What is United Way of America?
United Way of America (UWA) is the national service and training center supporting member United Ways by helping them pursue dual strategies of adding value to the community and conducting cost-effective, donor-oriented fund-raising to increase financial resources. UWA provides a range of assistance to United Ways that includes the following: a national advertising and promotion program, a partnership with the National Football League, training for United Way professionals and volunteers, support to national companies that want to cultivate a year-round relationship with United Ways, a national database for fund-raising and fund-distribution statistics as well as for measuring and demonstrating impact in all activities undertaken, a national network allowing United Ways to share best practices and other information and a unified voice in national government relations.
What is the relationship between United Way of America and Heritage United Way?
Each United Way is an independent, private, non-profit community resource, governed by a local board of volunteers. At Heritage United Way, a volunteer Board of Directors sets the policies and ensures that they are followed. UWA exists to serve local United Ways and does not exert control or have any authority over the local United Way management practices.
Nationwide, 1200 United Ways support approximately 47,000 agencies, helping millions of people from all walks of life. In towns large and small, United Ways have been leading the charge in caring for others for more than 100 years. Apart from our national government, United Way supports the greatest variety of health and human services in the country.
Why give to Heritage United Way?
Your gift helps those who really need it! And...
We're local - funds raised in the area stay here to address local problems
We're accountable - our Community Investment volunteers treat your investment with care. They spend many hours reviewing programs, making site visits, analyzing budgets and determining the success of a program before making a decision on how much that program is awarded through our allocations process. Heritage United Way supported programs must meet strict guidelines and prove to volunteers exactly how they improve lives.
We're efficient - in order to keep costs low, volunteers help us raise money for the community by asking employees, businesses and individuals to contribute.
We're effective - by bringing the community together, we accomplish much more than we can alone. United Way makes your caring count!
It's easy - payroll deductions make giving simple.
Why should I give to Heritage United Way when my family and I never use agency services?
Chances are you, a family member, friend, co-worker or neighbor have already used the services of a United Way partner program and not realized it. Programs supported by Heritage United Way serve a diverse and large population. United Way is here for everyone.
Can I specify where I want my contribution to go?
United Way recommends that you invest your gift in our Community Impact Fund, where your dollars will address the community's most critical needs. It is the only giving option that allows you to join with thousands of others to focus our resources where we can have the greatest impact.
Donors also have the option of designating all or a portion of their annual gift to one of our specific Community Impact Areas (education, health or housing/self-sufficiency), one of our funded community partner agencies or a non-funded community partner agency.
*Designated pledges are assessed both a fundraising and a management and general fee based on actual historical costs in accordance with United Way of America Membership Standards.
I keep hearing talk about United Way moving toward a "Community Impact" model. What does that mean?
Community Impact is about United Way being more than just a fundraiser, but rather an organization that makes an impact and sustainable positive changes in order to meet critical needs in the community. Heritage United Way is focused on lasting change- because that's what matters.
How does United Way know where to give the money?
United Way and philanthropies rely on Community Needs Assessments (CNAs), SPANs (Survey of Priorities, Assets and Needs), Community Indicators and similar strategies. Heritage United Way chose to start with a Community Indicators Baseline to then move into performance outcome measures.
To implement this approach, Heritage United Way partnered with Southern New Hampshire University and engaged its Applied Research Center at the School of Community and Economic Development to organize this effort in direct coordination with the staff.
The resulting Community Indicators Baseline Report includes research and results from three community discussion forums. These forums included input from donors, business leaders, academics, local philanthropies, agencies, advocates, clients and the Board of Directors.
The Heritage United Way Board of Directors will use this research and input from stakeholders on community priorities to strategically target and leverage its philanthropic funding (Community Impact). As a result, we have identified three Community Impact Areas to focus on- education, health and housing/self-sufficiency.
Our Community Review Team volunteers will then spend thousands of hours reviewing programs, making site visits, analyzing budgets and
determining the success of a program before making a decision on how much that program is awarded through our investment process. Heritage
United Way funded programs must meet strict guidelines and prove to volunteers exactly how they improve lives.
How can I volunteer?
If your company or department would like to volunteer as a group, consider participating in our annual Day of Caring. United Way can help match your group with a project at a local nonprofit agency. Call our office for more details.
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5 Ways to LIVE UNITED
1. Take the children in your life to a local museum, exhibit or play.
2. Donate new or gently used professional clothing to an organization assisting individuals in seeking employment.
3. Get a flu shot.
4. Invite a friend, neighbor or family member to attend a school board meeting with you.
5. Help senior citizens learn how to detect and prevent fraud.
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