How can I be sure my gift is spent wisely?
Local volunteer experts study community needs, set goals, review budgets and monitor agencies to make sure that donated dollars are used as wisely as possible. These volunteers, all of whom are actively concerned with the quality of life here, represent a cross-section of the community. This citizen review process is United Way’s assurance that contributions are being responsibly managed and monitored. The local United Way adheres strictly to stringent standards of accounting and financial reporting set for voluntary health and human services organizations.

What does United Way for the Greater New Orleans Area do besides raise money?
Whether your neighborhood was directly impacted by wind and water or is reeling from rapid growth due to new residents displaced by the hurricanes, United Way is working every day to meet the ever-changing needs in Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Tammany and Tangipahoa Parishes.

We bring together people from across our six-parish region—people from government, business, faith groups, nonprofits, and ordinary citizens—to provide a coordinated response so we can have a healthy quality of life, a strong workforce and brighter economic future.

United Way plays a catalyzing role that has resulted in new collaborative organizations such as Unity for the Homeless, the Children’s Services Collaborative and the Center for Non-Profit Resources. We work with others, such as the New Orleans Saints and the Emergency Food & Shelter Program, to expand the pool of money to local health and social services. We also collaborate with other human service entities to improve and solve some of our community’s most pressing problems.

In summary, other than raising dollars from the general working public to address large scale community problems in an organized fashion United Way works with businesses, government and other organizations to improve the quality of life.

What guides United Way for the Greater New Orleans Area?
Periodically, United Way solicits community input on current health and human service needs. Additionally hundreds of service providers, interested citizens, other funding entities, and United Way volunteers provide insight. The community goals are developed from the information gathered at these meetings, a review of current activities and other research. This volunteer-directed research is used to determine the health and human services priorities where United Way funds will be invested. The current community goal areas are:

Successful Children / Strong Families
Safety Net
Health & Independence

Why do health and human service agencies seek the support of United Way for the Greater New Orleans Area?
Affiliation with United Way for the Greater New Orleans Area tells people that the agency is meeting strict standards in its services, its financial affairs and its accountability. In other words, it is playing an important role in providing necessary services to people in need.

On average, United Way allocations account for 27% of the total budget of an agency’s program. United Way agencies may also receive endowments, grants, government funding, direct donations and service fees. In addition, this locally raised money often provides match money from other state and federal sources.

Why do some agencies charge fees for their services?
United Way funded services are used by people at all income levels and in various states of need. Even through United Way’s support to agency programs is significant, from 3% to 90% of agency budgets, agencies often require additional funding to maintain services. Charging fees to people who can afford to pay can provide some of these needed revenues.

How are salaries set for full time United Way professionals?
Salary ranges for paid staff are established and approved by the United Way for the Greater New Orleans Area Board of Trustees to be competitive in the local job market. Compensation is set at a level to attract and retain well-qualified executive and professional personnel. The salary of the president was set by a volunteer committee of business executives from the Greater New Orleans Area, based on their desire to attract the best possible candidates for the key management position. Executive salaries are set taking into account what other local United Ways from around the United States are paying to attract the best candidates, as well as what executives at comparable businesses would be paid locally.

How does United Way for the Greater New Orleans Area keep costs low?
Many people are surprised to discover how economically and efficiently United Way for the Greater New Orleans Area is run. For every dollar raised, we spend less than 15 cents on operating costs. These expenses include marketing and fund raising, accounting and other basic business functions. More importantly, they include all of the work we do to determine our community goal areas, distribute dollars to programs that address those goals, and monitor agency performance and results.

Good management practices, a high level of volunteer participation and leadership, and in-kind services donated by local organizations and corporations combined with United Ways tradition of value and efficiency in raising the resources means more of each dollar donated goes directly to helping those in need.

In fact, we’re one of the most cost-effective charitable organizations you will find anywhere, according to standards set by national charitable watchdog organizations.

The problems are still there.
We are changing individual lives everyday. It’s true but even after all that’s being done, there are still problems. Because of the uncertainties of life such as illness, unemployment, poor education, death, substance abuse, and the rest of the unexpected and painful situations associated with our daily lives, there will always be some in our community who need our help and support for a time. Having a strong United Way system can keep many of our neighbors’ problems from developing into crisis. In short, we help people to become independent and self-sufficient. We are solving problems one life at a time to improve the quality of life for all of us.

I can’t afford to give to the United Way.
Every gift to United Way for the Greater New Orleans Area, no matter its size, makes a difference in our community. Many people find that giving through payroll deduction allows them to make a contribution that fits their budget. One of the great advantages of giving through United Way for the Greater New Orleans Area is being part of a community effort that combines all of our giving to make the greatest impact on meeting the needs of people in our community.

Is United Way really different from other non-profits?
Only United Way has the reach and expertise – and experience – to bring together donors and volunteers as well as other non-profits, neighborhoods, and companies to pursue common goals. Only through United Way do we find community solutions to the common issues that affect us all: issues like helping youngsters start learning early so they’re more likely to finish school and avoid juvenile crime; making sure that individuals have job skills to earn a living wage so that crime loses its appeal; and ensuring a “safety net” by helping people in crisis.

I support several organizations. What does United Way do that other organizations don’t do?
Other organizations address specific causes, problems, illnesses – all good and valid and needed. But only United Way addresses the needs of our community as a whole. Why? Because United Way asked the community what was important, what issues should be addressed. The answer: Successful Children Supported by Strong Families, Health and Independence, and Safety Net. That’s what you said was important to you and that’s what we’re getting done.

My spouse gives for both of us.
United Way depends on each working person to make a generous gift. Each person has a community responsibility, and United Way agencies can only continue to provide human care services if each of us does our own part.

My taxes take care of the less fortunate.
The government does not have the necessary dollars to fulfill all the needs of the community. Especially with the changes in welfare reform, non-profits are called on more than ever to make sure that people don’t fall through the cracks.

In fact in a recent report researched and written by Dr. Tim Ryan on “The Economic Value of the United Way System to the Greater New Orleans Area”, Ryan concluded that if the federal government had to take over the 19.8 million dollars worth of services currently being provided by our United Way system, the cost to the taxpayers would be nearly $60 million dollars.

As a volunteer driven organization, United Way provides an opportunity for significant economies of scale in raising, allocating and managing the campaign dollars contributed voluntarily each year by the community.

According to Ryan, one large fundraiser such as United Way can substantially reduce overall fundraising and administrative costs and, thereby, channel more dollars to the needy recipients of United Way funded programs.

I know someone who couldn’t get help from a United Way agency. Why?
United Way cannot guarantee each individual will receive the assistance requested. Resources are limited, and many times the agency could be out of money, shelters might be full or waiting lists long. United Way is ready to investigate any instance where someone feels he/she has been refused help; just bring it to our attention.

If you know someone seeking help, ask the person to call United Way’s VIA LINK at 1-800-749-2673- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This free, confidential service links people who need help with more than 1,000 local health and human service programs.

Why should employees even consider giving through the United Way campaign when the future is so uncertain?
Looking beyond our own immediate concerns and needs toward changing lives and the face of our community is what United Way campaigns are all about. The amount of an individual’s gift through payroll deduction has a small impact on the donor’s take-home pay. However, this gift, when combined with others, will have a huge impact on the lives of people in need. While United Way understands and empathizes with the fears and concerns of employees who are uncertain about their future employment, we hope they will continue to commit to helping provide the services that so many people, perhaps even their own families, may need.

Our employees are low paid; I don’t want to ask them to give.
Almost universally, people have a need to help other people. Even a small amount each week can give an employee a sense of belonging to a larger community - - of making a difference. United Way feels that all employees should be given an opportunity to express themselves through charitable giving. Often, employees at the lower end of the pay scale are more likely to know what it’s like to need health and human services, and may better understand and appreciate United Way services.

How is United Way accountable?
United Way’s own operating budget is audited by an independent accounting firm and is carefully scrutinized by a panel of local community volunteers and United Way’s board of trustees.

I never use agency services, so why should I give?
You never know when you, a member of your family, or a neighbor may need a United Way service. Job loss, loss of a loved one, illness, disabilities, family problems, and the problems of growing up and growing old know no boundaries. Your gift helps ensure that United Way services are available when they’re needed.

Who manages United Way?
United Way is a local, autonomous organization governed by a volunteer board of trustees. Policies, activities, procedures and programs we support are determined right here at home. The community volunteers who lead United Way come from all walks of life and reflect the cultural diversity of our area. United Way’s daily operations are handled by a small, knowledgeable professional staff that works closely with volunteers at all levels.

Can I specify which United Way agency receives my pledge?
Yes. United Way will honor designations to any 501(c)(3) agency in Louisiana that provides health and human service. You may also designate your gift to Maximum Care, which is the best way that we, as a community, can address the issues that affect us all, or to a Goal Area to support a specific cause of importance to you. There is a space on the United Way pledge card for your designation, or you can fill out a Donor Choice Brochure.

Through our comprehensive donor choice program, it is possible to support one or many agencies, a particular goal area, United Way’s serving other communities or to exclude your gift from a specific agency. It’s important that we, as individuals, support those causes that are close to our heart, but it’s also important that we, as a community, use our collective strength to address community problems. And the fact is that only through United Way can we agree on those community concerns, and then create and implement plans to address those concerns.

Is giving to United Way voluntary?
Yes! Giving to United Way is strictly voluntary. United Way has a written policy against coercion. Education about how United Way agencies help is the best way to encourage contributions.

Where does the money come from to pay for the special events held during the United Way campaign?
Meals and tickets to campaign events are paid for by employers. In addition, corporate underwriters contribute to help offset the cost of United Way meetings and events.

Does our local United Way fund the Boy Scouts?
As many people now understand, the United Way funds agency programs based on their ability to produce results.

The United Way funds Boy Scout programs in the Greater New Orleans Area serving over 64,400 boys, youth and leaders through comprehensive youth, career and leadership development programs.

United Way has and will continue to have a focus on making sure the money is well spent on observable, measurable results. The Boy Scouts has helped its boys and young men to:

- succeed academically
- give back to the community what they have learned
- learn problem solving skills, teamwork and self-discipline
- become more self confident and well rounded
- gain leadership skills
- increase participation in school and community activities and
- develop a sense of individual responsibility

The most important consideration in the equation is the boys who are trained by the Boy Scouts to become successful young men.

Because the Boys Scouts provide important services to the youth of our Greater New Orleans Area, our United Way volunteer Board of Trustees has decided not to make any changes in the current relationship. It was their decision that the issue is evolving and complex. The United Way Board is looking at the extensive benefits provided to those served by the Boy Scouts and evaluating the situation based on the results achieved.

Finally, our local United Way does provide donors with the opportunity to financially support specific Goal Areas and or agencies, as well as exclude a single member agency from a United Way gift through its Donor Choice Program.