United Way Frequently Asked Questions

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There are 1,300 independent United Way organizations throughout the country. United Way for Jackson & George Counties serves only these two counties and is governed by a 50 member Board of Directors that is made up of volunteers from this community. In addition, the United Way for Jackson & George Counties is independently audited yearly and adheres to the highest level of ethical standards.

The United Way for Jackson & George Counties does three main things:

a) We provide financial support and other resources to member agencies providing direct services in our community.

b) We help coordinate the agencies so that we do not have multiple agencies trying to serve the same need while others needs are being ignored.

c) The United Way for Jackson & George Counties itself runs programs and unites people to address areas of unmet need in our community. The three areas of unmet need that United Way focuses on are quality day care, after school programming and mental health resources. We also offer Workforce Assistance and Family Emergency Programs through the United Way Community Resource Center.

Donating to the United Way for Jackson & George Counties allows you piece of mind that your hard earned dollar is going to help the most people and doing the most good in our local community. Local agencies that receive money from United Way undergo monthly reviews and must submit reports showing the outcomes of the money given to them to support programs and services within their agency.

Giving to United Way also avoids having to give to many organizations throughout the year. Through United Way’s payroll deduction program, your contribution can be taken from your paycheck and put with thousands of other people’s money to fund numerous local organizations and needs right here in our local community.

If you would still like to donate to a particular 501(c)3 agency, you may do so when filling out your pledge card and designating your contribution go to a specific agency. United Way for Jackson & George Counties honors all designations over $20 received before November 15, 2010.

A member agency is a non-profit agency that United Way for Jackson & George Counties funds financially to provide services to our local community. The agencies are governed by volunteer Board of Directors and must submit reports showing where the money they receive is going. They undergo yearly funding requests from a volunteer allocations panel and submit information detailing the need for their particular service in our area and the amount of people they are able to help with their funded programs and services. United Way for Jackson & George Counties currently funds 20 local agencies and programs.

Yes. Our organization is a 501(c)3 and your donation is tax deductible.

99% of every dollar raised stays in Jackson & George Counties. The remaining 1% goes to United Way Worldwide to cover branding rights, training and market research to local United Ways such as UWJGC.

No. Each United Way is independent and makes their own funding decisions. United Way for Jackson & George Counties currently funds both the Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts and values the services they offer to children in Jackson & George Counties.