Campaign FAQ

The following is a compilation of questions frequently asked of campaign volunteers. If you have a question that is not answered below, please contact your Campaign Representative.

1. What is the 2010 United Way Theme?
2. Who is the 2010 General Campaign Chair?
3. What is the cost of fundraising, stewardship of funds, and year-round administration?
4. Why should I give to United Way?
5. Where does my contribution go?
6. Is my contribution used effectively?
7. I've never been helped by an agency, why should I contribute?
8. I don't like one of the United Way partner agencies.
9. Why doesn 't United Way include all organizations?
10. Why do some agencies charge fees for their services?
11. I support a favorite charity of my own.  Why give to United Way, too?
12. How can overhead cost be so low?
13. Is my gift really important?  Will my contribution be missed if I don't give?
14. Sometimes you hear negative things about nonprofits and misuse of funds.
15. I would like to help, but just can't afford it.
16. I have given generously in the past.  Why should I increase my gift?
17. I pay my own way.  I'm not going to use these services, so why should I support them?
18. Why give to United Way when government programs support local agencies?
19. Does the money donated go out to the are?
20. Does United Way support Scouting?
21. Does United Way condone pressure in giving?
22. Is there a fee for designating my gift to a specific agency?
23. I would like to volunteer.  How can I find out what agencies need help?

1. What is the 2010 United Way Theme?

The theme of this year's campaign is THINK LOCALLY - WE DO!

2. Who is the 2010 General Campaign Chair?

Bruce Iacobucci, President & CEO, First Federal Bank.

3. What is the cost of fundraising, stewardship of funds, and year-round administration?
18 cents per dollar raised, well below the accepted standard of approximately 30 cents per dollar for non-profit organizations and in line with comparable United Ways across the country.

4. Why should I give to United Way?
Your donation to United Way supports over 51 community services and programs that target existing and emerging community needs.  Hundreds of vital services are povided to thousands of people in Bucks County every day through United Way programs and services.  The numbers are wonderful, but the results are better.  Because what really matters is that United Way creates real change.

5. Where does my contribution go?
With every dollar you pledge through your company's payroll deduction system, you get and make change. In return for your contribution to the United Way, you support job training that develops skills; wellness programs that promote safe choices and healthy tomorrows; daycare, after school programs that instill solid values and teach responsibility.

6. Is my contribution used effectively?
Dollars raised during the 2009 campaign allocated to 51 programs and other services in Bucks County. Each program identifies problems and concerns in our community and then presents its funding needs to the volunteer community. These volunteers, over 50 strong, represent the corporate, labor and community sectors, then review and make recommendations on each request based upon our community-wide assessment. This careful review process assures that your contribution helps where help is needed most.

7. I have never been helped by an agency.  Why should I contribute?

While it is true many of the services provided by United Way-funded programs are for the poor, the hungry and those in need, there are agencies that provide other necessary community services.  The character-building programs of the YWCA, the emergency services provided by the American Red Cross and the Peace Center's conflict resolution and violence prevention programs for school kids.  There are United Way agencies and programs you may not have heard of before. What makes United Way so effective is that people who are served by some lesser-know programs do not fall through the cracks.

8. I don't like one of the United Way partner agencies.
All United Way agencies provide valuable services to the community. An agency's membership in United Way is based on programs and services it provides and not its popularity.  Trained volunteers visit and evaluate United Way agencies throughout the year, and funds are allocated based on their findings.  However, if you feel strongly about a particular service area, you may designate your contribution to that area or the partner agency of your choice.

9. Why doesn't United Way include all organizations?.
First, not all agencies want to be a part of a single, community-wide campaign. Certain organizations have policies against joining local United Way campaigns. Second, United Way standards of financial accountability and program services are high. Some agencies would like to have the United Way seal of approval, but don't quite measure up.

10. Why do some agencies charge fees for their services?.
United Way agencies operate without discrimination.  Many use a sliding fee scale, where clients pay what they can for the services they receive.  By allowing clients to pay for the services, the agencies are able to stretch their United Way dollars to serve more people.

11. I support a favorite charity of my own.  Why give to United Way, too?.
We all have our favorite charities, but the problems of the community are much larger than any one agency can handle. United Way agencies offer a broad mix of programs and services to meet the diverse needs of our total community. The United Way campaign helps keep individual agency fund-raising costs low.

12. How can overhead cost be so low?
Hundreds of volunteers from across the county assist United Way in helping those in need. They do everything from collecting contributions to deciding where the money will go. In addition, companies encourage their employees to assist United Way staff and volunteers during the campaign as Loaned Executives. This keeps overhead costs low, allowing more health and human service needs to be met.

13. Is my gift really important? Will my contribution be missed if I don't give?
Yes, your gift would be missed. We can't depend on others to meet our community's needs. It takes all of us doing our part. Each contribution - small or large - adds together to become a powerful force for caring. Through large and small agencies, this force provides people assistance with health and human service needs, assistance that would not be possible without United Way support. You might not need these services today, but you make an investment in a safety net that will be there for you and your family if needed sometime in the future.

14. Sometimes you hear negative things about nonprofits and misuse of funds.
Agencies are run by people, so things can possibly happen. United Way of Bucks County is proud of its hardworking staff and dedicated volunteers. It is transparent in its finances and abides by the United Way Worldwide Standards of Excellence. Our financial reports are open to the public and our 990 can be viewed through our website.

15. I would like to help, but just can't afford it.
Any amount, even if your gift seems small, will help. Rising costs have made it difficult for all of us to make ends meet. It's just as hard, or even harder, for those who need help from one of the many agencies supported by your United Way contributions. A payroll deduction pledge allows you to make a generous contribution in manageable portions each pay. Join with your fellow employees to help create real change in our community.

16. I have given generously in the past. Why should I increase my gift?
Your generosity is very much appreciated. However, with increasing costs and increasing requests for services, your gift does not go nearly as far as it may have two or three years ago. And many people who may never have sought services before are doing so now. Think more about the current value of your gift in relation to the increased needs of those who have nowhere else to turn.

17. I pay my own way. I'm not going to use these services, so why should I support them?
It's possible that you might never use United Way services, but statistics show that you or a member of your family probably have or will use United Way services at some point in your lives. Many of us use United Way services weekly, such as neighborhood programs at the YMCA and the Red Cross, or school programs from NOVA and Big Brothers/Big Sisters.  Additionally, try and think about what your community would be like if women who were being abused had nowhere to turn, people with no income were homeless with nowhere to live, parents could not afford to send their children to day care. We enjoy our communities because of a high quality of life. Part of the reason for that quality of life is due to the strength of the human service sector and United Way.

18. Why give to United Way when government programs support local agencies?
While government dollars, in combination with private dollars, are used to fund certain services in our community, government cutbacks continue to seriously reduce the ability of agencies to provide essential levels of service. The agencies in our area need United Way, as well as increased help from its contributors due to increase demand for services during this difficult economic time.

19. Does the money donated go out of the area?.
Only one penny of a dollar raised in Bucks County is paid in dues to United Way Worldwide in Virginia. In return, we receive marketing assistance, national advertising such as the NFL spots, training, branding, etc. These services are vital to us and could never be afforded on our own. Each United Way is its on entity with a volunteer Board of Directors. All decision are made locally.

20. Does United Way support Scouting?
United Way of Bucks County does support both the Boy and Girl Scouts.  The Boy Scouts are supported through a program that provides troop leaders in needy areas and also enables children in foster care may remain in their troop.

21. Does United Way condone pressure in giving?
Absolutely Not! United Way is on record opposing it. United Way is an excellent way to meet community needs, but everyone's gift should be voluntary.

22. Is there a fee for designating my gift to a specific agency?
Yes, United Way of Bucks County charges a 12% fee on one-time gifts, or 20% on payroll deduction designated gifts. The process of sending quarterly payments to nonmember nonprofits in our area or throughout the country is very labor intensive. We must insure they are legitimate 501 c3 charities and, due to new laws, obtain anti-terrorism forms from all agencies to which we forward donations. We provide the donor with the convenience of giving a few dollars each week and not have to write a large check at one time. But...our Community Impact Fund supports over 50 vital programs that our volunteers view as necessary. You may not know about smaller agencies in Bucks County that do great work. No fees are charged for gifts to the community Impact Fund.

23. I would like to volunteer.  How can I find out what agencies need help?
Almost all agencies rely on volunteer help. Call the United Way of Bucks County office at 215-949-1660, x 112.