I filled out my United Way donation to Planned Parenthood and...

[underpants]

and Central Virginia Legal Aid
http://www.cvlas.org/

Only $200 total for the year but Hey it is something and I get a day off work for doing it.

[Nicholas_J]

1. Avoid United Way

It is an organization that has a lot of Republicans in charge who's idea of charity is to give of their work, and not of their money.

Donate DIRECTLY to organizations that you support and take that corporate sponsored, corporate suppporting organization out of the middle.

[underpants]

2. Yeah I know that

At first it was like pulling teeth to direct the money to specific charities but I kept pushing and finally got the form (2 years ago). I know 7.5% goes to United Way so I really shouldn't do that but hey I AM giving something to important charities.

[Not Me]

3. I disagree

I worked with a number of agencies that were funded through United Way and the UW requires strong fiscal and program responsibility that otherwise wouldn't be there. The agencies are audited regularly to ensure that donors funds are spent as intended.

As a result, I am a strong believer in UW.

[Tempest]

9. United Way run by fundies

The United Way dropped the Girl Scouts because they welcomed lesbians into their organization.

Anyone who goes through an intermediary isn't very smart.

United Way and the others skim from the top.

Give directly to the charities, don't feed the middle-men.

[Nicholas_J]

18. Yup when you do give through the United Way

Some of your money does go to people who make decisions based on the same "values" that cost the Democrratic cnadidate the election. .7 percent is 7.5 percent. It eneables them to put forth that agenda that displays a bias towards gays and other issues

[candy]

4. I stopped giving to UW about 20 years ago-----

Much to the shock of my manager,who wanted 100% compliance in the office.I refused!!!!!!

I give DIRECTLY to the charities of my choice. I write the check and mail it directly to them----- They get 100% of my contribution.

[Wat_Tyler]

20. Weird, they asked for 100% compliance in my office too.

Is there commission involved?

[Nicholas_J]

21. I went through the "We demand 100 percent compliance"

Routine at work as well .I simply refused, and did not encourage my staff to donate unless they felt like it for personal reasons, and not reasons of intimidation.

That is another facto in the United Way deal. There is a great deal of presitige in having your organization noted as one that has such a donation rate. It is the king of thing that is typical of all companies or organizations, particularly large one. Almost all of the various boards of such agencies involved with public charity or public anything else, rarely have avery citiens as members of their boars, giving ideas about how they should oerate. You will always find doctors, senior partners of law firms,the heads of local businesses who are doing business with the local government or with other large corporations. It all gives them an opportunity to schmooze. It is also why agood deal of that 7.5 percent is spent on wine and cheese rather than root beer and pretzels.

Unfortunately, a goodly percentage of those people on the boards of even local United Way do have a great deal of influence on such decisions as excluding the girl scouts, and similar things. The reasons for the exclusiona are based on personal beleifes or prejudices and NOT on exclusively on need or the good work that the organization does.
GIving direcly does two things. Every cent gets directly to the organization you choose. Nothing goes in anyway to supporting any type of exclusion for reasons unrelated to the service given.

[buckettgirl]

6. hey now

I believe in charitable organizations... but i can only give my time and my work, not my money (I'm a college student supported by my husband who has no post-secondary education, so we don't have much now). I do agree that people with hoards of money should do the charitable thing (I would) and donate for good causes. It does look bad on them to only give of their time and not their money too, especially since they can spare it.
Just please don't forget us good dems out there who donate their time and effort because they can't spare money!

[Tempest]

10. God smiles on you

The people who only give money, and not their time, are not doing good works according to religious texts.

I work at the veterans center and I'm always told my time is more important than any money they receive.

[Nicholas_J]

19. Not forgetting you

Giving your time when all you have to spare is your time is noble. Giving your time when you have a lot more than time simply is not.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

11. Ummmmmm

we need to discuss what you said. I was a United Way Campaign Executive for two different fundraising years. This is what I know:
Each United Way is managed autonomously, decisions on how to allocate the donations are made locally after an extensive review of community needs (also perfromed by citizens not employed by United Way). No United Way any place in the country is run by any central authority.

[calico1]

17. Not necessarily true.

Every United Way is different. How good or corrupt it is depends on who runs it and who is on the committee. Also, you can choose to make the donation to a non United Way funded charity, which is what I do. My donation goes to my local Humane Society.

[hlthe2b]

5. I have to agree... I also really resented the arm-twisting I got

while working in state & federal government jobs to donate to United Way-- they have been exposed countless times for serious money mismanagement. I prefer to dontate directly to those I want to get it.

[funkybutt]

7. Thanks for the reminder

I just filled out my form. I don't doubt that the United Way has republicans and possible managemtent problems. I'd prefer to give directly to other groups but I just never have the money. The automatic withdrawal from my paycheck assures that I can give a substantial amount for the year. I believe there are good people in the United Way and that they actually do help people.

[underpants]

8. Thank you

:thumbsup:

[Shananigans]

16. Good for you!!!

[Shananigans]

12. As an employee of Greater Twin Cities United Way...

I would have to say that there are pros and cons to any non-profit agency. However, I truly believe some of the accusations made are a bit over the top, such as that United Way is an organization with "a lot of Republicans in charge who's idea of charity is to give of their work, and not of their money." and "The United Way dropped the Girl Scouts because they welcomed lesbians into their organization." and "Anyone who goes through an intermediary isn't very smart."

As those of you who have done the research will know, each United Way is separately incorporated and independently governed by local volunteers. All decisions made, such as whether to fund the boy scouts, girl scouts, planned parenthood, etc are all made locally and decided with input from LOCAL community volunteers. Just like with the election, you cannot blame the fact that South Dakota Senator Daschle lost on the entire nation, because it was only South Dakota that was allowed in the decision making process. In addition to local decision making, all funds are kept in the local community. Please keep that in mind and don't smear the name of good hardworking United Way's just because you don't agree with the decisions in your own community.

I work directly with our fund raising department and every day I see the benefits we make to the community. Here are some points I'd like you to consider when making your charitable giving choices:

* Yes it is true that you could give directly to the charity of your choice, but please keep in mind that many smaller charities don't have the time or resources to go out and fund raise on their own. United Way takes care of this for them and helps fund many important programs in the community.

* United Way has a rigorous process for determining you will get the best bang for your buck when it comes to charitable giving with United Way. If you give to directly to an organization you are given no guarantees. You most likely don't have the time or resources yourself to make sure that this organization is spending your money to the best possible way. United Way is an insurance policy on this where we check to make sure each program we fund is achieving the best RESULTS.

* United Way also spends time identifying the most pressing community needs and addressing them. A smaller non-profit would likely have no resources in pinpointing the most immediate needs, therefore would go without addressing them. United Way does that work for them and then funds individual programs within the agency to help solve these crises.

* United Way also funds many other things in the community such as partnerships with government agencies on gaps in early child hood development, research on what are the issues affecting our communities most and things such as United Way's 2-1-1 system which allows people to dial 2-1-1 from any phone and be met with a representative that will direct them to local services that can help with paying rent, utilities, donating clothes, job hunting, etc.

It takes money to run any organization, but the fact is that if United Way wasn't doing any good, it would no longer be in existence. Just yesterday I did a "Caring Connection" project at a local homeless shelter. After we finished making soup and sandwiches for the families and individuals who were staying there I had the opportunity to talk with their Executive Director. She thanked me for the work we were doing and explained that without United Way the shelter would have to close it's doors. Because they would never be able to hire the staff to do individual fund raising on their own, United Way has become a lifeline.


So, call us a middle-man, tell us we skim from the top, do what you wish. No one will ever agree with everything, but please be informed before spreading the word. No matter what you decide, thank you so very much for giving to whatever causes you have. Whether it be time or money I can tell you that it is helping so much in the community.

From Minneapolis,

Shannon

[underpants]

13. Thank you

Very well put.

[Tempest]

22. You're flat out wrong on at least one point

>>As those of you who have done the research will know, each United Way is separately incorporated and independently governed by local volunteers. All decisions made, such as whether to fund the boy scouts, girl scouts, planned parenthood, etc are all made locally and decided with input from LOCAL community volunteers.<<


The decision to remove the Girl Scouts was done at the NATIONAL level.

I know this for a fact because a family friend works in the main Alexandria, VA office.

[commander bunnypants]

14. i give directly

They kmow it around here and dont bother me.

DDQM

[electricmonk]

15. Me too

100% of mine to PP though. I like to offset the idiots that exclude them. Planned Parenthood of the Roanoke Valley always send me a nice thank you card and invites to their events after I donate.