United Way

R

RHarris

New member
My employer has handed out United Way pledge cards again this year to everyone. It seems like they try to pressure everyone to donate. Charity organizations are fine with me, but before I give anything, I like to know where the money is going.

Is the United Way connected with any anti-gun organizations? If so, what evidence can I easily provide?
 
I don't care who they are connected with, I will not give to United Way and will not pressure the people who work for me to do so. I think solicitation of a "captive audience" in the workplace is wrong.
 
My boss ( a really nice guy) was dragooned into being the United Way chair for our division. So I turned in my pledge card for the minimum ammount ($5 a month) and directed my pledge to the NRA Foundation. That way, he gets 100% participation for our office, and the NRA gets a few bucks.

Yes, I know all about the many ills of the United Way and their attempts to feather their own nest. However, if you think that a pledge is necessary due to office politics or whatever, just direct your gift to a "non politically correct" organization like the NRA Foundation or, better yet, the Boy Scouts.

If you don't feel the need to participate, then use the excuse that I've always used over the years when someone has pestered me to contribute to their charity: "The only charity I support is my church." This always works - insert "synagogue" or "mosque" where appropriate.


Ken Strayhorn
Hillsborough NC
 
United Way used to be connected with the Firearms Civil Rights Defense Fund or something similar through NRA-ILA.

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Beware the man with the S&W .357 Mag.
Chances are he knows how to use it.
 
I will not and have not given to United Way since the scandal a few years ago. Our department sends out the cards every year and every year I write NO!! in large bold letters so they know my position. I donate to charity but not United Way.
 
I am seen by the annual United Way enforcer in my office as "cheap", because I don't like giving to omnibus charities. I explained to her that I give charity freely to organizations I support, including tithing (10% of my gross income) to my local church. I know that the $ I give is well managed and goes to further charitable work, missions work, evangelism, etc.

I did not know that you can direct your contribution to the United Way. If that's true, I might check it out and direct my $ to the NRA, which would probably annoy her even worse. heh, heh.

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Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.
1 Peter 2:16.
 
Have the same thing here where I work. They make a huge deal of it each year trying to push the donations. Last year I tore up the form as it was being stuffed into my mail box. Got a really evil look from the goon stuffing the boxes. When asked why I didnt feel it worth my while to be charitable I responded that I dont like middle-men. I can donate straight to the charity of my choice and not worry about a middle guy siphoning off percentages. Got and even nastier look.

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"Liberty is never unalienable; it must be redeemed regularly with the blood of patriots or it always vanishes."
-R.A. Heinlein
 
The head of the Salvation Army makes about
$40K IIRC and the head of the United Way makes in the $200K range.

That says it all. I'm not against making a good book but not when you are running a charity.

Also, they terrorize the poorest staff at work to give. The high level techies can laugh it off.

Not fair.
 
(rant mode ON)

If you designate, say, $10 to go toward some specific United Way charity, they'll send it (less handling expenses.) But then they'll reroute $10 that was going there from someone else to another charity. No net increase. Anyway, some of the UW organizations ARE anti-gun (YWCA, for example.) I also have a hard time donating to an organization whose CEO makes MULTIPLES of what I do!

Furthermore, the biggest UW agency is the Red Cross. My dad and two uncles, all WWII vets, had PLENTY to say about their experiences with that organization, none of it good. And I've heard credible storied about other questionable fundraising practices more recently.

I donate to the the charitable causes I believe in DIRECTLY, without some middleman getting a slice of the pie.

(rant mode off)
 
My first sargent while in the army was pissed at me every payday! I gave to the Salvation Army and not to the Red Cross. That meant that he did not have 100% donations to the Red Cross.
 
I will never give money to the United Way. When I was younger I had a factory job for a short-while. As we applied for the job, those hiring made it clear that they intended that we give to the United Way. I didn't but the threat was clear that it was a condition of hire. These were poor people applying for the job, many didn't speak English. I was so ticked off by this that I vowed never to support the United Way.

If I give to a charity or cause I support I either give directly and eat the taxes myself or try to find some other organization than the United Way.
 
I am on the local United Way board in our small town. I don't know how it is done elsewhere but here it is 100% to local charities (17 of them) with the exception of a "membership" to UW national for about $180/year, and a small amount for a phone/computer.
I can assure you NO anti-freedom organizations are supported here and yes, the Boy Scouts are recipients- same amount as the Girl Scouts.
 
Kingcreek -- that's how it's supposed to work. And in a small town, you can make it work that way, and it sounds like your chapter is doing it right.

Unfortunately, for those of us in big cities, it doesn't always go like that. Personally, I will not contribute to UW for many of the reasons others have already listed. Instead, I'd rather send a check directly to my favorite charities.

And if a company pledge guy comes around asking for my UW contribution, I will politely and very very firmly refuse.


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"People who say guns are bad are lucky enough never to have been in a situation where someone has kicked down your door and threatened the life of your son and your sixty-five-year-old mother."
-- Memphis, Tennessee resident Gina Cushon, quoted in Laura Ingraham's book "The Hillary Trap"
 
Kingcreek, it's the 180 sent to the national office that most are complaining about. Each UWay is different based on it's community. They don't all support the same causes. The bigger they get the more dictatorial they become with the area non-profits. In our community they take at least 12% off the top to administer the funds and have used the interest off of the donations to purchase a building. Designated donations are ok, but as one tfl member pointed out it won't increase the allotment to the designated charity. If you want to start some fireworks, ask what happens if Charity A has an allocation of $5000 and the designated donations exceed that amount? Each area is different, comparing the salary of a Salvation Army Captain to the National office of UWay is like comparing grapes to apples. How much does the National office of the Salvation Army leaders make? All Local SA's are required to send money to their national office just like local UWays. In our case the local Captain makes 40 plus, house, car, utilities, insurance etc. expense so the real salary is probably in the 70-80,000 range. In our area UWay was touted as a way to stop local charities from showing up at the area business,s door asking for money. What it has become is "pissing contest" for the local execs. If your employer requires it, give the minimum and designate to the charity of your choice. But don't forget the non-profits in your area, check them out, get involved, if they're trying to help your community they won't mind your questions and will welcome an extra set of hands. Volunteers are always needed, on their boards and in other areas. I am an Executive Director of an agency and can tell you some horror stories. I can also tell you that there are many like mine, who struggle to make ends meet no matter how large. In our case we have a 2.2 million dollar operational budget, of which we earn over 98% that's earned not begged. UWay money is the 2% unearned. The only reason we haven't stopped taking their money is agency tours. Once a year, the companies let their employees visit agencies. We have met some good folks that way and have wound up with great volunteers as a result. It is a tough balancing act dealing with their restrictions and new policies but I feel it is important for the average worker to see proof that a tax-exempt organization is doing something to make the community better. You want accountability, we have an annual independent audit done as well as a compliance audit (where the funds received used for the purpose intended) that cost us over $7000 this year. Any legitimate community based organization will do this. Sorry I got on the soap box again. Anyway, my message is simple, check out the local charities, pick one or several and get involved. They really do make a difference in a community.
 
This year, one of the UW chapters in Minnesota (Duluth) have banned the Boy Scouts from receiving any of their money(unless specifically donated to BSA on the form). That's just one of the reasons I do not give to the United Way.

I don't know of any other chapters that have done that, but I bet there's quite a few.


From the United Way website for Duluth:

United Way of Greater Duluth Board of Directors Votes To Cease Funding for Boy Scouts of America


The United Way of Greater Duluth Board of Directors determined that the Boy Scouts’ position of denying membership privileges to any openly gay person is in clear conflict with United Way’s mutual agency agreement discrimination clause.

This determination, based on meetings with local Boy Scouts of America officials and a careful review of the Boy Scouts’ published position statements on the subject of providing employment, volunteer and membership opportunities to openly gay citizens, was the basis for action from the United Way Board of Directors to revoke funding designated for the Boy Scouts of America.

"We regret that Boy Scout programs funded by United Way of Greater Duluth are impacted by this decision. We believe that the Boy Scouts of America provide valuable services to youth in our community. Unfortunately, because the Boy Scouts of America policy openly discriminates against members on the basis of sexual orientation, United Way of Greater Duluth has no choice in this matter. United Way of Greater Duluth must honor its commitment to inclusiveness and access to human services for all members of this community," stated United Way of Greater Duluth President, Peter Miller.

Funding for Voyageurs Area Council #286, Boy Scouts of America, Inc. will cease immediately, although any funds specifically designated for the Boy Scouts of America during the current United Way fundraising campaign or prior fundraising campaigns will continue to be paid to the agency.
 
Charity should be a personal matter. The recent actions of the United Way reminded me of that fact.

This year the United Way will not be allowed to solicit donations from my employees. Employees will be instructed to donate to the charity of their choice.

Personally, I will be making one of my charities the Boy Scouts. In light of recent actions against them, they are deserving of my support. enuf said.
 
I read that the HEAD of the Salvation Army gets 40K, not a captain. If I am wrong correct me. The head of the United Way get a much bigger salary and does the DC party circuit.

That's wrong. Also the clearly cohercive nature of collecting at most firms is wrong.
 
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