About the United Way
United Way of America
The relationship between the Wiregrass United Way and the United Way of America is often misunderstood. Both are independent, federally recognized non-profit corporations which cannot tell each other what to do. Below is a description of United Way of America (UWA):
United Way of America is the trade association that owns the copyright to the name "United Way" and the logo that is associated with that name. UWA will license the name and logo to organizations that solicit funds from the public and disperse the funds to non-profit agencies. They cannot make decisions for the Wiregrass United Way, and we do not even have regular contact with UWA. What they do is require that anyone using the United Way name is a reputable, efficient organization which absorbs less than 25% of the funds it collects for administrative costs. They also require a number of financial documents to ensure that funds are not misused. Should a local United Way violate these principles, the UWA will pull their United Way Status, and that organization will not be able to use the name and logo anymore.
In addition to the brand name of United Way, the UWA also provides the Wiregrass United Way with contacts and relationships with large national corporations. For example, they pursued a relationship with Wal-Mart, who has stores in all the states of the country. Now, thanks to this relationship, wherever a local Wal-Mart is located, the corporate office will make a donation to the local United Way of that area (not the UWA). Wal-Mart also allows their employees to be solicited by their local United Way, and we are the only such solicitation that is allowed.
The Wiregrass United Way actively continues the relationship with the UWA, due to the donations that come to area that would not be available otherwise.
The fee that is paid to the United Way of America for the use of our name and logo is much smaller than some might imagine. UWA asks that for every $100 we receive in donations, that we forward $.75 to them. This adds up to three-quarters of one percent of the money we raise, with no additional fees or any strings attached. More money comes into the area through the national partnerships than flows out for the fee to UWA. This small fee is ABSOLUTELY the only amount of your donation that leaves the Wiregrass Area.
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