| The Putnam County
United Way FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS |
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| Q. Exactly what does United Way of Putnam County do? | ||
| A. Our vision is to build a stronger Putnam County by mobilizing the community to improve people’s lives. We partner with other organizations, caring corporations, committed volunteers, program delivery agencies, and you, the people who care about the community, to identify, address, and support solutions to local health and human services needs. | ||
| Q. How are the dollars that United Way raises each year invested back into our community? | ||
| A. United Way guarantees
that donated funds are used wisely to serve people that need it
the most through the annual volunteer- based “Citizens Review
Allocation Process”. Over 40 volunteers review extensive budget
and program information submitted by the United Way Partner Agencies.
These agencies have met strict guidelines before becoming a “partner”
with United Way. Whenever possible, our volunteers make on-site
visits to the agencies and receive a thorough presentation on each
agency’s financial and organizational situation. All volunteers
learn about the level of community need relevant to the programs
they are reviewing and apply this knowledge during the process,
Once the program information is collected and understood, the panel
makes an objective recommendation for program funding to the Allocation
Committee who takes it to the United Way Board of Directors, who
are all community volunteers as well. Collectively, the Citizens
Review volunteers will make funding decisions that effect more than
30 different local health and human service programs. The funds
are then coupled with any designated, or donor directed, funds to
be disbursed in installments to the programs. The Citizens Review
Allocation Process requires tough choices for all involved. Even
after the most successful campaign, finite resources must be stretched
to try to meet the most critical needs in Putnam County as seen
by the volunteers. What programs are most crucial? Which are most
effective? Which people need help the most this year? Community
Volunteers make these decisions because they care about our community.
United Way’s unique Citizens Review Allocation Process is the
“living link” between community dollars and community
needs. |
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| Q. What are the priorities as seen by United Way of Putnam County? | ||
| A. United Way volunteers have identified 6 areas of influence to represent our community needs. These 6 areas include Crisis & Basic Needs, Community Advocacy & Support, Elderly Services, Family Supportive Services, Health & Rehabilitative Services, and Youth Services. All of the programs supported by our United Way fit into these community priorities. | ||
| Q. Where do United Way of Putnam County funds come from? | ||
| A. Most of the money comes from workplace giving. Public and private employees provide about 68% of all donations, primarily through payroll deduction. Individual gifts typically account for 12% of donations, while corporate gifts make up the other 20%. | ||
| Q. How does United Way of Putnam County help my family? | ||
| A. Research shows that 2 out of 3 people have used services provided by a United Way Partner Agency. You or someone close to you has probably had contact with one of our funded programs without even knowing it. Take a look at our agencies and their programs and see for yourself. | ||
| Q. How are the organizations you fund held accountable to United Way donors? | ||
| A. We monitor the spending by funded organizations two ways. First, funded organizations must provide us with outcome data that measures the progress they are making against the problem their funded program is to impact. Second, we require a financial audit from our agencies so that can be assured of proper management. | ||
| Q. What is the Community Solutions Fund? | ||
| A. Quite simply, the Community Solutions Fund is the best way to do the most good with a single contribution. It helps more people with different needs than any other charitable contribution that can be made in Putnam County. All donations made to the Community Solutions Fund are used to address the priority needs that you, the community, feel are most important. It is irresponsible to think that a donor could know where dollars are needed each year. Therefore a donation to the Community Solutions Fund, allocated by the Citizens Review Volunteers who review the programs each year, is the best way to address the most needs. Giving money to United Way’s Community Solutions Funds is like investing in a mutual fund of community programs! | ||
| Q. Why was funding for some organizations reduced or eliminated? | ||
| A. United Way would like to fund many more programs than it does, however we are limited by our resources. The volunteer panels work very long and hard trying to select the programs that best address community needs, all the while knowing that they have less money to distribute than the agencies requested. United Way begins each annual campaign with zero dollars. Also, there are times when agencies fall short of the United Way expectations or funding criteria, and the United Way Board of Directors must step in to reduce or eliminate funding determined on a case-by-case basis. United Way guarantees it’s donors that we will be good stewards of their hard-earned money, and be accountable for the dollars invested in it’s partner agencies. | ||
| Q. As we look ahead to this year’s fall campaign, what is anticipated as the biggest challenge? | ||
| A. Our biggest challenge is to change the way people think about us. United Way of Putnam County is not just a fundraising organization. We are a community impact leader, twelve months out of the year. We craft human care agendas and build partnerships around these agendas by inspiring and energizing people to make a difference. We need to clearly demonstrate to our community that what we do is partner with them to support solutions to problems. We can multiply the impact of their contributions by working together to improve the community. | ||
