Annual Campaign

United Way of St. Joseph County identifies, participates, and collaborates in efforts to reduce poverty.

Because 40% of St. Joseph County households are struggling to meet life’s basic needs.

By investing in the change in lifetime learning, health, and financially stable families to break the cycle of generational poverty.

Poverty is a complex problem. It requires many people working together to identify strategies and develop solutions, which otherwise are not achievable through individual efforts.

Our children succeeding, our families strengthened, and our community thriving.

– Our unique ability to convene, collaborate, and direct resources where most needed

– We concentrate on those issues that no single agency can solve on its own

– Our commitment to efficiency, transparency, and accountability

– The thorough research that supports our community investments

– Advocacy for a favorable public policy that benefits those in need of health and human services

– Compassionate and knowledgeable volunteer leadership

The operating budget of United Way of St. Joseph County is audited by an independent accounting firm and carefully reviewed by volunteers who serve on the United Way Finance Committee and United Way Board of Directors. United Way is governed by a local volunteer board of directors whose members are respected community and business leaders. Although we consider guidelines set forth by United Way Worldwide, all policy and funding decisions are made locally. The community volunteers who lead United Way reflect our community’s diversity and represent a wealth of professions. A knowledgeable professional staff works closely with these volunteers, handling United Way’s daily operations.

United Way of St. Joseph County (UWSJC) allows donors to designate part or all of their United Way pledge to a partner agency, United Way Impact Area, or another United Way. UWSJC is then responsible for the processing, reporting, management and payment of said designations. UWSJC creates and sends reports for donor acknowledgement that includes donor and pledge information, unless the donor wishes to remain anonymous. UWSJC processes quarterly payments with corresponding payment remittance to each designated agency. UWSJC also incurs the fundraising costs of sales and marketing for these pledges. Like all United Ways, UWSJC prescribes to a consistent, fair and understandable methodology for calculating and recovering fundraising, processing, and management and general expenses on designated donations.

UWSJC calculates fees based on the prior 3-year IRS Form 990. For the most recent campaign year our management and general percentage is 5.28% and our Fundraising percentage is 10.95% . A total fee of 16.23% is deducted from all designated pledges. A minimum pledge of $50.00 is required if a donor wishes to designate because of the additional tasks listed above that must be performed and the fee that will be taken from each designation. It should also be noted that designations are over and above which a partner agency receives through the Allocations process and at this time designations are independent of Allocations.