Frequently Asked Questions
Is United Way really different from other nonprofits?
Why should I choose the United Way Community Care Fund?
Will United Way still let me give directly to my favorite charity?
Does United Way send a lot of money to its National Office?
Does United Way support religious agencies?
If my company offers a great benefits package, do my coworkers still need United Way’s help?
Don’t I do enough for the community by paying my taxes?
Why should I give if many of my coworkers live outside of Greater Portland?
How do I know United Way is financially accountable for its actions?
Is United Way really different from other nonprofits?
Only United Way has the reach, expertise, and experience to bring together local donors, other nonprofits, neighborhoods, volunteers and companies to pursue a common goal. By assessing critical needs and working with a broad range of partners, United Way is able to address the underlying causes of the most pressing problems in our community.
Why should I choose the United Way Community Care Fund?
The Community Care Fund is the best way that we, as a community, can address the issues that affect us all. Through this Fund, contributions are invested in four impact areas identified as key to a healthy community.
Volunteers work hard to ensure that only the programs that demonstrate a measurable impact on people's lives are trusted with United Way dollars--making our community stronger, safer and healthier.
Will United Way still let me give directly to my favorite charity?
It is important that we, as individuals, support those causes that are close to our hearts. You can designate your gift to a specific health and human service nonprofit agency in Maine, but it's important that we, as a community, use our collective strength to address community problems. The fact is, it is through the Community Care Fund that we have identified a shared set of concerns and can create an effective plan to address them.
Does United Way send a lot of money to its National Office?
United Way of America is a national organization that functions much like a trade association and provides support to help local United Ways. United Way of Greater Portland is a member of United Way of America and pays dues equal to approximately 1% of the amount we raise during our annual campaign. Training credits, materials discounts, market reports, fund raising reports and data, access to national organizations with coordinated fund raising, staff and volunteer training programs are some of the benefits provided.
Does United Way support religious agencies?
There are some organizations that provide human care programs that are religiously affiliated. United Way policy prohibits the direct support of churches but does support church-sponsored organizations that are providing social services. United Way funds are directed to those programs of the organizations that serve the community.
If my company offers a great benefits package, do my coworkers still need United Way’s help?
More than 150,000 calls for help and support are answered every year thanks to United Way funded services. None of us can be certain that the service we need now or in the future will be available. We can, however, invest in the continuation of service by giving now in the event a friend or family member needs it in the future. Many of us utilize services like the Y’s social and cultural activities for school-age children, the Red Cross Water Safety Program, and/or attend Boys and Girls Clubs.
Don’t I do enough for the community by paying my taxes?
Your tax dollars do support many social services in this community. Unfortunately, we have seen dramatic reductions in Federal and State support of social services over the past decade, and we expect that trend to continue. Local services are perceived to be the responsibility of the local community. That is why we need your help to continue services.
Why should I give if many of my coworkers live outside of Greater Portland? Families who live in rural areas in Cumberland County can have trouble accessing services where they live. Services are also available where you work. People go to great lengths to access needed services. If employees live outside of Cumberland County, they can direct their gifts to United Ways serving their own communities through United Way’s Specific Care program.
How do I know United Way is financially accountable for its actions?
United Way of Greater Portland is an independent organization serving the people of our community. We are committed to being the most efficient and effective community builder possible, while upholding high standards of professionalism, accountability and ethics.
Our organization is accountable for its actions by working with committed volunteer leaders in our community, developing and implementing fair and thoughtful policies, and having our books audited every year by a local, independent firm, which ensures that our financial statements are in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. We strive to meet the philanthropic goals of the Greater Portland community by being fair, honest, and effective. To view our most recent annual report please click here. To view our audited financial statements, click here.