What does the United Way do?
The United Way of Johnson & Washington Counties researches and assesses community conditions and needs. We are the focal point for raising money and investing it to meet those needs and create change that improves lives.
Additional Information: The United Way of Johnson & Washington Counties focuses on the building blocks of a good quality of life:
· Education: Helping children and youth achieve their full potential through education
o Improving access to quality, affordable child care and early learning opportunities
o Partnering with schools and parents to improve graduation rates
o Providing after-school and mentoring programs for at-risk youth
· Income: Helping individuals and families stay or become independent, financially stable and self-sufficient
o Supporting basic needs while increasing financial education
o Helping hardworking people obtain job training and family-sustaining wages
o Increasing affordable housing for seniors and families
· Health: Improving the mental and physical health of children, youth and adults
o Increasing access to critical health services
o Reducing substance abuse, child abuse and domestic violence
o Increasing health education and preventive care
What happens to my donation?
Your donation will be pooled with other contributions and the total will be distributed across agencies and programs based on how they meet community needs.
Additional Information: Community volunteers provide oversight of the allocation of campaign funds, based on meeting community needs. The United Way Community Impact Council reviews each funding request, and makes recommendations for funding to the United Way of Johnson and Washington Counties Board of Directors.
United Way contributions are tax deductible.
Is it possible to designate my gift?
Yes. The pledge form gives you the option to designate your gift to a specific partner agency, to another United Way serving another community, or to any other 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Additional Information: Unless otherwise designated, donations go to our United Way Fund for the Common Good. That is the pool of funds we use for grants to our 31 partner agencies and to fund other United Way programs and initiatives.
Donors may designate to a specific United Way of Johnson & Washington Counties partner agency. Each designated donation must be a minimum of $50 or more. Designations to the partner agencies are paid in April and October.
Donors may designate to another non-profit organization. United Way provides oversight before distributing the donation to confirm the organization is in compliance with the Patriot Act and has received a 501(c)(3) non-profit status determination from the federal government. Each designation must be a minimum of $50.
Donors may designate to another United Way. Donors who live in another county may wish for their contribution to be directed to that county’s United Way. United Way of Johnson & Washington Counties will ensure that these funds are directed to the designated United Way. Each designation must be a minimum of $50.
Why should I give to United Way instead of giving directly to an agency?
If you have a special relationship with a specific agency, you may wish to contribute directly to them. However, United Way’s comprehensive approach to addressing community problems allows your gift to have a maximum impact on changing community conditions and improving lives. United Way is the only non-profit in our area that exists to assess community needs, target resources and monitor results.
I don’t live in Johnson or Washington County. Why should I give?
Some say the strength of a community can be determined by the conditions of the community’s most vulnerable. If you are able to help the most vulnerable here, you will improve the quality of life in the community that is home to the business where you work. That is likely good for the health of this business and good for your co-workers who reside here. You can also designate a contribution to the United Way in the community where you live and we will be sure they receive it.
What are United Way of Johnson & Washington Counties’ administrative and fundraising fees?
United Way of Johnson & Washington Counties sets aside 16 percent of your contribution to cover administrative and fundraising costs. Examples of these costs are processing your pledge forms, providing you with proof of contribution for tax purposes, and receiving your payments. Other costs include evaluating organizations and applications for funds to ensure your money is well spent. The United Way helps reduce the administrative and fundraising costs of our partner agencies.
Does United Way collect all the money that individuals pledge?
Unfortunately, no. But we have a pretty good track record. We are lucky that most people who pledge pay their pledges.
Additional Information: Our Board of Directors estimates the uncollectable pledge amount each year and this amount of money is not allocated to our agencies or programs. If we collect more than the Board expects, we put that money into a reserve to fund emergency and special initiatives.
Does the United Way have an Endowment Fund?
We are associated with 4 Community Foundation of Johnson County emdowment funds
· United Way Endowment Fund – to build for the sustainable future of operations and community impact activities
· United Way Entrepreneurial Fund – to build the pool of grant funds for innovative approaches to solving community priorities and addressing emerging issues
· United Way Healthy Kids Endowment Fund – to generate sustainable funding for school-based health clinics
· Summerships – This is our new fund to provide scholarships for low and middle income youth to participate in out of school time programs and camps
For information about a gift to an endowment, contact UWJWC Interim President and CEO, Mary Westbrook or UWJWC Director of Annual Giving, Dan Brown
Our outstanding social services attract more people who need service. Doesn’t my contribution cause more people who need help to move here?
It may or may not. Johnson and Washington Counties are great places to live and the quality of life here attracts many people for many reasons. The United Way believes everyone deserves a safe and healthy place to live.
Do you support
Boy Scouts? Boy Scouts is not a partner agency; however, we honor donor choice, and some donors do make designated gifts to the Boy Scouts through United Way and we distribute those funds to the organization.
Girl Scouts? Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois is a United Way partner agency. In Johnson County, United Way funding is used to provide access to programming for girls who otherwise could not participate. Girl Scouts collaborates with a number of our other partners – both agencies and businesses on programs that promote financial literacy, healthy behaviors and education.
Planned Parenthood or the Emma Goldman Clinic for Women? Planned Parenthood and/or the Emma Goldman Clinic for Women are not partner agencies, and neither has applied for or received grant funding from United Way of Johnson & Washington Counties; however, we honor donor choice, and some donors do make designated gifts to Planned Parenthood and/or the Emma Goldman Clinic for Women through the United Way and we distribute those funds to the organization(s).
Who runs United Way of Johnson & Washington Counties?
· Volunteer community leaders form the governing Board of Directors of the United Way of Johnson & Washington Counties, and each Board member serves on at least one of the Board Committees – Strategic Planning, Community Investment, Resource Development and Internal Operations
· Volunteers also participate in making funding decisions and providing oversight of funded organizations through their service on the Community Impact Council
· Volunteers provide leadership on the United Way Campaign Cabinet, Planned Giving and Endowment Committee and Workplace Campaign Teams
· United Way of Johnson and Washington Counties staff are:
o Katie Knight, President & CEO
o Patti Fields, Vice President for Community Impact & Engagement
o Terri Anderson, Director of Finance & Operations
o Director of Annual Giving
o Jodi Covington, Community Strategies Coordinator
o Carol Rowland, Finance & Pledge Services Coordinator (P/T)
o Amy Schaefer, Administrative Assistant (P/T)
DO YOU HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS?
Please view our website at www.unitedwayjwc.org, or contact us at 319-338-7823 or by e-mail at .