heathcare for the uninsured and the protection and security of our children.  With the increase in the demand for services, programs addressing the most pressing needs received funding that was available.

Q.    How do people get help from United Way?

A.    United Way does not provide direct assistance to people, but instead helps support more than 30 programs throughout the tri-county area that help people every day. United Way also helps support Central Michigan 2-1-1, which makes free, confidential referrals to organizations that can help with counseling, job training, emergency assistance and other needs. Along with 2-1-1, United Way also helped to support programs that assist middle school aged girls deal with issues that may affect their development into healthy, productive adults along with Literacy issues through the grants provided by the Women’s Leadership Council.

Q.    Our employees and their families are struggling. How can we ask them to give to United Way?

A.    Time and again, some of the most generous givers are those who themselves have struggled and needed a helping hand from our community. Everyone should be given an opportunity to express caring through charitable giving. Even a small contribution will help someone who might not otherwise receive help. Your gift strengthens other gifts. No gift is too small. By giving a small amount each pay period through payroll deduction most working people have found they can afford to contribute - and they want to.

Q.    I've heard that some United Way money wasted on lunches and events - is that true?

A.    Contributions do not pay for lunches or receptions or other recognition events. All United Way events are paid for by the attendees or sponsored by community-minded businesses.

Q.    What happens if I designate my pledge to a specific agency or another United Way?

A.    Capital Area United Way participates in a process with other United Ways in our region that allows you to give through your employer and designate your gift to the United Way of your choice.  If you work in the tri-county area, but do not live here and would like your gift to go to the United Way in your county, you may indicate that on your pledge form.   Capital Area United Way will honor designations to any accepted organizations. If you choose to direct your gift to a specific agency, your donation to EACH organization must be a minimum of $50.00 to cover the costs of processing designated gifts and to keep administrative costs low.

Q.    Why are you instituting a minimum on each designation?

A.    Donors expect us to be a cost effective method for charitable giving; therefore, CAUW has instituted a minimum amount of $50 a donor can give to each organization they choose. This will help us maintain the most cost effective way a donor can give back to their community.  It costs CAUW $4.18 to process each agency designation it receives. If a designation is less than $50, CAUW’s processing fee does not cover the true cost of processing and CAUW would have to cover the cost of processing donor designations. By instituting the $50 minimum, CAUW will be able to continue distributing donor designations without a cost to UW.

Q.    How much will United Way make by now requiring a minimum designation?

A.    CAUW did not institute the designation minimum in order to raise additional revenue; it was established to insure that the administrative fee would not have to increase.

Q.    An administrative fee of 13% sounds rather high, doesn’t it?

A.    CAUW’s administrative fee is well below what the Better Business Bureau recognizes as acceptable which is 35%. It is also lower than the national average non-profit cost of 20%.

Q.    Aren’t you worried that requiring a minimum amount on each designation will turn donors off to donating?

A.    We understand this is a new way of doing business at UW. We hope that the donor will understand that we are committed to advancing the common good by doing what is in the best interest of our community and our donors. That means making sure every possible dollar goes directly to community services and not to processing designations.

Q.    What if a donor still wants to give a gift of less than $50 to an agency even with this new minimum
designation policy? Can they do that?

A.    If you do make a donation of less than $50, every attempt will be made to contact the donor and inform them of the designation policy. The donor will then be given the choice of directing their money to UW, a specific priority area or increase their donation to reach the $50 minimum. In the event that contact cannot be made with the donor, their donation will be directed the UW.

Q.    How do you respond to a donor who indicates they will now give directly to the agency of their choice?

A.    Giving is a very personal thing and we understand that some donors have a favorite agency or cause. It is our hope that they will reconsider their decision and perhaps give to the priority area. For example, if someone is considering giving to a favorite youth agency, we would suggest they consider donating to priority area entitled “Learning from Birth to Young Adult.” In that way, their donation will be leveraged with those of other donors and can have a bigger impact on youth issues.

Q.    It sounds like United Way is concentrating their focus on three new areas, is that true?

A.    In December of 2007, the Board of Directors established three new priority areas in an effort to be more effective and efficient in its funding. This decision was arrived at after months of research, focus groups and discussions with community leaders on our community needs. United Way is strengthening its support of its mission in the tri-county community and helping to stem the demand for services during these unprecedented tough economic times.

Q.    What if a person would like to find out more about United Way and how it works.  Would someone be willing to meet with me?

A.    Absolutely!  The staff at the Capital Area United Way is always available to discuss issues or answer questions a person may have.  All they need to do is call 517-203-5000 or visit www.capitalareaunitedway.org, click on the About Us button, then click on the Staff List and any one of the individuals listed will be happy to answer any questions.