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How can my nonprofit receive a grant
or funding from United Way?
»
What is my agency's designation code?
»
How can I get information about the status
of contributions directed to my nonprofit through the United Way
campaign?
»How
can my nonprofit be included in the online agency search tool?
How will my gift to the Bay Area Community Fund be invested?
Your gift to United Way of the Bay Area’s Community Fund joins hundreds of thousands of other contributions to form a single, powerful financial resource for a broad range of worthy organizations making a lasting difference in people’s lives. Each year through your generosity, we are able to provide vital grants to more than 250 Bay Area nonprofit organizations and fundraising assistance to thousands more.
Our experienced staff and volunteers invest your contribution in top-performing local programs in the following areas:
- Children & Youth: Children are ready to learn and succeed and youth have safe, supportive learning environments
- Families: Low-wage families are able to meet basic needs and climb the economic ladder
- Neighborhoods and Community: Neighborhood organizations are working well together to serve local residents and effectively address community needs.
Regardless of size, each of the programs supported by the Bay Area Community Fund also has access to United Way’s expertise in strategic planning and program development to ensure its sustained effectiveness. » Read more.
What is 2-1-1 ?
The 2-1-1 toll-free telephone information and referral line is one of the most important advances in access to non-emergency services. 2-1-1 is now up-and-running in most of the Bay Area, providing multilingual 24-hour access to comprehensive information on health and human services.
In times of crisis 2-1-1 is the number to call for non-emergency referrals. For the kinds of help we may all need—where to find senior housing or in-home support services, children’s after-school programs and summer camps, even where to get flu shots—it is the largest single source of Bay Area information. » Read more.
What is the difference between United Way of the Bay Area, other local United Ways, and United Way of America?
Although part of a national movement focused on measurable community impact, United Way of the Bay Area is an independent nonprofit organization serving the 7-county Bay Area. We pay dues to the national organization, United Way of America, in return for which we receive membership as a United Way organization and other benefits such as NFL advertising and training. We operate autonomously—free to support those programs we determine are most effective in meeting the specific needs of the Bay Area—while having the ability to draw on the best ideas of United Ways throughout the country.
Do you accept
tangible donations?
United Way is unable to accept tangible donations such as cars, property and jewelry, but you can dial 2-1-1 for information about giving help - from volunteering, to donating blood, to finding organizations that accept tangible donations. 2-1-1 is currently available in San Francisco and Santa Clara Counties and United Way is leading the way to make 2-1-1 available to all Bay Area residents. Read more.
Can I make
a contribution to my favorite nonprofit through the United Way of
the Bay Area campaign?
Yes. You can make a contribution to any 501(c)3 organization of your choice by writing the name and address of the organization on your contribution form in the space provided. To keep costs as low as possible for our contributors, we require a minimum gift of $48 per agency.
Economies of scale help us effectively fundraise on behalf of thousands of nonprofits across the 7-county Bay Area. Giving through United Way reduces costly and time-consuming fundraising efforts for agencies, so their time can be spent helping others.
Has United
Way processed my gift? How can I get information about my contribution?
Contact our Customer Service team at 1-800-273-1779 or email
contact@uwba.org.
What's your
overhead?
United Way of the Bay Area´s Support Service expense ratio is 18.18%, based on our FY2006 IRS Form 990 tax return. For nonprofits, the Better Business Bureau suggests this ratio be no more than 35% of each gift. A few ways we keep our expenses low: good management practices and a commitment to organizational efficiency, a high level of volunteer participation and leadership, in-kind services provided by our partners and responsible investments. In addition to supporting United Way of the Bay Area’s community impact, giving and volunteer programs, our Support Service expense also enables us to distribute of donor–designated contributions to over 2,500 nonprofit agencies throughout the Bay Area and United States.
What if
I feel pressured to give?
United Way has a clear non-coercion policy, and does not endorse
or support coercion in any form. Our community impact is made possible
because so many people give voluntarily. Any semblance of pressure
(whether real, implied or perceived) is contradictory to our operating
standards. If you feel that you have been pressured to give, please
contact your Employee Campaign Chairperson to express your concern,
or contact our Contributor Services team at 1-800-273-1779.
Why doesn't
United Way of the Bay Area fund the Boy Scouts?
We do not contract with any agency that engages in discrimination,
defined as denying service to a potential client or member on the
basis of age, gender, race, sexual orientation, national origin,
religion or presence of a disability. Unfortunately, the Boy Scouts
of America do not meet our long-standing policy of non-discrimination.
What happened
to PipeVine, Inc.?
On June 2, 2003 PipeVine, Inc, a separate and distinct 501(c)(3) vendor of United Way of the Bay Area, announced it had laid off its employees and would be ceasing operations. PipeVine processed donations for United Way of the Bay Area, other nonprofits and private companies. We immediately took control of all functions that were previously outsourced to PipeVine and funds continue to flow through our stable and reliable processing systems.
At the time of its closure, PipeVine announced that it had failed to pay outstanding payments to United Way and to other charities. In July 2003, The California Attorney General’s office appointed a Receiver to wind down all PipeVine business, including securing assets and making payments to nonprofits. United Way of the Bay Area has worked in full cooperation with the Receiver since its inception.
When can charities that were owed money by PipeVine expect to get money due to them?
Only the Receiver who was appointed by the court to manage PipeVine’s estate has access to the records identifying which charities are owed money. In August 2007, the Receiver began the claims resolution process, by notifying all PipeVine claimants that their claims must be filed by December 21, 2007. It is important to note that the Receiver is responsible for and continues to direct the legal process and timeline regarding matters related to PipeVine, including the payment of donations to nonprofits.
How can
my nonprofit receive a grant or funding from United Way?
We provide financial support to nonprofits in two ways:
- Through our annual workplace campaign, we offer contributors the opportunity to direct their gift to the nonprofit organizations of their choice. [See above
"Can I make a contribution to my favorite nonprofit through the
United Way of the Bay Area campaign?]
- Through our Bay Area Community Fund,
our experienced staff works side by side with community leaders
and volunteers to research community needs and invest in top-performing
local programs. To be eligible for a United
Way Bay Area Community Fund grant, your organization/ program
must be aligned with our focus areas and serve the 7-county
Bay Area.
» More information.
What is
my agency's designation code?
A code is not used for gifts directed
to specific nonprofit agencies through our annual workplace campaign.
Please
note: Agency codes are required for the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) as those employees are not allowed to write in agencies. For more information,
contact Customer Service at 1-800-273-1779 or email contact@uwba.org.
How can
I get information about the status of contributions directed to
my nonprofit through the United Way campaign?
Contact our Customer Service team at 1-800-273-1779 or email
contact@uwba.org.
How can
my nonprofit be included in the online agency search tool?
As a resource for contributors who would like to direct their gift
to specific nonprofits through our campaign, we provide a searchable,
online listing of nonprofits on our website. To be listed, your
nonprofit must be a United Way grantee or have completed our Community Campaign Certification
process. To request information about the Community Campaign Certification
program, contact us at contact@uwba.org.
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