Anyone know anything about the "United Way" charity?

[Reason]

My employer has just made some sort of partnership with them and is soliciting donating to all the employees.

I am always a little leery of these sorts of organizations because I never feel like I can fully trust where my money is going unless I actually work with them or see first hand evidence of what it is that they are doing, for example, I feel comfortable giving money to the calguns foundation because I see the results of their lawsuits and such.

Yes I will be doing my own googling but I thought I would check here too in case anyone has some knowledge to share...

Thank You!

[Eagles' Wings]

We've decided not to give to ANY non-profits (501c3).

Only give to people we know or have heard about, who are in need. And there are plenty.

[Cleaner44]

They certainly had major issues in the past...
United Way says it’s making progress after past scandal (http://www.wsoctv.com/news/news/local/united-way-says-its-making-progress-after-past-sca/nLfbL/)

[puppetmaster]

I did not like their strong arm tactics from previous employers so I never donate to them. I did know that a large percentage of the donation used to be eaten up by the organization. Now I donate to make a wish and directly to the needy in my area.

[fr33]

I could be wrong but I think they work with the YMCA.

[Brian4Liberty]

I did not like their strong arm tactics from previous employers so I never donate to them. I did know that a large percentage of the donation used to be eaten up by the organization. Now I donate to make a wish and directly to the needy in my area.

Yep. Screw them. Just a big bureaucracy.

[Keith and stuff]

Not one of the better charities. If you give a dollar, your employer can say you participated so that might get it off your back. There are far better groups to make large donations to.

[anaconda]

NFL football has certainly collaborated"Thanks to you it works...for all of us..The United Way......."


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MXxty8kKg4


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FoPjMfMBYE


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCCgYHpeuTQ

[LibertyEagle]

As I recall, they spend a high percentage of the donations on salaries, etc. Long ago when I researched them a bit, I had decided they were not a good group to donate to.

[asurfaholic]

I give my money to church and local ministries that help the local needy, soup kitchens ect.

[roho76]

Aren't they some UN group? If your "charity" is large enough to afford billboards, you're too big for my money. I'm sure a large portion of contributions are eaten up in bullshit and paychecks just like the Red Cross.

[JustinTime]

Its a top heavy charity, lots of overhead that eats up the donations. Still, if your boss is asking Id cough up a five or ten.

[donnay]

Aren't they some UN group? If your "charity" is large enough to afford billboards, you're too big for my money. I'm sure a large portion of contributions are eaten up in bullshit and paychecks just like the Red Cross.


Yes, that is what I remembered too. I did some research to find some information about this but couldn't find anything. If my memory serves me they were attached in some way to UNESCO.

[MelissaWV]

United Way is basically a network of charities and programs. Donating to them at large is akin to tossing your money onto a trash fire.

I am a fan of:


I give my money to church and local ministries that help the local needy, soup kitchens ect.

Having said that, you can do both things in most areas with minimal research. Are any of your local churches or organizations members of United Way? You can earmark your donation and it DOES go to that particular organization. ElderCare is a United Way charity here, so when the "United Way campaign" kicks off at work, that is where the money goes.

[HOLLYWOOD]

Always keep your money close... local churches, soup kitchens, food banks, community drives

http://s2.hubimg.com/u/5496021_f260.jpg

http://alexar.hubpages.com/hub/United-Way-Scam




The NonProfit Times' 2013 Power and Influence Top 50
http://www.thenonprofittimes.com/news-articles/the-nonprofit-times-power-and-influence-top-50-2013/

Red Cross, United Way, Other Charities Tell Candidates What They Want
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-clolery/presidential-debates-charity-candidates_b_1935446.html


America's 50 Worst Charities (http://craigconnects.org/2013/06/americas-50-worst-charities.html)
http://craigconnects.org/2013/06/americas-50-worst-charities.html

http://craigconnects.org/wp-content/uploads/top-10-worst-charities.png

[VIDEODROME]

I've only been solicited for that once and didn't thinking I was earning enough to have a "Corporate Charity" pestering me for money. Get real.

[Bruno]

Some local United Way chapters are better than others. The United Way of Central Iowa is rated 4 stars on Charity Navigator, for what's that's worth. I've donated to and volunteered with them before a number of times. Our chapter holds the non-profits they support accountable by having them report their progress for the dollars they receive, and drop them from funding if they are under-performing.

Just this morning I volunteered through the United Way for the Graduation Walk, formerly known as Reach out to Drop-outs. Hundreds of us knocked on doors of local high school kids that had not returned to school, or who were at risk of not graduating on time due to lack of credits. Argument of public vs. private schools aside, these were all good kids I spoke to just not doing their best for various reasons.

With the company I work for, you can donate directly to the United Way or local schools or smaller charities, and it's all matched with company funds. That might be an option for your company, as well.

[Dr.3D]

The factory where I worked told us we couldn't have private coffee sales in the shop so we all stopped donating to United Way.... it didn't take long before the company decided to let us have private coffee sales again and we started giving to the United Way again. We just used them for leverage in the shop.