Campaign Frequently Asked Questions

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United Way has always enjoyed a strong partnership with the business community. Businesses that host United Way campaigns typically have a deep commitment to their community and believe that real change can happen if the community comes together . An important part of that commitment is involving employees in their efforts. Business that host workplace campaigns understand we all share a responsibility for the people and neighborhoods where we live, work and raise our families.

No. Contributions to United Way are voluntary; acts of coercion in any form are unacceptable. This is very important to Heart of West Michigan United Way. We believe the most responsive contributors are those who are informed about the important work we do. An effective communications program – conducted by committed volunteers and supported by a well-planned campaign – encourages an enthusiastic response. We also believe:

■Giving is a personal matter and should be kept confidential
■Employee giving should never influence personnel decisions (i.e.., compensations, promotion, etc.)
■A campaign objective based solely on 100% participation can create a perception of pressure, real or implied

United Way believes giving is a personal decision. Whether or not to donate and how much to give is entirely up to the individual. No form of forced giving is acceptable. United Way will refund any contribution an individual believes he or she was forced to give.

If you feel your employer forced you to make a donation to Heart of West Michigan United Way, please let us know. We want to give you your money back. Please call Robert Haight at 616.752.8620 to receive a full, confidential refund.

To be eligible to apply for United Way funding, an organization must meet the following criteria:

■Is a nonprofit, health and human service organization that meets the requirements of the Internal Revenue 501(c)3 code.
■Governed by a nonsectarian, voluntary board of directors, consisting of members of the general community with at least 10 board members.
■Has been in existence for at least two years at the time of the application submission.
■Has a license to solicit in Michigan or be exempt under state law.
■Provides services in Kent County.
■Operates in accordance with state and federal law including, but not limited to all laws enforced by the U.S Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Elliott-Larson Civil Rights Act and the Michigan Handicappers’ Civil Rights Act.
■Complies with the Patriot Act.
■Operates with current bylaws that are approved by its governing body and are reviewed periodically.
■Has a strategic plan.
■Has a clear and understandable system of accounting, with monthly financial statements.
■Has developed and implemented a program outcome measurement system (for existing programs) or can demonstrate a program outcome measurement system from another community (for new programs – must also demonstrate plans for collecting and measuring local data).

The Community Investment Fund is comprised of all donations to Heart of West Michigan United Way that are not designated to another nonprofit organization. These are the contributions that are invested in programs that will help achieve our vision: A vibrant, safe and caring community where all children thrive and all people enjoy maximum health and self-sufficiency. About 80 percent of our contributions are directed to the Community Investment Fund. The Community Investment Fund supports education, income and health efforts in the community, including:

■116 programs at 51 partner agencies
■First Steps (also known as the Kent County Early Childhood System)
■Schools of Hope
■Other United Way core programs including 2-1-1 information and referral service, free tax preparation for low- and moderate-income families and volunteer programs.

Absolutely! When your gift to United Way's Community Investment Fund is combined with thousands of other contributions, you can be assured that your donation will help advance the common good by focusing on education, income and health. These are the building blocks for a good life – a quality education that leads to a stable job, enough income to support a family through retirement, and good health.

United Way’s priorities reflect our community’s changing needs. Volunteers from the community make recommendations to invest in programs that achieve measurable results. Partner agencies apply for funding every three years.

Member agencies are required to meet strict United Way standards, including nonprofit status under IRS subsection 501(c)(3), volunteer governance, and other considerations which may include priority of needs served, stability of the agency's operations, good fiscal management, the need for funding, program outcomes, and duplication of existing services.

Everyone should give to the charities that are closest to their hearts. Including United Way in the list of charities you support ensures that together, we are investing in the needs of the greater community.

Your contribution, when combined with the gifts of others, makes a powerful impact in our community. A single gift through United Way will address many challenges in our community and help hundreds of thousands of lives.

Imagine that with a single gift you will feed the hungry, shelter victims of domestic violence, provide quality child care and after-school care for children, take care of the elderly, and provide counseling for families.

When you contribute to United Way, your gift is treated with care by our fund distribution volunteers. They spend many hours reviewing programs, making site visits, analyzing budgets and determining the success of a program before making a decision on how much that program is awarded through our allocations process. Partner programs meet strict guidelines and must prove to volunteers exactly how they improve lives.

Yes. Heart of West Michigan United Way investors can choose to designate their annual contributions to the Community Investment Fund and/or to a specific health and human services agency. Donors may also choose to omit a particular agency from receiving any portion of their gifts.

Yes. The designated gift must be $50 or more. United Way receives a 10% administrative fee for processing donor designations.

■Arts (i.e., museums, symphonies)
■Animal/animal rights groups (i.e., Humane Society)
■Churches, synagogues, mosques or religious organizations
■Environmental causes or federations
■Individual schools, unless the designation is to a 501(c )(3) school foundation, unless the designation is to a 501(c)(3) organization within it.
■Sports teams and clubs, athletic organizations, or extra-curricular school activities

Heart of West Michigan United Way’s operating budget is audited by an independent accounting firm and is carefully review by the members of the United Way Finance and Audit Committee and Board of Directors. Click here for our complete audited financial statements.

All agencies and programs requesting United Way funding also undergo careful, regular and in-depth financial review by experienced and trained volunteers and professional staff who review audited statements and budget documents. In addition, agencies must report annually about the impact of their programs and services. In addition, all United Way-funded agencies must be registered 501(c) 3 agencies, and must abide by the U.S. charitable laws.

United Way is committed to ensuring your contribution is invested in the most effective way possible to provide maximum results. For the year ending June 30, 2007, Heart of West Michigan United Way’s fundraising and administrative costs were 10 percent. This percent represents that portion of administrative costs funded by dollars raised by the annual campaign. Almost 90 cents of every dollar donated is invested back into the community to help those who need it most.

United Way seeks funding from other sources in addition to its annual campaign. Examples include grants for programs like United Way’s 2-1-1, earnings from investments and endowment assets, fees for facility services rendered and rental income from office space at the United Way Center. These additional funding sources, along with campaign dollars, form the organization’s operating budget.

No. United Way maintains its own database of supporters and will under no circumstances sell or trade this information to any individual or organization, public or private.

Each year, we anticipate a certain amount of campaign loss/shrinkage, as a result of people moving or not being able to meet their pledge commitments. In addition, about 19 percent of our campaign includes donor designations; those designations are forwarded to the agencies selected by the donors. We are part of United Way of America and pay an annual membership fee. Lastly, we have management, operating and fundraising expenses.

United Way believes in the strength of diversity and the inherent worth of all individuals. The dignity and worth of every individual should be cherished, protected and preserved, regardless of race, color, religion, creed, age, sex, national origin or ancestry, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, status as an individual who is disabled or handicapped, or genetic testing. Click here for our diversity policy.

Heart of West Michigan United Way’s fundraising and administrative costs are approximately 10 percent, calculated in accordance with United Way of America's standards. This percent represents that portion of administrative costs funded by dollars raised by the annual campaign. Almost 90 cents of every dollar donated is invested back into the community to help those who need it most.

Heart of West Michigan United Way focuses on bringing additional resources to our community by pursuing grants from companies, state and federal government sources, and endowments. We also work to facilitate resources coming to our community and going directly to individuals and organizations. For example, the Kent County Tax Credit Coalition brought almost $6.7 million in 2008 to low- and moderate-income families in the form of tax credits and refunds.

In 2007 United Way received funds from 331 corporations, 656 workplace campaigns, plus individuals, foundations and state and federal campaigns.

Every three years. Our current three-year cycle ends in June 2010.

Click here for a complete list of 116 United Way-funded programs at 51 partner agencies.

■American Red Cross of Greater Grand Rapids
■Arbor Circle Corporation
■Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired
■Asthma Network of West Michigan
■Baxter Community Center
■Boy Scouts of America Gerald R. Ford Council
■Camp Blodgett
■Camp Fire USA West Michigan Council
■Camp Tall Turf
■Catholic Charities West Michigan
■Child & Family Resource Council
■Children’s Assessment Center
■D.A. Blodgett for Children
■Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services
■Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Regional Poison Center
■Disability Advocates
■Dwelling Place
■Family Outreach Center
■Genesis Non-Profit Housing Corporation
■Gerontology Network Services
■Girl Scouts of Michigan Trails
■Goodwill Industries
■Grand Rapids Opportunities for Women (G.R.O.W.)
■Grand Rapids Urban League
■Hispanic Center of West Michigan
■Home Repair Services
■Hope Network - West Michigan
■Hospice of Michigan - Grand Rapids
■Jubilee Jobs
■Kent Regional 4C
■Legal Aid of Western Michigan
■Life Guidance Services
■Literacy Center of West Michigan
■Michigan Migrant Legal Assistance Project
■Native American Community Services
■North Kent Service Center
■Project Rehab
■Restorers
■The Salvation Army
■SECOM - South End Community Outreach Ministries
■Senior Meals Program
■Senior Neighbors
■Thresholds
■United Methodist Community House
■Visiting Nurse Association of Western Michigan
■Wedgwood Christian Services
■West Michigan Center for Arts and Technology (WMCAT)
■West Michigan Dental Foundation
■Women’s Resource Center
■YMCA of Grand Rapids
■YWCA West Central Michigan