For more in-depth answers on these questions and others, please visit the FAQs on the United Way of the Lower Mainland web site.
- What is the UBC Community United Way’s goal for this year?
- There are lots of charities out there asking for money. What makes United Way so special?
- I’m not going to contribute because too much money is spent on overhead like campaign expenses, and not enough money actually goes to United Way agencies.
- The government should be doing more. That’s the reason I pay taxes.
- I already support my own favourite charity.
- My partner already gives at work, so why should I donate as well?
What is the UBC Community United Way’s goal for this year?
In previous years the UBC United Way Campaign has had a dollar amount that they strove to reach by the end of the Campaign. This year many things are changing as the Campaign is aiming to fulfill the joint goals of sustainability and community engagement. The Campaign has changed names to the “UBC Community United Way Campaign” to emphasize the importance of including the entire UBC Community (residents, staff, faculty and students) in this collective endeavour. The slogan for this year is “Renew, recover, find another” and the Campaign is aiming for a doubling of the participation rate from last year. Some divisions on campus are even striving for a 100% participation rate. Hence the emphasis this year is on including more of the campus community rather than striving for a specific dollar goal.
There are lots of charities out there asking for money. What makes United Way so special?
United Way of the Lower Mainland is special because it provides stable core funding to a network of more than 100 member agencies all working to meet the health and social needs of a large number of people in diverse situations. If there were no United Way campaign, each agency would have to fundraise more on their own, with probable loss of program efficiency and likely higher overall costs to the community.
I’m not going to contribute because too much money is spent on overhead like campaign expenses, and not enough money actually goes to United Way agencies.
United Way of the Lower Mainland has one of the lowest fundraising costs in the country – 14 cents for each dollar raised (well below the Canadian average of 26 cents). 86 cents of every dollar raised goes directly to over 400 United Way supported programs and services. There are several reasons for this lower than average fundraising cost and the greatest is the existence of the Endowment Fund. This fund was established in 1943 with the bequest of one generous donor. That gift was then matched by nine additional donors creating a legacy that lives on today. Since then hundreds of people have contributed annually to the Fund that now exceeds $21,000,000.
The Endowment Fund helps offset already low fundraising costs and ensures 86 cents of every donated dollar is used to support programs in our community. United Way is also able to keep costs low thanks to generous sponsors of community events and materials.
The government should be doing more. That’s the reason I pay taxes.
It all boils down to a lot of people and a lot of money and too much of both for any one organization to handle, even the government. The government does support the budgets of many of our agencies, but they still count on the United Way’s annual sustaining grant to provide their vital core funding. Another consideration is whether we would really want the government to take over such groups like the Boy’s Scouts, the Boys and Girls Clubs, and all our other community self-help organizations. The voluntary dollar also ensures volunteer control of the agencies.
I already support my own favourite charity.
You can donate some or all of your gift to your favourite charity through the Donor Choice program. Just think, you can use the convenience of payroll deduction and still help the charity of your choice, perhaps you can give more money to your favourite charity through payroll deduction than you normally would in a lump sum. Plus, you have the bonus of having your tax receipts appear right on your T4 slip – no more rummaging around for receipts at tax time.
One of the most important things to consider about United Way is that with one donation, you will be helping over 100 local agencies throughout the Lower Mainland, which provides services to 500,000 people every year (one of them may even be your favourite charity). That’s tremendous value for your donation since only 14 cents goes toward administration costs.
My partner already gives at work, so why should I donate as well?
United Way of the Lower Mainland is a total community effort, the results of which benefit everyone who lives here, whether they realize it or not. If both partners work, each is asked to give a thoughtful share of what they earn. The success of each workplace campaign depends on individual donations.
