Topic: UNITED WAY
started by: MADDOG
Posted by MADDOG on Mar. 23 2004,12:49 pm
It's been rumored for a short time now. Today I confirmed it. I was speaking to a member of the local media and mentioned that I had wanted to speak to Sheriff Harig at the board meeting, and ask him if it was true. That certain members of the United Way have been putting "heat" on him about his fund raisers to purchase equipment for the county. They claim he's taking money away from the organization by having his own fundraisers.This media person confirmed it. They had spoken to Harig earlier and he told them it's true. I wasn't told who from the United Way was doing it, but I can take a pretty good guess.
Keep up the fundraisers, Mark. We're behind you.
Posted by hoosier on Mar. 23 2004,1:15 pm
Could that person be our own Mayor Maddog? LOL.
Posted by Nose for News on Mar. 23 2004,2:47 pm
Doesn't this hurt the United Way more than the Sheriff ?Wiiliam Aramony is Back on the Streets 3/1/2002
It sounds like a ghost story told around a camp fire. And, it may go down as a legend, but the same story echoed in United Way offices around the country this fall: Bill Aramony had been spotted walking his dog on North Fairfax Street in Alexandria, Va., blocks away from the United Way of America office.
Aramony, the former United Way boss convicted of stealing from the organization, is free from the Federal Prison Camp at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, near Goldsboro, N.C., where he finished serving his seven-year term. The sightings spurred conversations about what still lingers like an old scar on the collective body of United Way.
"I had to travel with a document (to detail what had happened) because it comes up in other parts of the world," Beggan said of when he took his current position in 1997, five years after the scandal involving fraud, embezzlement, sexual affairs, and executive hubris hit the presses....Aramony, fired in March, 1992, was convicted in 1995 on 25 counts including conspiracy to defraud, mail fraud, wire fraud, transportation of fraudulently acquired property, engaging in monetary transactions in unlawful activity, filing false tax returns and aiding in the filing of false tax returns.Aramony had never apologized.
United Way Audit Reveals Discrepancies (8/19/2003)
The United Way of the Capital Area is planning to sue its former chief executive Oral Suer, who resigned in February 2001 after numerous allegations that he had used the organizational funds improperly for personal gain.
PricewaterhouseCoopers had been hired to conduct an independent audit and the results brought up the alleged improprieties in the accounting processes. The audit indicates that Mr. Suer received about $2.4 million on top of his board approved compensation. He apparently has returned $961,200 of the amount.
The audit also found other discrepancies in the books. Five current and former executives might have received improper compensation. Mr. Suer had approved a loan of $3 million from the Combined Federal Campaign whose purpose has not been clarified. Several fundraising companies had a special privilege to allow their employees to designate donations to funds that specifically benefited members of the company.
The auditors were not able to interview Mr. Suer. In addition, the investigation may have been hindered by the loss of numerous files that Mr. Suer had removed with him when he left the organization.
Posted by hoosier on Mar. 23 2004,2:50 pm
Nice post Nose for News. Maybe the head of the local United Way is trying to come up with an excuse for the organization not meeting its goals locally this year. After all, she is a politician now, have to blame someone, anyone but yourself. 
Posted by Nose for News on Mar. 23 2004,3:15 pm
There's More (sorry its long but well worth the read)I don't see intimidating other local fund raising as part of their policy. Is that a new practice?
Questions Arise on Accounting at United Way
By STEPHANIE STROM Nov 2002
Some United Way organizations, trying to appear more successful and more efficient with their donors' money, are counting contributions in ways that make the numbers look more robust — and expenses look smaller.
In a number of cases, including two of the largest United Ways — those in Washington and Chicago — different organizations counted some of the same contributions, thus inflating not only their own numbers but the system's totals, according to United Way executives.
Jeff Topping for The New York Times
Brian T. Hassett, a former president of the United Way in Chicago, noticed that questionable accounting was not limited to just one office.
Moreover, the United Way of America's reporting guidelines direct its 1,400 members to count as their own contributions money that was actually handled by or raised for competing organizations in shared campaigns, the executives said. The guidelines also tell members to count as contributions the value of volunteers' time, a practice many other charities frown on, although it is permissible in limited circumstances.
And while local United Ways publicly report the percentage of their total contributions used for administrative purposes, they do not tell donors that different amounts are applied from different types of contributions to cover costs, a review of their practices shows.
United Way of America's president said that while some of the practices conformed with generally accepted accounting principles, they might no longer pass muster after recent corporate scandals demonstrated that even approved practices can be used deceptively.
"What happened at Enron and WorldCom has raised the bar for both for-profit and not-for-profit businesses," said Brian A. Gallagher, president of the United Way of America. "We have to respond."
United Way is by far the largest organization raising money in American workplaces. It channels money to thousands of small local charities that would otherwise struggle to find donors and increasingly creates its own programs to address community needs.
No one disputes its good intent. But its accounting practices raise questionsfor potential donors who want to know precisely how much of their contributions go to people in need rather than the organization helping them. In effect, these practices, by artificially inflating reported contributions, make it seem as if expenses consume a smaller portion of donor dollars. That makes United Way look better against competing charities at a time when more and more donors are relying on services that rate charities.
"Because they miscount the totals, they start off with a faulty number," said Rick Cohen, president of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, a watchdog group in Washington. "That's their fundamental flaw."
Each time a case of double counting has arisen, United Way of America executives have said it is limited to a particular United Way. They defend the other practices that have been called into question.
But executives at some local United Ways are less certain. After reading in newspapers about questionable accounting and financial management at the United Way of the National Capital Area in Washington last January,"I felt chilled because I had seen some similar things in other United Ways," said Brian T. Hassett, who served as president of the United Way in Chicago until recently.
Les White, a former county manager in San Jose, Calif., said he saw some of the same things when he was brought in to resuscitate the United Way Silicon Valley. "Some of what I read about in Washington, D.C., sounded so familiar," he said. "It's myopic to insist that these problems are only in one place."
The practices have developed as theUnited Way has struggled to recover from recent scandals. Contributions began falling in 1992 when William V. Aramony, the United Way's national leader, was accused of fraud, embezzlement and other charges, and a string of local scandals like the one in Washington this year have not helped. Contributions are now lower, after adjusting for inflation, than they were a decade ago, even as charitable giving has doubled over all.
One of the most serious accounting issues the organization faces is known as double counting, which occurs when each of two or more United Ways counts the same contribution as its own.
The problem has come to light this year in the Chicago area and in Washington. Here's how it happens. The United Way of Suburban Chicago, an umbrella organization for 52 United Way organizations in the Chicago area, planned to count as its own some $350,000 raised at Baxter International — the same money counted by an unaffiliated United Way, that of Lake County.
Each organization insists that it managed the campaign and wants to include the money in its total, as each has in the past. The United Way of America is now conducting a review.
In 2000, The Arizona Star reported that the United Way of Tucson counted almost $1 million raised in California for charities there. And the United Way of the National Capital Area counted as its own the $1.2 million raised from Giant Food's employees, who assigned some of that money to the United Way of Baltimore.
Each time an instance of double counting surfaced, the United Way of America insisted that the practice was exclusive to the United Way in question. But in 1999, Mr. Gallagher headed a task force to address double counting, which suggests that the United Way had concerns about how widespread the practice might be.
The task force prescribed how such contributions were to be booked. But its explanation was confusing — and it undercut its own recommendations. "The task force realized early on that it would be impossible to create standards that all United Ways `must' adhere to, and demanding strict adherence is arguably not part of our culture right now," the task force report said.
When the report was released, fewer than 13 percent of United Ways, or roughly 178 of the 1,400 organizations, had written guidelines for reporting and spending, and as the task force recognized, the nationalorganization has little ability to compel compliance.
"There's so much variance among United Ways in things like accounting, finances and systems," said Arnold Henning, the interim president of the United Way in Chicago. "The independence to vary from city to city is our strength when it comes to services because it means we know the needs of our communities. But it's also our weakness because people don't understand that the practices of one United Way are not the practices of all United Ways."
Double counting is not the only way that reported contributions are overstated. An increasing number of companies like Sears, Hewlett-Packard and Verizon are using newer organizations like the JK Group to administer employee-giving campaigns and allowing other fund-raising groups like the Black United Fund or the Public Interest Fund of Illinois to take part.
Yet United Ways count this money as their contributions. Indeed, the United Way of America instructs members to count the entire amount raised in those campaigns, not just the amount of money designated for United Way.
At least $2.4 million counted as contributions by the United Way in Washington was handled by its competitors, officials said, and $7.5 million was counted in New York City, according to its annual report.
United Way says this is legitimate because even when it does not actually collect or receive the contributions, its marketing and publicity efforts are responsible for them. "The question is, Did the United Way incur a cost during the campaign?" Mr. Gallagher said. "If it did, then it's reasonable to include all the revenues raised in the campaign and calculate operating budgets and expenses against them."
But others disagree. "The guidelines say we can count this money, but frankly, it made me uncomfortable,"Mr. Hassett said.
Nan Langen Steketee, consultant and co-founder of the National Alliance for Choice in Giving, noted that there are many other organizations managing fund-raising for governments and businesses. "They do not count the money raised for other charities in their yearly totals," she said.
Mr. Hassett and others argue that counting such money creates "phantom revenues," and expenses cannot be deducted from money that is not received. "If the money doesn't flow into your coffers, you can't deduct from it," said Anthony DiCristofaro, a longtime United Way marketing executive.
The solution, Mr. DiCristofaro and other United Way executives say, is simple: Charge companies and governments a fee for United Way services to help offset the loss of phantom revenue.
There are other forms of phantom revenues. The United Way of America tells members to place a value on donated goods and include the amount in their tally of donations. This is acceptable accounting practiced by some other charities, but United Way critics question how the values are calculated.
More controversial is placing a value on volunteers' time and including it in contribution totals. The United Way directs its members to value their volunteer time at $14.83 an hour, although many local organizations refuse to go that far. For the most recent campaign, the United Way valued in-kind donations, including volunteer time, at $267 million.
The Financial Accounting Standards Board, the rule-making body for the accounting business, allows organizations to place a value on contributed time but with strict limits: Volunteers must either create or significantly enhance a nonfinancial asset or provide special skills that would otherwise have to be purchased. The Internal Revenue Service does not allow valuation of volunteer time at all for tax reporting purposes.
"With the United Ways, it is often quite a reach for them to try and use this volunteer time in their accounting," said Trent Stamp, executive director of Charity Navigator, an online charity rating service. "I get the feeling they might be putting a dollar value on people licking envelopes, which is not what was intended."
The United Way of America reports that on average administrative costs amount to 12.7 percent of total contributions. But because total contributions are inflated by the inclusion of noncash gifts like free computers or the gift of children's coats, expenses are understated.
Mr. Gallagher disagreed that contributions were inflated, saying the United Way's practices conform to accepted accounting principles.
Further, donors making "unrestricted gifts" — those that allow the United Way discretion in spending their donations — often pay a higher percentage of their contributions. The Washington United Way boasted that its administrative costs ate up only a dime of every dollar donated, but this masks the fact that 62 cents of every unrestricted dollar was going to cover overhead.
That was an extreme example but indicative of an overall problem, which also surfaced in Tucson two years ago. "The sad thing is that the donors that are the most valuable to the United Way are the ones who are paying most,"Mr. Hassett said.
The annual report of the United Way of New York City, perhaps the most candid of the United Ways about accounting, stated that it raised $132.4 million in total contributions last year. Almost 14 percent, or $18.3 million, was used to cover administrative expenses, it said.
But only $91 million of that total was in cash, it said, meaning that on average almost 18 cents of every actual dollar it handled was eaten up by expenses.
The organization deducted an average of 6.9 cents of every dollar for administrative purposes, it said, from $14 million collected from donors who earmarked their gifts for specific charities, a program the United Way calls Donor's Choice.
That means on average roughly 20 cents of every unrestricted dollar went to cover expenses, which falls within the Better Business Bureau's guidelines for expenses but is higher than the annual report would lead a donor to believe.
Lawrence Mandell, executive vice president of the New York United Way, defended the practice of charging different donors different amounts, stressing that donors who make unrestricted gifts to the United Way receive services that other donors do not.
"We have a strict volunteer review process that vets agencies on their behalf, we give those agencies management assistance, help develop their boards, and we find really highly competent agencies that donors might not otherwise know about," he said. "Donors Choice donors don't get any of that."
That said, Mr. Mandell acknowledged the need to give donors a clearer picture of how costs are allocated to them.
Recently, the United Way's National Professional Council approved standards being championed by Mr. Gallagher that would require United Ways to provide fuller disclosure to the national organization. Not complying would mean a loss of membership.
But the new standards do not address much of the reporting that makes contributions seem larger and expenses smaller. The council, for instance, left open whether or not to include donations raised by a third party.
The new standards face a vote at the United Way's annual meeting in April, but Mr. Gallagher said the council's endorsement gave him the power to carry them out earlier. "I would be surprised and disappointed if they don't pass," he said.
Some United Way executives, however, worry that their colleagues will see the new standards, with the scrutiny from a committee that includes outside experts on ethics and finance, as another effort by the national organization to increase its power.
Posted by GEOKARJO on Mar. 23 2004,3:51 pm
If there is money to be donated, deserving organizations deserves a share. I think it is ridiculas that a charitable organization would complain about that.
Posted by MrTarzan on Mar. 23 2004,6:03 pm
I quite giving to the United Way years ago. If I want my money to go to a deserving Charity I give directly. If you give to the United Way, your money may help fund all kinds of bizarre stuff that you probably would not agree with.
Posted by Nose for News on Mar. 23 2004,6:18 pm
New Faces ?Years of training at the United Way prepared her for the Chamber?
Is the mayor their next farm team candidate for a future Chamber spot?
Hamersly resigns United Way post
By Geri McShane
After 17 1/2 years of directing the United Way of Freeborn County, Marge Hamersly has decided to step down.
Thursday, December 28, 2000
After 17 1/2 years of directing the United Way of Freeborn County, Marge Hamersly has decided to step down. Hamersly announced her resignation to the United Way's board of directors Wednesday.
"It's just the right time," Hamersly said Wednesday afternoon.
United Way drive stalls in home stretch
By David Rask BehlingThe United Way of Freeborn County's fund-raising campaign is just short of its 2002 goal.
Wednesday, January 09, 2002
The United Way of Freeborn County's fund-raising campaign is just short of its 2002 goal. As of Tuesday, they have 97 percent of the funds they need to support programs and agencies in Freeborn County, according to Deb Pena at the United Way office. The total raised so far is $486,906, already more than last year at this time, but they are still short $13,100, saidPam Bishop, United Way board member and co-chair of the current fund-raising campaign.
"We are so close, yet so far away. Nationally, United Ways and other non-profits are down 4-5 percent or just flat, so I guess we just have to be happy we have this amount," said Jean Eaton, United Way director and also a campaign co-chair.
Chamber says Hamersly a natural choice for job
By Peter Cox, Tribune staff writer
After a three-month search, the Albert Lea Chamber of Commerce has picked a new president.
Marge Hamersly, who has served as interim president during the search, is making the transition to full-time president.
"As we proceded through the process I began getting requests from people throughout the community that I'd apply for the position," she said. So Hamersly decided to throw her hat in the ring.
Hamersly was formerly the director of the Freeborn County United Way, and brings experience working with the community.
"She is highly respected, has such integrity and really knows everyone in the community,"Randy Kehr, who was on the search committee, said. "It was a relatively easy choice."
Kehr said that there were 35 applicants, but none matched Hamersly.
"We had a lot of paperwork on people that looked good but on the interview process they didn't look like what we wanted. In some cases, very far from what we wanted," he said.
Kehr said her relationship with the community was one of the key components.
"She has a terrific relationship with nearly everyone; from government officials, to the school board to our own members. That was probably her biggest advantage," he said.
Hamersly says she hopes to accomplish a great deal with the chamber.
"We have some very specific and long-range strategic goals that have been in development since before I took the position," she said. These goals include working with many community organizations, building a strong public relationship by making themselves more visible and working with the community and the legislature to create more opportunities for commerce.
Hamersly had taken the interim job as a temporary position in the beginning.
"It takes a huge amount of drive and energy to be involved here, and though it is a wonderful position, I prefer the interim type," she said at the time.
The attitude has obviously changed. Hamersly said through the interim process she learned more about the job and enjoyed it more and more.
"I'm very happy and excited about it," she said.
Hamersly brings a new motto with her new title. She hopes it will catch on with all community, government and county organizations: "New horizons, new faces, new ideas for the future."
Posted by Mamma on Mar. 23 2004,10:06 pm
MrTarzan has the right idea. Give your money to somebody that you want it to go to. Why should you give somebody a lump and have a portion of it go to somewhere you don't care about? I don't like the administrative costs connected to United Way, so I don't give my money to them. I would rather give a nice chunk to the Make a Wish Foundation, and then I know what it is going to be used for.
Posted by Nose for News on Mar. 23 2004,10:54 pm
Harig's fundraising is their problem?The PR below can't be helping?
Total disclosure of the books will set them free.
2nd ex-worker files suit against United Way
This story was published 8/4/2000
By Kristin Alexander
Herald staff writer
United Way is defending itself against allegations of fraud and other wrongdoing after being slapped with a second wrongful termination suit in a year.
Marianne Howard claims in a lawsuit that she was fired May 31 from her job as director of finance for the United Way of Benton and Franklin Counties because she had reported fraud.
The suit names United Way; its current president, Tom Halazon; former president Jim Ball; and their wives.
Documents in Howard's suit claim United Way officials gave agency money to political campaigns and used donations for extravagant personal expenses. Employees who tried to expose these acts were fired, she claims.
A similar suit was filed against United Way last fall by its former director of resource development, Robert McArdle, who was fired in late September.
Posted by MADDOG on Mar. 31 2004,9:58 am
Nose For News | Quote |
| Years of training at the United Way prepared her for the Chamber? Is the mayor their next farm team candidate for a future Chamber spot? |
So what you're thinking is when Marge finally retires for good, Mayor Eaton will move into that position? How suiting. I imagine that won't be long, but should Jean not get elected this fall, will Marge move over then?
Posted by rosebudinal on Apr. 05 2004,3:06 pm
We also used to donate for years to United Way and stopped 3 years ago after the reports came out. We now give directly to our charities. This way we at least know where the $ is going.
Posted by shaker on Apr. 05 2004,4:04 pm
I have 4 children and 8 grandchildren, If I want to give my money away I will give it to them!
Posted by jimhanson on Apr. 06 2004,9:13 am
I quit giving to the United Way when they cut out the Boy Scouts over the homosexuality issue. I figured the Boy Scouts could use some extra help, so gave my entire usual United Way contribution to them. It seems that others must have felt the same--the Boy Scouts are doing just fine. Politically, I quit giving money to the Republican party years ago. Money now goes to individual candidates--yes, I donated to Perot, Ventura, and Tim Penny (both as a Democrat and and as an independent). I believe third parties are important. I also became issue-oriented. I make a substatial donation to the NRA--the money is open to any politician that can make a case for it--regardless of political affiliation.
When the United Way fundraising scandal hit, exposing the waste, corruption, and high administrative costs, I was glad none of my money was involved. I do fundraising for Elks Charities--I like the idea that they never spend the principle donated--only the interest, so your money is always there, working. They have little or no administrative costs--just volunteers like me. Charities should not be big business.
Posted by LisaMarie on Apr. 06 2004,10:25 am
Jim, they still give to the BS. They cut them out for a while but brought them back in. That's exactly the reason I DON'T give to United Way!
Posted by medic on Apr. 11 2004,10:38 am
Trying asking them for help and and see what happens. I did 2 years ago and found out that since I was a life long res. and have been giving to them for the past 15yrs they were unable to help me. But the good news was if I just got here from some where else like another country they could do alot for me. Sure changed they way I looked at them.
Posted by cwolff on Apr. 11 2004,10:52 am
I prefer the Make a Wish Foundation, because they provide for some pretty good big game hunts.
Posted by Mamma on Apr. 11 2004,4:54 pm
But then again...if you want a child to have a hunt as their last wish, you should give the money to the Make A Wish Foundation of SD. I don't think the MN chapter is granting any hunting wishes, unless they changed something recently. I give mine to the SD chapter.
Posted by MADDOG on May 10 2004,4:06 pm
In December of 2001, the company I worked for was closed down. By the husband of the vice chair of Albert Lea's United Way. Forty six people were left unemployed. That's forty six families just three weeks before Christmas with out an income.Would anyone care to guess how many of us were contacted by the United Way to see if they could assist us? None. Then, this year, this same person has the guts to come out here and ask for donations from us. Would anyone care to know how many of us gave. A few more than they assisted us, which is a few too many as far as I'm concerned.
Posted by farouk on May 10 2004,4:48 pm
Jim, Freeborn County United Way still funds the Boy Scouts! Better look for another reason for not giving. It is sad that the shariff has become our community's newest charity but be that as it may, I don't see his fund raising as having affected the United Ways efforts. The United Way of Freeborn County needs to work on a needs assessment for our area. The allocations committee needs to take a carefull look at who they are funding and for how much. When the fund raising comes in short, like last year, or over as in some years, they need to do the hard work of making a fair distribution of the funds instead of the straight percentage distributions of the past. When the various charities make b.s. applications, the United Way needs to call them on it and not fund it! The United Way had better clean up their own shop before throwing stones at the shariff. The United Way's problems last year were more than bad economic times.
Posted by farouk on May 10 2004,5:03 pm
Maddog, your former boss had something to do with what happened in 2001. You weren't asked to give personnally to Lindaman, although it look's like he could have used it, but to your community through the United Way. You need to keep your eye on the ball, and stop pissing on everything because you are MAD.
Posted by MADDOG on May 10 2004,5:18 pm
farouk, the fact that my previous boss had something to do with the closure stills does not mean that the United Way shouldn't have contacted some former employees to see if they could be of assistance. Personally, I didn't need any, but I know of families that could have.As for making donations, everyone here has something they like to give to. The Boy Scouts is a good example, you write your check out to a specific Troop #, and 100% of you rmoney goes to them. No administrative fees. This year, the Freeborn County Humane Society was my main charity of donation.
Posted by shaker on May 10 2004,7:52 pm
Maddog has it rite on this, if your interested in makeing a donation, pick your group and give it directly to them, The Freeborn County Humane Society is a good one, that is where my bucks go.
Posted by Newbie on May 10 2004,10:28 pm
I used to donate to the Humane Society until I noticed that most of their animals are from out of state or advertised for other people/agencies. Right now out of 13 animals (19 including kittens) only around 5 are possibly from this area. Why do they get dogs and cats from Ohio and Indiana for example? We have lots of animals here that need help. Shouldn't our animals come first?
Posted by Spidey on May 10 2004,10:58 pm
Where does it say they are from out of state? I've never read that, nor have I read they are from other agency's. Many of the animals are staying at foster homes because there isn't enough room or enough volunteers. Can you post the web site that you found your info on?
< Albert Lea Humane Society list of pets >
Posted by Newbie on May 10 2004,11:23 pm
Spidey it's the same site you have posted. When you click on the name to get info there is a summary. On some it says the were from out of state, listed for a private party, animal control or | Quote |
| dogrsq1@yahoo.com Please DO NOT contact the humane society as they do not have the information on him and he is with me. |
< http://www.petfinder.org/pet.cgi....=&stat= >
< http://www.petfinder.org/pet.cgi....=&stat= >
< http://www.petfinder.org/pet.cgi....=&stat= >
Posted by farouk on May 11 2004,7:48 am
MADDOG, you are right that it would have been nice if someone would have come around to see if you or any of your fellow employees were alright. Unfortunately that isn't how the world works. When one loses a job, it is up to that individual to file for unemployment, and to resurch what other relief is available for themselves and their family. If you or one of your fellow employees approached the United Way, the most you would have received would have been a referral to an agency that might be able to be of assistance. That is because the United Way is a funding agency, not an agency which deals directly with the needy. Although I do not know all who were affected by the closing of Crossroads, I do know some and I believe the community attempted to be supportive when needs were expressed. Now I do see ways that the United Way can improve, and have stated so. But to state the organization is worthless because they didn't come around to see if they could help those displaced in this instance seems to be a complete denial of ones personal responsibility to self and family.
Posted by ALopinions on May 13 2004,12:57 pm
I'm sure the United Way isn't perfect, but it does a great deal of good right here in Freeborn County. Maddog- Realistically the United Way could in no way contact every person who has lost their job. They are not the unemployment office or welfare (who also do not contact you directly upon unemployment, etc.) I am sorry you had a bad experience with ONE PERSON, but the United Way is an organization of many great people. They do some direct services, but mainly they fund non-profit agencies that they oversee. In 2002, I believe they funded 18 agencies that served a variety of people (e.g. Issue Areas- Strengthening Families, Youth & Children, Supporting Older People, Promoting Self Sufficiency & Assisting People in Crisis) Many of the agencies could not exist or would be limited in the services they provide if it was not through the support of the United Way. Each agency must cooperate with the United Way under a participating agency agreement. They must also complete a application for funding disclosing financial information & program information which is reviewed by a U.W. panel. The United Way panel is made up of many volunteers who provide a great service. The application is extensive. Just this year the application was updated as a continued effort to do the best job possible in evaluating & distributing money to agencies. To my knowledge the only reason the boy scouts were ever denyed any funding was due to financial reporting concerns. (?'s on where the money was being spent, etc.) ALL MONEY REQUESTED BY THE FREEBORN COUNTY U. WAY MUST BE SPENT HERE IN FREEBORN COUNTY By the way in 2002 the Boy Scouts received $11,000 & the recommendation from the United Way panel for 2003 was also $11,000. I don't think that's too bad.
Other emergency funding is sometimes available through the U. Way as well. For example, the U.W. and its agencies were the 1st to respond to the residents in Glenville when the tornado hit.
THANKS TO ALL OF THE VOLUNTEERS & CONTRIBUTERS IN THE COMMUNITY WHO SUPPORT THE UNITED WAY!
Posted by The Advocate on May 13 2004,7:41 pm
I give to The Salvation Army. Many, many years ago when I was really down on my luck with a young child I needed some help. A wonderful woman by the name of Mildred Gavle was babysitting for my daughter and she had contacted this organization about my daughter and myself. I received a huge basket full of food, presents at Christmas for my girl and a nice gift certificate. No questions asked. I will always remember the kindness of people that helped me when I was down and out. Now that I am financially stable I can repay some of that kindness.
Posted by MADDOG on May 14 2004,8:25 am
To all who have responded, thank you. Personally, I didn't have a bad experience with the Uniterd Way. I had no contact with them. The point is, they did have a list of all people put out of a job, yet they contacted no one. Sometimes people will not ask for help, but would take it if offered, sadly, this was not done.The other thing is, if you have a charity you feel strongly about, donate directly to it, as then 100% of your donation goes just to it, not paying a group of people a salary to administrate it. After all, if you want to donate, ssay $100 to a charity, why give the United Why, say $10 to do it?
Posted by Mamma on May 14 2004,10:11 am
I have to agree with you to a point. I guess for some people, giving to United Way is the only way they will give to anything. It's better to give to them than not give at all. I know I don't have enough money to give to cure anyone of anything, so giving to the Children's Make A Wish at least gives a child a last wish. I'm a little disappointed that MN quit granting the hunting wishes. I give my donation to SD because I know they will still take a kid hunting. Many years ago I used to hunt with my dad, and it was one of the highlights of my life.
Posted by Liberal on May 14 2004,9:12 pm
< 2002 Freeborn County United Way tax returns. >More than $60K in salaries to hand out less than $400K
| Quote |
UNITED WAY OF FREEBORN COUNTY, INC 41-0956396 2002 Form 990 - Part U, Line 22 Schedule of Allocations Freeborn County Chapter - American Red Cross 38,000 Twin Valley Boy Scouts - Mankato 12,175 Albert Lea Child Care Center 42,000 Freeborn County Association for Retarded Citizens - 26,000 Salvation Army - Albert Lea 43,500 Family Y - Albert Lea 60,000 Cedar Valley Services 40,000 Lutheran Social Service 10,000 Minnesota Charities Review Council - Minneapolis 1,050 Victims Cnsis Center 14,100 Albert Lea Domestic Abuse Intervention Program 5,000 Senior Resources Center 42,401 Freeborn County (Youth Program) Chemical Dependency Center 16,800 Family Support Network 3,000 Catholic Charities 7,046 Youth Anger Management 11,400 Other Various 5,575 Total $378,047 ============================================== Total functional Expenses $515,702 |
Posted by Liberal on May 16 2004,12:17 am
Mower County United Way| Quote |
< United Way of Mower County 2002 form 990 > $906,158 Total Expenses $800,775 Total Money given out ======================== $105,383 Operating expense or 12% overhead. |
Steele County United Way
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< Steele County United Way 2002 form 990 > $698,631 Total Expenses $568,002 Total Money given out ======================== $130,629 Operating expense or 18% overhead |
United Way of Greater Winona Area
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< United Way of Greater Winona Area 2002 form 990 > $521,562 Total Expenses $427,942 Total Money given out ======================== $93,620 Operating expense or 18% overhead. |
Freeborn County United Way
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< Freeborn County United Way 2002 form 990 > $515,702 Total Expenses $378,047 Total Money given out ======================== $137,665 Operating expense or 27% overhead. |
United Way (national average) 13%
Federal Guidelines (CFC Campaign) 25%
Freeborn County United Way 27%
Posted by hoosier on May 16 2004,7:59 am
Nice work Liberal. But why doesnt it suprise me? Thats the $hit that happens when you have the same poeple running things for way to many years, no oversite. No one coming in new and looking at the books and saying, What the hell has been going on here? People staying in these positions for years not only breeds corruption, but it allows then to cover it up and still keep their job. Makes you sick doesnt it?
Posted by Nose for News on Aug. 05 2004,7:00 pm
Sheets Research Tools Links Survey Info Nonprofit Fundraising and Administrative Costs
The goal of this project is to understand the measurement and reporting of nonprofit organizations’ fund-raising and administrative expenses, and to work with practitioners, policy-makers, and the accounting profession to improve measurement and reporting. The project is a collaboration between the Urban Institute’s National Center for Charitable Statistics (NCCS)/Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy and the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University.
For better or worse, the ratio of overhead to program costs is the most common measure of nonprofit organizational efficiency. Focus group research has found that donors expect worthy organizations to have low fund-raising costs. Groups like the United Way and international relief organizations often tout their low overhead ratios in their mailings to the donors. Most striking, the federal government’s Combined Federal Campaign, which raised more than $197 million for nonprofits in 1998, requires that participating organizations certify that their combined fund-raising and administrative costs constitute no more than 25 percent of the organizations’ total support.
As data from the IRS Forms 990 become widely available — as mandated by law — in paper form and on the Internet, we expect interest in these types of ratios to burgeon. Like the ubiquitous price-to-earnings (PE) ratio in the financial world, measures such as the proportions of expenses allocated among program services, fund-raising, and administration will become commonplace.
Research developed by the Fundraising and Administrative Cost Project are intended to help the public, funders, and policy-makers look beyond these simple ratios to their context. In a diverse sector encompassing small volunteer organizations with unsophisticated financial reporting along with billion-dollar institutions with the most sophisticated of accounting systems, what, if any, conclusions can be drawn, what lessons learned from looking at these indicators of efficiency? This and other questions are addressed by this project.
Consistent reporting of financial information benefits managers and funders. It would enable them to assess trends in nonprofits' cost structures and to compare the efficiency of different organizational structures and strategies. Unfortunately, analyses of IRS Forms 990, surveys, and case studies show that some nonprofits report unrealistically high levels of overhead costs, while even more report unrealistically low levels. Resources developed by the Fundraising and Administrative Cost Project assist executive directors, financial managers, and nonprofit boards in addressing these reporting problems within their own organizations.
The Atlantic Philanthropies, the Ford Foundation, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, and the Rockefeller Brothers Foundation are providing financial support for the project.
Posted by Scurvy Dog on Aug. 06 2004,1:19 pm
Why don't we simply boycott the United Way of Freeborn County and donate directly to the charities of our choice, and continue to do so until there is a regime change?