Q.

Why give to United Way?

United Way is working to advance the common good by creating opportunities for a better life for all. We are focused on improving education, income and health – the building blocks for a good life. Our goal is to create long-lasting changes that prevent problems from happening in the first place. We invest in quality programs, advocate for better policies, engage people in the community and generate resources.

Here are some important points:

1. We have a plan. United Way looks at the big picture and tackles critical issues affecting Miami-Dade’s most vulnerable residents and communities. We’ve done our homework so that you know your money will be going to those who need it most. Experience tells us the best way to change the issues affecting our community is through a gift to the community plan.

2. We are accountable for the dollars we receive and for the programs in which we invest. United Way takes our role as steward of your money very seriously. We engage community volunteers to oversee every aspect of our management and financial systems to ensure that we are operating at the highest levels of professionalism and excellence.

3. Greater impact. A donation to the community plan goes further than a contribution directly to an agency.

Q.

Why should I give to the community plan instead of directing my United Way contribution to my favorite agency?

Working to advance the common good is at the heart of the community plan.  When you invest directly in the community plan, your donation has a far greater impact than a contribution directly to an agency.  Here’s why:

1. Community focused.  United Way looks at the big picture and focuses on the most critical health and human service needs facing Miami-Dade.  So you know your donation will go to help those who need it most, rather than a single cause.
2. Return on investment.  Money given through United Way goes further than money given directly to an agency – that’s because United Way leverages your gift.  In 2008, we turned every $1 invested directly in the community plan into $2.41worth of help.  How do we do that?  Through activities such as recruiting and placing volunteers, attracting matching dollars for the money we distribute, generating in-kind gifts, achieving success in our public policy advocacy.  Together those services make your dollar go further.

Q.

The return on investment seems to vary from year to year.  Why’s that?

The annual return on investment varies from year to year based on the revenue recorded in dollars, versus the amount of non-revenue resources we receive such as matching gifts, volunteer time and in-kind donations raised for a particular fiscal year.

 

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United Way joins together powerful forces to work for the common good. It takes the whole community – government, business, faith groups, nonprofits, labor, and ordinary citizens – working together to create lasting, sustainable change. We believe as people, we are all connected and dependent on one another. When we reach out a hand to one, we elevate the condition of all.

Q.

How much of my contribution is used for fundraising and administrative expenses?

Our overhead costs are 14.8% when based on United Way of America’s standards for reporting administrative and fundraising costs against the net revenue.  According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Wise Giving Alliance, a watchdog among charities, overhead costs fewer than 20% are considered “excellent,” fewer than 35% are “acceptable.”  To give you an idea, the average Florida nonprofit spends 25% on overhead.

We spend 85% of United Way dollars on program activities, or community investments.  According to the BBB Wise Giving Alliance spending at least 65% of total expenses on program activities is acceptable.

Q.

Who oversees the operations of United Way?

United Way of Miami-Dade is governed by a 51-member volunteer board of directors made up of respected community and business leaders. Tony Argiz, managing partner, Morrison, Brown, Argiz & Farra is the chairman of the board for 2007-2008. Sheldon Anderson, president, Miami-Dade, Northern Trust Bank, will succeed Argiz in July 2009. A team of community volunteers determine policy and oversee every aspect of the organization from management practices to financial systems. Professional staff manage day-to-day activities. The staff is led by our CEO and president, Harve Mogul, a 35 year United Way veteran.

United Way of America, the national service and training center for local United Ways, has no governing powers over local United Ways. However, all United Ways are required to follow a set of membership requirements to ensure accountability and transparency. In addition, United Way of America has a set of Standards of Excellence to help local United Ways enhance their effectiveness by implementing best practices. United Way of Miami-Dade pays 1% of its annual campaign revenue to United Way of America in membership fees.

Q.

United Way says it is transparent and accountable in all of its operations. Can you prove it?

We take our role as steward of your money very seriously.  We engage community volunteers to oversee every aspect of our management and financial systems to ensure that we are operating at the highest levels of professionalism and excellence.  We can say that because:

• United Way of Miami-Dade is audited annually by an independent accounting firm and carefully reviewed by volunteers who serve on the United Way Finance and Administration Committee and United Way Executive Committee and Board.

• United Way voluntarily agreed to comply with the requirements of Sarbanes-Oxley legislation (FYI: the American Competitiveness and Corporate Accountability Act of 2002, commonly known as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, was passed in response to several corporate scandals and was intended to rebuild public trust in the corporate sector).

• Charity Navigator, the nation’s largest independent charity evaluator, consistently awards United Way of Miami-Dade three or four stars for meeting or exceeding industry standards and out performing most other charities of similar size and purpose.  Charity Navigator reviews financial documents and rates non-profit organizations on their efficiency and financial health.

• Our IRS 990 form is available online for anyone to review.

Q.

What’s United Way’s oversight of the programs it funds?

Trained volunteers who serve on our audit committee and a team of dedicated staff members provide continuous stewardship – through regular site visits, reviewing financial documents, analyzing programs and evaluating outcomes at every program receiving United Way funding. Their work ensures United Way impact partners adhere to sound fiscal policies and provide quality services.

Q.

The former president of United Way of America, William Aramony, was accused of mismanagement and misappropriation of funds. In 1994 he was convicted and served seven years in prison. He was also ordered to repay stolen funds.

A new president, new financial control systems, six new oversight committees and an expansion of the number of representatives of local United Ways at the board and committee level have corrected the problems. In 1994, United Way of America was selected by Financial World as the charity of choice for leadership in not-for-profit ethics and accountability.

Q.

As of June 2003, United Way no longer funds the traditional membership-based scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America, South Florida council.

Several years ago the Supreme Court ruled that the First Amendment freedom of expression and association prevented the government from requiring the Boy Scouts to accept gay troop leaders. United Way did not ask the Boy Scouts to change its values or its national membership policy. The local Boy Scouts council agreed to equip its leaders with the appropriate skills and knowledge to best help a young boy who might be gay. However, when Boy Scouts of America prohibited its South Florida council from implementing the agreed upon sensitivity training program, United Way of Miami-Dade decided to amend its relationship with the organization.

Boy Scouts of America, South Florida council, continues to be eligible to receive designated dollars, as are all 501 (c) (3) health and human service agencies in Florida. United Way of Miami-Dade charges a one-and-a-half percent (1.5%) administrative fee on gifts directed to specific agencies

Q.

In order to have the most impact on our community, United Way only invests donor dollars in results-driven programs that address our community’s most pressing health and human service needs (as outlined in the community plan).

Q.

No. Typically United Way provides only a portion of funding. Agencies have additional sources of income, such as government and foundation grants and service fees. Many agencies are able to utilize their United Way community plan dollars to leverage funding from government sources. In some cases, a United Way dollar can represent as much as nine dollars in matching funds from the government.

Q.

Private and public funds are not sufficient to cover the full cost of operating an agency. Fees, based on ability to pay, represent another means to cover the costs of providing services. In most instances, those who cannot pay are not required to do so.

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Some agencies maintain waiting lists for services because there is simply not enough funding to cover all requests. That’s why your contributions make a real difference to the entire community. Every dollar makes it possible to help one more who cannot afford help.

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Admission to the United Way Center for Excellence in Early Education Demonstration School is based on a number of criteria. First, as a model of best practices in early education, it is essential that the Demonstration School’s student body be representative of the community’s economic and social diversity. Second, the school receives funding from a number of different sources, many with very defined eligibility requirements. For example, the school has a set number of Head Start slots and the eligibility requirements for those slots are established by Head Start. In total, approximately 25% of the students pay full tuition and approximately 75% are fully or partially subsidized by state, federal or private funding.

Q.

Currently, the school has a waiting list. Vacancies are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis in accordance to the eligibility requirements of the open slots.

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It is very frustrating for individuals who need a specific service and are not able to find the type of help needed. United Way partner agencies can’t always provide the help requested, but will do everything they can to help people in need identify the referral sources that do exist.

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Because underneath everything we are, underneath everything we do, we are all people.  Connected, interdependent, united.  And when we reach out a hand to one, we influence the condition of all.  That’s what it means to LIVE UNITED.  Everyone deserves opportunities to have a good life: a quality education that leads to a stable job, enough income to support a family through retirement, and good health.  We all win when a child succeeds in school, when a family becomes financially stable, when people have good health.

Q.

United Way understands the impact that charitable giving has on improving our community and helping individuals. We also understand how important it is to choose the right organization to donate your hard-earned dollars. Your donation helps with programs that touch so many lives from across our community – and makes a major impact on its recipients while also giving you personal satisfaction.

Q.

If your spouse supports United Way, that is wonderful! Your gift is just as important. Contributions based on your total family income help close the gap of unmet service needs in Miami-Dade County. Additionally, couples who give $1,000 or more are recognized through special events and publications as being part of our Leadership & Endowment Circle.

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For taxpayers who itemize their deductions, 100% of their charitable contribution is deductable as long as deductions do not exceed 50% of their adjusted gross income. Contact the Internal Revenue Service, your accountant or other financial advisors for further information.

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The best way to get help is to contact Switchboard of Miami, a United Way partner, which operates our community’s only 24-hour free information/crisis/referral/phone counseling hotline.

Please encourage your friends and colleagues to call (305) 358-HELP (358-4357) when they need assistance. Trained phone counselors who speak English, Spanish and Creole are ready to listen and to guide your employees to the right services within our community.

Q.

Be an advocate and champion a particular issue or idea.  Whether you’re speaking out to improve education, income and health, reaching out to members of Congress, or wearing the LIVE UNITED shirt to show your support, you can help inspire hope and create opportunities for a better tomorrow.  For more information, visit www.unitedwaymiami.org/advocate.asp.

Giving your time through volunteerism is another important way you can help your community.  United Way is always looking for additional volunteers.  United Way and Hands On Miami have teamed up to increase volunteer participation in our community.  To get involved, call Hands On Miami at United Way, (305) 646-7200,  email info@handsonmiami.org or visit Hands on Miami online at www.handsonmiami.org.

Q.

We simply cannot allow the economy to affect our community’s ability to help those in need. We’re all in this together and if we all do our part we can continue to provide help for our neighbors. We know with this tremendous need, there’s a great opportunity for people to see the work United Way does in this community and understand its value.

Also, keep in mind, less than 10% of Miami-Dade’s residents currently make a gift to United Way. There’s enormous opportunity to increase our ability to help people. In addition to renewing current gifts, we are focused on bringing new people to the table and ask them to help their neighbors in need.

Q.

We understand that these are tough economic times, the fact is that people in our community need more help now than ever before.  Our opportunity is to reach those who are not currently making a gift and ask them to step up and help their neighbors in need.  We can all do something.

Q.

We do know that times are tough for a number of our neighbors, however, during times like these the people in our community who are already living on the edge are even more vulnerable. If there was ever a time when our help was needed more, it’s now. We have no choice but to reach out and help during hard economic times. We’re all in this together and we all must do our part.

At the same time, United Way is here to help. We offer a number of programs that can help employees navigate during these economic times. Our website has an online financial resource center full of places to turn for help. Visit www.unitedwaymiami.org/financialresourcecenter.asp. We can bring experts into the workplace to give seminars on budgeting, money management, how to deal with stress, and other helpful topics. We’re always identifying new ways to help.

Q.

Our approach will be two-fold. First, for those who remain employed, we will ask them to continue their support to help their neighbors in need, and in particular, their laid-off colleagues. We will ask those who’ve never made a gift before, to please do so this year. For those who are laid off, United Way will work with the employer to provide those employees with a wide array of services to help them get back on their feet.

Q.

Many of the programs we fund are seeing an increased demand for services and, at the same time, a reduction in government funding. That is why our support is so important this year. The fact is that the most vulnerable in our community need our help more than ever. We’re all in this together and we must be there for each other.

Q.

There is never enough money to meet the needs of our residents.  And, the fact is, every year we face challenges, whether it be the economy, a natural disaster, an election year, you name it.  Keep in mind, less than 10 percent of Miami-Dade’s residents currently make a gift to United Way.  There’s a tremendous opportunity to bring new people to the table and encourage them to help their neighbors in need.

Key messages

• We’re all in this together
• We’re all being affected, and we all need to do our part
• When times are tough, those who are already struggling to make ends meet face even greater challenges
• The demand for social services has and will increase – even from people who have never sought help before
• In tough economic times, charitable giving becomes all the more important
• We can get through this tough time, together

Q.

Contact your organization’s United Way campaign coordinators:
Sandy Gonzalez-Levy, 305-348-7235
Thomas Breslin, 305-348-2304
Ruth Hamilton, 305-348-3915

Or call United Way at (305) 860-3000 and you will be connected with someone who can answer your question(s).  You can also email us at caring@unitedwaymiami.org.