Frequently Asked Questions about the
Wiregrass United Way:

Who is the Wiregrass United Way?

Our agency was founded in 1938. We are located in historic downtown Dothan, AL. Although we only have one office, our staff of 7 serves and handles the daily operations of a 5 county area. We work throughout the year to raise awareness and funds for the community and our agencies. We coordinate workplace campaigns with hundreds of employers and advocate for postive change in the areas of education, income and health. Our goal is to create lasting changes that prevent problems from happening in the first place. We operate under the idea that when we reach out a hand to one, we can influence the condition of all.

What counties/areas do you serve?

We cover a the 5 county Wiregrass Area: Coffee, Dale, Geneva, Henry and Houston Counties. However, many of our partnering agencies serve many additional counties, so if you need help but don't live in one the 5 counties mentioned earlier, you can still call us or 2-1-1 for help. 

What are the administrative costs for the Wiregrass United Way?

Our administrative costs have remained constant at 17% for the past 4 years. The national average for non-profits is around 25%, so you can see, we operate effectively and efficiently.

Does my donation stay in my community?

YES! 99 cents of every dollar that a donor invests in our United Way stays here to serve the needs of our friends, family and neighbors in the Wiregrass area.

So, where does the other penny go?

The remaining one cent pays our dues to United Way of America which allows to use the UWA brandmark, attend their trainings and most importantly it gives us access to National Corporate Leadership companies, such as Wal-Mart, UPS, JC Penney, and many more.

Giving through WUW ensures that our agencies receive steady, reliable funding throughout the year rather than sporadic contributions from the public. By working with the United Way, our partnering agencies spend lesson fundraising which enables them to put more money and effort toward their programs and services. Another reason why is because several of our agencies use their WUW allocation as matching money when applying for various grants. Without this seed money or matching money, those potential grants could be lost. 

How are WUW Agencies held accountable?

They must be recognized by the IRS as a non-profit agency and governed by volunteers. They must meet a human service need and operate at or under administrative costs of 25%. Every one of our agencies undergo an annual review from United Way volunteers on our Funds Distribution committees. They are required to submit annual budgets, audits and a report detailing their programs and services from the previous year, along with the number of consumers who were involved or received a benenfit from those programs.