When you give to United Way’s Impact Fund, you support UNITED WAY’S WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY.
· To help meet the growing needs of local people in these challenging times, and in light of government cuts to social services, please join us and support your neighbors in need by giving to the United Way Impact Fund.
· Contributions to the Impact Fund support United Way’s work in our community, including innovative and successful initiatives such as
· UNITED FOR WOMEN: Supporting women with the resources they need to get through an unexpected time of transition, such as the death of a spouse, chronic illness, financial crisis or perhaps domestic violence.
· 21 AND ABLE. When special needs students in Pennsylvania finish high-school programs, they age out of their support system and can spend years on waiting lists for adult services. Since 2010, 21 and Able has worked to define the problem, gather community leadership and seek best practices.
· BE A 6TH GRADE MENTOR. Mentors help middle-school students explore career aspirations and understand the importance of academics in pursuing their dreams. United Way’s goal is to connect over 400 mentors to students by the end of 2012.
· PA 2-1-1 SOUTHWEST. An easy to remember number connecting people in need to helpful resources. In addition, the 2-1-1 website will be available on smartphones. PA 2-1-1 is expanding to 11 counties through a regional partnership with other United Ways.
· Free Tax Preparation Campaign: Provided free, quality income tax preparation assistance to low-income working families and individuals.
· Open Your Heart to a Senior: Volunteers helping seniors maintain their independence in many ways, such as providing transportation and shopping support, home visits and reassurance, assessing home safety and performing countless other tasks that make self-sufficiency possible.
· Your United Way Impact Fund contribution stays right here in Allegheny County working to meet the most critical needs in our community by helping:
§ Families gain self-sufficiency
§ People in a crisis with emergency needs like food and utility assistance
§ Kids who are at risk academically do better in school
§ People with disabilities and their families achieve their best possible independence
§ Frail seniors stay safe in their homes
§ Support local disaster relief and the community safety net
· Your United Way Impact Fund contribution is used to support only the most efficient and effective human service programs and agencies. Through a rigorous funding process, local agencies demonstrate that they’re meeting the most critical needs in our community. And donors have a greater level of assurance that their contributions are going to the people who need it most.
· United Way of Allegheny County is exploring practical ways to maximize your United Way Impact Fund contribution. We are in a unique position to help agencies take a holistic approach to services–working together to consolidate services, addressing each aspect of a client’s issue as a whole.
· The United Way Impact Fund supports meaningful collaborations among agencies that not only create organizational efficiencies and savings, but also significantly improve services to those in need.
· United Way convenes the community around issues such as ways to help youth with disabilities and their families challenged by the loss of resources that occurs once the child turns 21. 21 and Able, a United Way initiative, is bringing attention to this issue and working to ensure that each individual receives the support they need to live their life to its fullest potential.
· Since 2002, United Way has reduced its fundraising and management costs by over 42%. Our local United Way’s 2011 overhead was 11.2%, nearly one third of the national recommended standard of 35% cited by the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance. Over eighty-eight cents of every one dollar goes directly to those in need. United Way of Allegheny County has earned Charity Navigator’s highest rating – 4 stars – FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR!
United Way of Allegheny County is Successful, even in difficult times.
The following charts illustrate the cumulative trend in charitable donations from 2007 and United Way’s steady increase in campaign donations. While other United Ways and human services nonprofits are seeing decreases in contributions, United Way’ of Allegheny County’s donations continue to rise.
· If not for United Way…
· We would continue to solve problems with a band-aid approach, instead of addressing root causes that create long-lasting change.
· Agencies would duplicate – instead of uniting – their efforts to address our community’s most critical needs.
· More children and youth would not succeed – at home, at school or in life.
· More families would lack the support needed to build financial stability.
· More seniors and people with disabilities would lose their independence and overall sense of well-being.
· Initiatives programs like Be A 6th Grade Mentor, Open Your Heart To A Senior and the new 2-1-1 call center would not exist.
Page 1 of 3