Frequently Asked Questions
What does United Way of Anchorage do?
United Way of Anchorage measurably improves the quality of people’s lives and builds a stronger community by creating lasting change in four action areas.
What's an action area and what do you mean by lasting change?
An action area further identifies and guides United Way’s work. For instance, in our Help Kids Succeed action area, we are aligning our efforts and resources to ensure our children and youth have opportunities to develop physically, socially, and emotionally to their full potential. Within each action area are specific goals and the steps to achieve them.
When we talk about lasting change, we’re talking about a change in conditions at a community level – be it attitudes, behaviors, processes, or systems— that not only alleviates today’s troubles, but also reduces tomorrow’s needs. Our goal is long lasting change that prevents problems from happening in the first place.
ACTION AREA: Help Kids Succeed
Increase the number of children reading at grade level by 3rd grade
Reduce substance abuse among youth
ACTION AREA: Strengthen Families and Neighborhoods
Revitalizing NE Anchorage neighborhoods
Increase the number of Alaskans that are connected state-wide with social services and volunteer opportunities
ACTION AREA: Promote Health and Self-Sufficiency
Improving health for low-income, uninsured Anchorage residents
ACTION AREA: Provide a Basic Needs Safety Net
Reduce the number of people experiencing hunger in the community
Reduce family violence and sexual assault
How does this new work of United Way differ from what United Way of Anchorage was doing five years ago?
Five years ago, United Way was raising money and distributing money to its service partners. The service partners were doing (and continue to do) very good and important work in the community. However, if you asked what difference your gift made, other than anecdotal stories of success, United Way really couldn’t tell you much. Today, United Way is aligning its resources to goals targeted at changing community conditions. Today, United Way can talk about results. We can tell you that your gift helped to decrease the number of hungry people in Anchorage. Under United Way’s leadership seven hunger organizations are working together in new ways – the result is a 30% increase in the amount of food available for distribution to hungry children, women and men in our community. (For more information go to http://www.uway.ak.org/content/home/news.cfm?newsid=58 )
Five years ago, the only resource United Way brought to the table was the money raised in workplace campaigns and from individuals. Today, United Way uses the money raised to leverage grants from foundations and government sources that are focused on the specific goals in each action area. These efforts have led to an additional $5 million being invested in community work over the last three years.
Five years ago, United Way ’s focus was on the needs of its member agencies or service partners. Today, the focus is on the needs of the community. Providing money to agencies used to be the end result. Now, it is an important strategy that is used to change community conditions.
Five years ago, United Way of Anchorage measured success based on how much money was raised and distributed. Today, success is measured by the changes in the community conditions that lead to need in the first place.
Creating lasting change in people’s lives and the community is what matters.
What is the Community Fund?
The United Way of Anchorage Community Fund is dedicated to the activities and strategies aligned toward the targeted goals in the four action areas. Another way to say this is that monies from the Community Fund improve the quality of people’s lives by creating lasting changes in community conditions in four action areas.
How can I be assured that the money I give to the Community Fund really makes a difference?
United Way is establishing Community Action Teams, each with a broad range of community skills, experiences, and perspectives. These teams will guide our work in strengthening families and communities, helping kids succeed, promoting wellness and self-sufficiency and providing basic needs safety net. Each team will recommend targeted community goals for their areas, review action plans, help define results and assessment measures, determine the resources needed to accomplish the goal, identify incentives for collaboration, and allocate funding within their action area. If you would like to join, or are interested in learning more about the work of the Community Action Teams, contact Sue Brogan, 263-3821 or sbrogan@ak.org .
Will the Service Partner’s get any of Community Fund monies?
Community Action Teams will allocate the majority of funds to service partners and community partners who have activities aligned toward the goals in each action area. United Way of Anchorage is committed to continuing to fund the existing service partners at some level so as to help maintain a stable service delivery system in our community.
Why should I give to the Community Impact Fund?
A gift to the Community Fund is the only gift you can make that supports the entire community and not just one person, one agency, or one cause or issue. Your gift to the Community Fund is also used to leverage additional investments, significantly increasing the resources available to tackle major community concerns. Your gift to the Community Fund measurably improves the quality of people’s lives by creating lasting changes in community conditions by funding work aligned to the goals within all the action areas:
ACTION AREA: Providing a safety net for people in crisis
Reducing the number of people in the community experiencing hunger
ACTION AREA: Helping kids succeed
Increasing the number of children reading at grade level by 3rd grade
Reducing substance abuse among youth
ACTION AREA: Promoting health and self-sufficiency
Improving health for low-income uninsured Anchorage residents
ACTION AREA: Strengthening families and neighborhoods
Revitalizing NE Anchorage Neighborhood
Increasing number of Alaskans that are connected state-wide with social services and volunteer opportunities
Donors who choose the Community Fund know that they are supporting lasting changes in community conditions. Giving to United Way is the most powerful way to give to your community.
Can I direct my gift to one of the focus areas?
Yes, on your pledge form mark the action area(s) that you are would like to support. Community Action Teams will direct your gift towards activities aligned to meet the goals in that action area.
How much of my contribution actually gets where it is needed?
We’re proud of our efficiency. Ninety-two percent of gifts received goes to improving people’s lives and building a stronger community. Eight percent of your donation helps to pay for the fund-raising and administration costs at United Way. Thanks to the work of thousands of volunteers, those costs are well below national averages.
Does the money I give to the Community Impact Fund stay in my community?
Yes. Your United Way contribution is an investment in your community. Local decisions by local people put your contribution to work here.
What is United Way of America and does United Way of Anchorage participate with it?
United Way of America is a trade association for United Ways. It sets strict membership standards for local United Ways to ensure system integrity and accountability. It also provides research, information and best practices sharing, and other goods and services. United Way of America has its own volunteer board and sets its own policy for operation, including the salary and benefits of its executives. All 1,400 local United Ways are autonomous organizations that have their own volunteer boards and set their own policies for operation. United Way of Anchorage pays less than 1 percent of the amount raised in the annual campaign to belong to the organization.
If I choose to give my gift to a specific charity, how much of my gift actually gets to the charity?
85 percent. United Way of Anchorage charges an 8 percent pledge processing fee and only distributes the funds actually collected. A three-year average of the unpaid pledges is currently 7 percent.
If I direct my gift to a service partner, how does my gift affect the amount United Way gives to that agency?
United Way’s Community Action Teams make funding decisions based on activities that are aligned toward the targeted goals and to some extent aligned within the action areas. If a donor prefers to designate a gift to a service partner, the designated gift is directed to the specified agency less the pledge processing fee and estimated unfulfilled pledges. (See previous question and answer).
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Designated dollars are the first dollars allocated to an agency. If the total allocation exceeds designations, monies are taken from the Community Fund to make up the difference. For example: If the allocation for American Red Cross is $150,000 and designated dollars are $100,000, $50,000 from the Community Fund is used to make up the difference.
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If designated dollars to an agency exceed the total allocation amount, all designated gifts are forwarded to the agency. For example: If designated gifts to Bean’s Café are $100,000 and the total UW allocation for the year is $80,000, $100,000 would be forwarded to Bean’s Café.
Can I direct my gift to an organization that does not appear on the United Way of Anchorage service partners?
Yes. To qualify for the Donor Option Program of United Way of Anchorage, an agency must have tax exempt status under paragraph “3” of subsection “c” under section 501 of the US internal Revenue Code of 1954 – 501 ( c ) ( 3 ). The agency must provide health and human care services in Alaska. Churches, religious programs, educational institutions and foundations, cultural groups, service clubs, legal defense funds and political organization are not eligible. If a non-qualifying agency is designated, United Way will notify the donor.
However, United Way of Anchorage does encourage those that do direct their gift to a specific agency, to consider directing a portion of the gift to the Community Fund.
How can I be sure my money is going where I direct it to go?
Both an internal and external audit is performed annually to certify the correctness of our operations.
Where does most of the United Way money come from?
Of the dollars donated in Anchorage, 79 percent comes from individuals, the rest from corporations.
Why do some agencies raise funds when they are already funded by United Way?
Demand for services from funded agencies exceeds the dollars available from United Way; the funds provided to the agencies account for an average of 10 percent of their funding. However, if you have given at the suggested level to United Way, and you feel over-asked by member agencies, please tell them that you have given significantly to United Way and choose to not give to them directly.
I feel I am being pressured to give.
Voluntary giving is what United Way is all about – no one should feel forced to give. In fact, United Way has a policy against coercion. The decision to give is strictly personal. If you feel you were coerced into making a pledge, please contact our office at 263-3841 for a confidential refund.
Why should I give? I never use agency programs.
Statistics show that one of three people use United Way services in their lifetime. Your support ensures that you, your loved ones, or your neighbors have help when it is needed. United Way services aren’t just for the exceptionally needy. Your gift supports programs for all youth and for disease prevention from which most of us benefit. Your gift is an investment in the quality of life in the community where we live, work, raise our families and retire.
Why aren’t all non-profit agencies a part of United Way?
Any organization that works in the four action areas is encouraged to participate in addressing the goals. United Way of Anchorage is more inclusive than ever before, partnering with many organizations in the community to focus on the goals within each action area.
How do I benefit by giving to United Way of Anchorage?
Long-term solutions to community problems are found.
You are part of a community-wide effort to change lives and improve our community.
By working together, you help get results that no one can accomplish alone.
Fund-raising costs are well below the average.
Your gift is leveraged to secure other funding that further changes lives and improves our community.
Your gift will make a difference right here in our local community.
Does United Way fund programs that deal with human sexuality?
United Way funds some educational programs that deal with human sexuality. These programs are aimed at reducing the incidence of unplanned pregnancy and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.
United Way does not fund programs that provide abortions.
Does United Way fund agencies with religious affiliations?
Some of our agencies have religious origins, such as the Catholic Social Services and the Lutheran Social Services of Alaska.
Funded programs within these, as within all our agencies, can be used by anyone in our community regardless of their religious affiliation, and United Way funds may not be used for religious purposes.