Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is United Way of Winnipeg?
A: United Way is a registered charity that connects people and resources throughout our community to identify and address our most challenging social issues.
Q: What does United Way of Winnipeg do?
A: United Way ensures an essential network of programs and services by providing support to nearly 100 agency partners throughout Winnipeg. Each plays a vital role in our overall strategy to create positive, lasting change and better lives for everyone.
A:
- Donate - Now more than ever your donation is a gift of hope, ensuring our community remains stable today, and can emerge stronger tomorrow. Without you, there would be no way.
- Volunteer - There's more than one way to invest in our community. Your gifts of time, talent and skills are important too. Get together with a group of your peers and help a non-profit agency partner complete a much-needed project during a Day of Caring. Or become an agency liaison volunteer.
- Contribute your ideas - Share your opinions on the issues that concern you most as well as your ideas for change through Urban Exchange.
Q: Who benefits from United Way?
A: We all benefit from United Way! Each and every day, directly or indirectly, United Way has a profound impact on all our lives. We all win when a child succeeds in school, when families are financially stable and when people are happy and healthy.
A: United Way of Winnipeg is governed by a 30-member Board of Trustees representing the interests of the community first and foremost. The Board directs United Way's operations and is responsible for:
- Policy decisions
- Developing and allocating resources
- Appointing United Way's president, officers and senior volunteers
- The organization's vision, goals and objectives
- Annual and long-term organizational plans, financial plans and budgets
Q: How do I know I can trust United Way?
A: United Way believes transparency and accountability are essential to our success. That's why we are part of Imagine Canada's Ethical Code Program. By adhering to standards set by the Ethical Fundraising and Financial Accountability Code as well as those set by provincial legislation, United Way is complying with generally accepted practices for soliciting, managing and reporting donor dollars responsibly.
Q: Is United Way of Winnipeg affiliated with other United Ways throughout Canada?
A: Yes. We are all members of United Way of Canada/Centraide Canada. But each United Way responds to the unique needs of its own community.
Q: How does United Way decide what to invest in?
A: Our priorities are determined by Winnipeggers' priorities. We support strategies and programs in three main areas: education, income and health - all of which are universal essentials for a good life.
A: A United Way agency partner is a non-profit organization supported by United Way either through core or time-limited investments. Relationships with agency partners are developed and maintained within a framework of seven basic criteria:
- Is the organization's mission compatible with our own?
- Is the organization engaged with its stakeholders?
- Is the organization well governed and managed?
- Can the results of our support be measured?
- Does the organization work with partners to reach mutual goals?
- Will our support help the organization become self-sufficient?
- Is the organization financially sound?
Q: How much of my donation actually goes to programs and services in the community?
A: Whether through payroll deduction, cash, cheque or credit card, every dollar of your donation to United Way's annual campaign is invested directly into the community thanks to a provincial government grant that supports fundraising and administration costs.
A: Special event dollars play a vital role in helping United Way continue its work in the community by supporting activities such as:
- Market research and development to ensure United Way understands and responds to the needs of both donors and the community;
- Upgrading or purchasing of fixed assets like computers to ensure we can keep up with technology and the needs of our clients;
- Participation costs in United Way of Canada that allow us to work collaboratively with other United Ways, developing innovative programs and sharing knowledge and best practices.
Q: Why should I give?
A: There's never been a more important time to support United Way of Winnipeg. Economic uncertainty over the past year has affected us all and created even greater challenges for those already facing difficulties. Now more than ever, we have to make sure our friends, family, neighbours and co-workers have access to United Way's essential network of resources around the clock, every day of the year. Your support is a gift of hope, ensuring our community remains stable today and can emerge stronger tomorrow. Without you, there would be no way.
Q: What is Donor-directed Giving (DDG)?
A: United Way's Donor-directed Giving service is provided as a convenience for donors who want to consolidate all their charitable giving - both to United Way and to other charitable organizations - in a single pledge, often by way of payroll deduction.
To offset administration costs and maintain the resources necessary to fulfill our own mission and business focus, United Way charges a $12 cost-recovery fee for each gift directed to another charitable organization.
Since gifts directed to specific charities are not available for United Way's community strategies, we cannot with integrity report them as United Way revenue, nor recognize them through United Way's recognition program. Upon consent, your name is offered to recipient organizations for their own recognition programs.
Q: What does United Way do with my information?
A: United Way respects your privacy. We follow a Privacy Policy that meets all legislative and regulatory standards.
