Frequently Asked Questions

• Provides a community with leadership in addressing the needs of the community.
• Recruits and trains a diverse community volunteer base.
• Raises money.
• Evaluates agencies’ programs.
• Distributes money to health and human service agencies.
• Brings organizations and individuals together to study and address needs.
• Provides research data on human service needs and issues.
• Brings service providers together to share experiences, concerns and best practices.
• Trains and advises agency boards and staff.
• Serves as an advocate for health and human services.
• Assists with the initiation of needed community services.
• Serves as a fiscal agent for collaborative projects.

• It’s local.  Funds raised in the area stay here to address local problems.
• Your contribution goes to help people who really need it.
• It’s accountable.  Volunteers decide which programs receive funds, and ensure that services are high quality and meet the community’s greatest needs.
• It’s efficient.  Volunteers help conduct the campaign to keep costs low.
• It’s easy.  Giving is simple – options include cash, payroll deduction, Visa, MasterCard and bank draft.
• It feels good!
  

Yes!  Giving to United Way is strictly voluntary. United Way has a written policy against coercion. The best way to encourage contributions is to educate people about how United Way helps.  United Way staff and volunteers always stress the importance of voluntary giving and discourages “coercion” of any kind.

It is true that some individuals may not be in a position to give because of their current financial situation.  However, many of us have made charitable contributions a priority in our budgets.  The payroll deduction method gives us an easy way to give a little each month making it possible to help a lot on an annual basis.  One dollar a week is $52 a year.  That is the cost of one soft drink per week! 

One of the things we have observed in working for the United Way is that “givers” are givers to many things.  It is very common for strong supporters of United Way services to also be very involved in churches or organizations outside the United Way.  Perhaps it is because these are the people who are most keenly aware of the needs of people and want to help.  How much you can afford to give, and to whom, is a very personal decision that only you can make.  As much as our local churches do to assist the community, they are not equipped to serve all the needs in our community. 

Giving through the United Way assures donors that organizations meet the highest standards and provide genuinely needed services in our community.  Also, giving to the Community Fund is similar to a mutual fund where your money goes into a variety of investment opportunities.  United Way’s Community Fund that allows you to invest in a program of services that covers a wide scope of community problems and needs.

The United Way looks at the community health and human service needs as a whole and directs funds to organizations that make up the fabric of health and human services.  Some call it a “safety-net”. The organization’s volunteers make informed decisions about funding the necessary programs within the family of agencies.  The opportunity to become a United Way partner agency is available to non-profits providing the criteria is met and funds are available.

Your tax dollars do help support many social services in this community.  Unfortunately, we have seen dramatic reductions in federal and state support of social services in the past and we expect this trend to continue.  Local services are perceived to be the responsibility of the local community.  That is why we need your help to continue services.

Many people have a favorite agency.  However United Way believes in the concept of investing in a federation of agencies to ensure a variety of services are available regardless of their public popularity.  If you choose to designate, you may write the name of the agency on United Way’s pledge form and your donation will be honored. 

Yes!  Giving to United Way is strictly voluntary. United Way has a written policy against coercion. The best way to encourage contributions is to educate people about how United Way helps.

Volunteers from all walks of life in the Denton area make decisions about the amount of money that is provided to each agency.  These 75 volunteers make visits to the agencies, review the programs on an annual basis, study financial reports and evaluate how well the agencies accomplished their purpose with United Way dollars. 

United Way of Denton County will distribute over $1.5 million in 2009. 

With its ties to the social service community, United Way is aware of the emerging needs throughout the  county.  United Way volunteers and staff look at a problem, make appropriate assessments, and follow through with action. 

It costs approximately 9% of the total budget for fundraising and administrative costs.  With the generous contributions by people in the community of in-kind services and volunteers, United Way is able to achieve a great deal so that the more funds go to United Way supported programs and initiatives.

The United Way of Denton County is governed by a local volunteer board of directors that oversees the policies, activities and procedures of the organization.  The board is a diverse group in race, gender, occupation, interests, and philosophy.  A staff of seven professionals handle the daily operations and work closely with volunteers at all levels to achieve our mission. 

Some agencies do receive government support.  In fact, United Way funding often allows agencies to leverage available government funds, which maximizes their resources.   However, shrinking government dollars for health and human services means privately funded institutions like United Way are more important than ever.

No.  United Way of America does not fund human services programs.  United Way of Denton County is an affiliate of the United Way of America (UWA) and that entitles us to use advertising and promotional materials and services developed by the UWA to support our local effort.

Yes.  United Way funds can provide only a portion of the money needed by program providers to render their services.  Sliding scale fees are charged to offer services to more people.

Although United Way prohibits the direct support of churches, it does allow assistance to religiously-affiliated organizations that are providing health and human services to the community.

Yes.  United Way of Denton County financially supports several local programs offered by the Boy Scouts of America.

No.  At every local United Way, the board of directors votes to either support or reject agencies applying for membership status.  No agency that provides abortion services has applied to be an agency of United Way of Denton County.

Yes.  Some money is set aside annually to address critical emerging needs in our local community. 

As the needs of the community continue to increase, so do the financial needs of our partner agencies. 

Your donations are directed to real needs, not favorite agencies.  United Way volunteers carefully screen and decide which programs to fund based on research of needs in the community and they monitor their services.

There are two formats for employees to give to United Way.  The traditional rally with a speaker and/or the campaign video.  The second format uses a group of trained volunteers within your organization who will ask co-workers one-to-one to give to United Way.  The United Way staff will be glad to assist you in planning a campaign that will work for your organization. 

• Be recognized by the IRS as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization
• Be governed by a volunteer board of directors
• Provide for needed health and human services
• Be audited annually by a CPA firm
• Submit financial statements quarterly
• Keep administration and fundraising costs below 25% of gross receipts
• Annually present and defend their entire budget to a panel of community volunteers
• Have a diversified revenue stream
• Be an established agency with a local presence for at least 3 years
  • United Way has high standards for admission and wants to ensure that services funded by United Way dollars are efficient and effective.

Call the Information & Referral Line -- 940-566-2688.  The United Way of Denton County maintains this telephone line Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.  A staff person will ask about your particular circumstances and make a referral of one or more agencies that will be able to assist you.  There are approximately 250 public and private organizations that provide services to residents of Denton County.  These organizations are also available in a hardcopy book.  They can be purchased at the United Way office or found online on the web site (www.unitedwaydenton.org).  You may also dial 2-1-1 on your telephone to connect to a regional information and referral service which will have information on Denton and the surrounding Counties.

United Way helps everyone.  It is a popular misconception that only the jobless and “at risk” people seek help from United Way’s family of agencies.  However, you never know when you, a member of your family or a neighbor may need the help of a United Way supported program.  Services cover marital problems, family violence, troubled teens, child care, job loss, disasters, illness, disabilities, loss of a loved one, and the problems of growing older.  United Way and its partner agencies are there to help.