United Way of Coastal Carolina

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can you give me a brief description of United Way of Coastal Carolina? United Way of Coastal Carolina is a non-profit, volunteer-driven organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for people living and working in Craven, Carteret, Jones and Pamlico Counties. United Way unites donors, companies, volunteers, partner agencies and other organizations to improve the lives and achieve measurable results in areas our community has said matter most. These areas include: Nurturing Children and Youth, Strengthening Families, Promoting Health, Healing and Basic Needs and Increasing Self Sufficiency.

How is United Way different from other non-profit organizations? United Way exists for one reason: to help us come together as a community to identify and address the issues that take everyone to solve. Everything United Way does is designed to create positive community impact. Your contribution is combined with those made by others to impact our community in ways no single contribution, organization or individual can.

What is United Way of Coastal Carolina’s focus in my community? United Way is a non-profit leader focused on putting all available community resources to work to create community-wide results through partnerships, building new approaches, closing gaps and expanding services to meet the health and human service needs of area residents. United Way invests resources to address community needs through five issue areas:

Nurturing Children and Youth
Increasing Self Sufficiency
Strengthening Families
Promoting Health & Healing & Basic Needs

How much of my gift reaches the community? Ninety cents ($0.90) of every dollar collected is allocated for programs and services, well above the National Charities Information Bureau standard of 60 cents. According to financial statements audited by Carter Williams and Scarborough, LLP Certified Public Accountants, United Way of Coastal Carolina’s total overhead for 2006 amounted to only 10.5 percent, which includes all fund-raising and administrative costs, depreciation of fixed assets and payments to national and state affiliated organizations. Our local United Way salary ranges, operating budgets, personnel and management policies and procedures are established, monitored and controlled by our local Board of Directors. You are encouraged to visit www.guidestar.org to view our most recent IRS form 990.

Why does our local United Way support a national association? The United Way of Coastal Carolina is an independent, locally controlled organization, not a chapter of a national organization. Our United Way belongs to the national service and training organization for United Ways known as United Way of America. Less than one cent out of every dollar contributed locally goes to United Way of America. In return, our United Way receives valuable services such as free national television advertising, discounts on training programs and supplies, and consultation and technical assistance. Many people are surprised to learn that the popular National Football League United Way promotions are donated by the NFL at no cost to United Way.

Even so, if there is an organization that is special to me, can I choose it to receive part of my entire United Way gift? Yes! Example: As a donor, you may feel strongly about supporting programs that help adults and families maintain quality lives. Therefore you consider giving your gift to a counseling program that you can identify by its name. Another program, that you don’t realize provides counseling services is under funded because their mission is not obvious. Choosing to give your gift to Strengthening Families is the answer! By giving to an issue you ensure that resources will be available to meet the most pressing needs in that area.

I work for a living. I pay my own way. I’m not going to use these services, so why should I pay for them? It’s possible that you or your family may not use any of the 30 programs provided through your United Way support. Many people contribute, however, because they want to maintain important services “just in case,” such as home health care, domestic violence shelters, counseling services or free health clinics for those without insurance in Coastal Carolina Many people also give because they want to help the people in need of their community. There are people in the Coastal Carolina service area who really can’t provide for themselves however, much they might want to. These individuals need the services United Way provides so that they can become self-sufficient, tax-paying and contributing citizens -- and many of them do. Your gift to your local United Way helps make Carteret, Craven, Jones and Pamlico counties a better place to live, work and raise a family.

How do agencies become part of United Way and who decides where the money goes?

Applications for partner agencies are evaluated annually. Local community volunteers, from all walks of life, study the budgets and programs of each United Way Community Partner and make recommendations for funding. These volunteers base their recommendations on community needs and priorities, the money available from the annual campaign, and the efficiency and effectiveness of the agency’s programs. Many hours are spent in this process and United Way’s Board of Directors makes the final decisions. United Way believes that this process of “citizen review” results in the fairest and most effective distribution of funds among the widest possible range of programs and services in Coastal Carolina.

I know someone who contributed to United Way but didn’t get help when he needed it. Why not? United Way wants to know about instances when people need help and don’t receive it. Usually when this occurs it is because limited funds have created long waiting lists or other income qualifications for services may exist. In other cases, the agency that was approached for help may not provide the needed services or may not be one of United Way’s Community Partners. Sometimes there may simply be no local source where a person can get help. United Way itself does not provide assistance directly to individuals. The organization is designed to work through its funded programs and agencies. If you contact United Way with the details about someone who was not helped, they will try to find out why help was not given and suggest alternate agencies and programs where help might, in fact, be available.

Why should I give to United Way instead of just making a contribution to a single agency like the Red Cross, the Salvation Army or Big Brother Big Sisters? When you join forces with others, your contribution has more impact. Your United Way investment, because it is magnified by the investment of others, has the power to bring about changes that matter in your community. When you contribute, you help more than one person or one charity. United Way is the collective power of people working toward long-term solutions, not short-term fixes.

Why are some of my favorite local nonprofits not a part of United Way?

Some agencies prefer to solicit for funds separately and remain independent of the United Way criteria for partner agency status. Many wonderful organizations are not in the health and human service field, which is a requirement to receive funding from United Way.

What if I feel pressured to give? United Way has a non-coercion policy. No one should be forced to give. United Way is possible because so many people give voluntarily.

Does United Way have a formal financial audit procedure? An audit of United Way’s financial statements is conducted annually by an independent, unrelated certified public accountant. Their examination complies with Generally Accepted Accounting Standards (GAAS), and in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).

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