Common questions and answers regarding United Way of Montgomery, Radford & Floyd including distribution & designation of gifts; UWMRF's relationship to United Way of America; administrative costs; UWMRF partner agencies; and more!
What is the United Way of Montgomery, Radford & Floyd?
United Way of Montgomery,Radford & Floyd (UWMRF) is a local community-based, voluntary, non-profit charity that partners with businesses, individuals, community volunteers, local charities and others to impact human service provision to people in need in Montgomery, Radford & Floyd.
How does my gift help?
United Way’s most well-known program is community investment - a program where community volunteers invest general campaign gifts to 31 local health and human service charities & programs that impact our community in six critical areas:
* Improving Access to Physical & Mental Health Care
* Meeting Basic Needs of Food/Clothing/Shelter
* Caring For Children & Families in Crisis
* Disaster/Emergency Care & Training
* Empowering People/Children with Disabilities
* Preparing Local Kids for Successful Futures
All contributions to UWMRF stay right here in the NRV to help people who really need help in our community. The Community Care fund (undesignated gifts) is allocated by community investment volunteers.
Can I designate my gift to a specific agency or another United Way?
Yes - Designations are an optional choice. You may designate to any of our 31 partner charities/programs -OR- you may designate to a non-partner health and human service charity, (provided it meets standard eligibility requirements to receive charitable gifts) -OR- you may also designate your gift to go to another United Way. It is important to recognize the greatest impact of giving happens when gifts are donated to the Community Care Fund so that human services most in need get appropriate funding. Donors designate by completing the proper space on the pledge form.
How much is spent on campaign costs and year-round administration?
Just 15.5% of the annual budget covers the costs of year-round fundraising and organization administration. (The nationally accepted standard is 35%.)
Is our United Way local?
Yes! Your United Way is a local, independent organization governed by a Board of Directors composed of volunteers from our local community. UWMRF is NOT a chapter or a branch of any other organization! UWMRF pays a small service fee, 1% of each campaign, to United Way of America (a national trade organization) in return for research services, national media advertisement, training for United Way staff and volunteers, a unified voice in national governmental relations, a national database for information, and a national network of United Way professionals and volunteers all across the country which share information and best practices, and use of the United Way name and logo.
How does United Way impact my local community?
UWMRF’s community efforts are focused on generating and providing our community with resources to build local support for local human needs. Through partnerships and collaborations with businesses and organizations, UWMRF is able to generate funding, services, ideas, volunteers, information, in-kind donations, and more. Some specific examples of United Way’s community contributions are serving as a training and information resource to local charities; facilitating the receipt of federal funds to local agencies through the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (FEMA) for Montgomery & Floyd Counties and Radford City; facilitating the receipt and distribution of in-kind donations to local non-profits; and is involved in numerous human service community-wide efforts such as the annual National Association of Letter Carrier’s food drive each May.
What happens to donor designations?
A donor designation goes to the requested charity, unless the charity is not eligible. (If the charity is not eligible, United Way contacts the donor so he/she can make another choice.) Designations are donor restricted funds. UWMRF incurs costs for fundraising, recording, collecting, and distributing donations, however, only 7% is retained from non-partner designations to help offset these costs. (The 7% is NOT an addition to any other overhead.) If more funds are designated to a partner charity than the charity requested in total from United Way, the charity still receives the designations. Each year UWMRF volunteers review each partner charity's request for funding and determine a total award. The final decisions are not made until after campaign results are complete. This process, known as Community Investment, insures that both well-known, popular agencies and lesser-known agencies which provide much needed services, are both as adequately funded as possible. Approximately 20%-25% of each campaign is donor designated.
How can I be sure my donation is invested wisely?
Volunteers from every facet of the community participate in the Community Investment process. They study local community needs and distribute available funds raised accordingly. Financial activities are overseen by a volunteer finance committee headed by a volunteer treasurer. These volunteers include professionals and educators in accounting, banking, and business. The United Way is audited each year by an independent certified public accounting firm and financial statements are available on request.
Who pays for events and meetings?
Volunteers who attend United Way business luncheons pay for their own meals. Special events are sponsored by generous local businesses or corporations that assume the cost of the event over and above their annual contributions. This allows the United Way to honor its volunteers and contributors without taking money from programs. If no sponsor is available for an event, guests are asked to pay their own way.
What if I have a complaint about a partner agency of UWMRF?
Most agencies and programs have eligibility criteria for providing service and some individuals do not qualify for service. Also, agencies and programs can exhaust their funds if the demand for services is high. We have found, through sensitive follow-up, that most complaints we receive are misunderstandings that can be resolved or are unfounded. Get the facts: names, dates, all pertinent information, and call the UWMRF at 381-2066. All complaints will be checked out thoroughly.
How can charities qualify for UWMRF partner status?
An agency willing to meet the standards for partnership can apply through the Community Investment process if they provide service in one of the six current impact areas. The primary factors considered include community need, the ability of the agency to provide effective programs, issues of service duplication, and available resources.
Partner Agency Criteria includes:
- Registration as a non-profit under IRS subsection 501(c)(3) & registration with the Commonwealth of VA as an organization eligible to receive charitable donations
- Provision of health and human services to residents of Montgomery County, Floyd County and Radford City
- Governance by a volunteer board of directors
- Agreement to comply with UWMRF fund-raising policies
- Compliance with UWMRF financial reporting requirements
- Demonstrated community support & need for agency's programs/services
- Other considerations including but not limited to: priority of needs served, stability of agency operation, need for funding, quality of program, and non-duplication of services
UWMRF agencies must agree to an annual review of their programs and budgets by United Way volunteer committees. They must agree to abide by UWMRF partner agency policies. Agencies interested in becoming a partner agency of UWMRF must apply for admission through the volunteer-driven Community Investment process.
Still have questions?
Please go to our home page and click on "Cont" for further details on some of those issues you may be wondering about...
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