United Way

The United Way of America is a coalition of charitable organizations that has traditionally pooled efforts in fund raising. In the 1990s, more and more United Ways have focused on community building through local partnerships with government, foundations, schools, and other organizations. Each United Way has its own local governing volunteer board. The organization has roots in Denver, Colorado, where in 1887 church leaders began the Charity Organization Society which coordinated services and fund raising for 22 agencies. Many Community Chest organizations, which were founded in the first half of the twentieth century to jointly collect and allocate money, joined the American Association for Community Organizations in 1918. The first Community Chest was founded in 1913 in Cleveland, Ohio. The number of Community Chest organizations increased from 39 to 353 between 1919 and 1929, and surpassed 1000 by 1948. By 1963, and after several name changes, the term United Way was adopted.

The organization raises money in a number of ways, chiefly through the workplace, where employees can have automatic payroll deductions for the United Way.

History

In 1887, a Denver priest, two ministers and a rabbi recognized the need for cooperative action to address their city's welfare problems. The Rev. Myron W. Reed, Msgr. William J. O'Ryan, Dean H. Martyn Hart and Rabbi William S. Friedman put their heads together to plan the first united campaign for ten health and welfare agencies. They created an organization to serve as an agent to collect funds for local charities, as well as to coordinate relief services, counsel and refer clients to cooperating agencies, and make emergency assistance grants in cases which could not be referred.

That year, Denver raised $21,700 and created a movement that would spread throughout the county to become the United Way. Over 118 years later, United Way is still focused on mobilizing the caring power of communities and making a difference in people's lives.

In 2004-05, more than 1,350 local United Ways raised and invested significant resources to build strong, healthy communities. The United Way system raised $3.86 billion in current year support (an increase of 0.7% over 2003-2004), making it the nation's single largest private charity.

Common Focus Areas

United Ways identify and build on community strengths and assets, help individuals and groups with specific community interests find ways to contribute their time and talents, support direct-service programs and community-change efforts, and advocate public policy changes.

All of this is done in collaboration with diverse partners. Depending on the issue and how the community chooses to address it, United Ways work with schools, government agencies, businesses, organized labor, financial institutions, community development corporations, voluntary and neighborhood associations, the faith community, and others.

Because of the unique conditions in diverse communities, the issues United Ways address are determined locally. However, some common themes emerge:

Helping Children and Youth Succeed
Strengthening and Supporting Families
Improving Access to Health Care
Promoting Independence and Economic Self-Sufficiency

National Partnerships

The on-going partnership with the National Football League began in 1973 when the NFL and United Way of America came together to discuss the possibility of using the NFL’s network contract airtime to promote United Way during game telecasts. Then Commissioner Pete Rozell recognized the partnership as a viable means of communicating the good works of United Ways while putting faces on a league of players hidden by helmets.
National partnerships with over 100 corporations are formalized through the National Corporate Leadership Program.
Since 1946, the American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) and United Way of America have enjoyed a cooperative relationship
Leadership 18 a coalition which represents long-established charities, faith-based organizations, and social and health groups that support and promote the safety, health, well-being and social and economic development of people across America.

Criticism and Scandals

Some workplaces that donate money to United Way do not follow commonly used ethical procedures when soliciting donations. Employees may be pressured into donating through peer pressure tolerated or even encouraged by management. United Way has made public that it doesn't support such measures, but has been slow to react on reports by employees that were coerced in such a way.United Way Code of Conduct
In 1992, William Aramony, CEO of the national organization, and in 2004, Oral Suer, CEO of the Washington, DC chapter, have been indicted over misuse of donations. Article Discussing United Way Financial Scandal.
In the past, some local United Ways have been known to double count contributions, thus making their totals look higher, and the perceived overhead of operations look better.Free Republic article discussing United Way double counting of donations
In the past, some local United Way have been accused of double-dipping overhead costs in donations, especially when donations are earmarked for a specific charity, or transferred from one location to another.

United Way has implemented new membership requirements and accountability standards in 2003, in an effort to address these problems, however as recently as May 2006, Kim Tran the former CFO of the troubled DC chapter of United Way resigned, claiming many of these issues remain.United Way Accountability StatementWashington Post article discussing recent (2006) financial inconsistencies at the DC chapter, and resignation of the local chapter's CFO

References

External links

Official Webpage of United Way of America
Official Webpage of United Way International
History of United Way
National Website of 2-1-1 which connects people with important community services and volunteer opportunities, spearheaded by United Way and AIRS.
National Website of BornLearning a public engagement campaign that helps parents, caregivers and communities create quality early learning opportunities for young children lead by United Way and other partners.