FAQ
What is United Way and what does United Way do?
What is Sheboygan & Plymouth relationship with United Way Worldwide?
I heard United Way is changing, what does that mean?
Why Is United Way the Best Choice for My Gift?
How Much Money Actually Goes To The Agency Partners?
Why Should I Give To United Way?
I Live Outside The Area It Serves. How Can I Afford To Give To United Way?
Our employees and their families are struggling. How can we ask them to give?
If United Way Is A Volunteer Organization, Why Does It Have Paid Staff?
Who Decides Where The Money Goes?
Can My Dollars Go To A Specific Agency?
What Happens If Designations To An Agency Exceed Its Allocation?
Does United Way Support Planned Parenthood?
Why does United Way give money to church-affiliated agencies?
Why Isn’t '"X" Agency Funded By United Way?
How can I volunteer to help UW? Join committee or volunteer center ?
I give to United Way but still get solicitations from its agencies. Why?
What if I have another question?
What is United Way/What does United Way do?
The Sheboygan & Plymouth Area United Way is a non-profit organization that conducts a single, community wide fund-raising campaign once a year to provide funding for local health and human service agencies, addressing the greatest needs within our community. Essential needs in Sheboygan include helping children and youth, strengthening families and individuals, providing for the elderly and people with special needs, meeting basic needs and providing information and outreach.
View complete list of programs funded by Sheboygan & Plymouth Area United Way.
The Sheboygan & Plymouth Area United Way sets standards and annually monitors all programs that receive funding. We look for duplicated services and help agencies work together on programs and initiatives that our volunteers see will fill a gap in service to our community.
One example is the Volunteer Center, working with Partners for Community Development, AmeriCorps and others; The Volunteer Center of Sheboygan seeks out and matches volunteers with local projects. United Way staff used to receive many calls to place volunteers, which took a large amount of time, now staff can use that time to focus on fundraising for our programs.
What is Sheboygan & Plymouth Area United Way's relationship with United Way Worldwide?
United Way Worldwide is the organization dedicated to leading the United Way movement in making a measurable impact in each community. We pay dues of less than one penny of every dollar contributed, or less than 1% of funds raised. The value of benefits received from United Way Worldwide, such as national government relations, free marketing and advertising support, trainings, support for national companies running campaigns (UPS, Target and more), is always far more than is paid in dues and helps keep our local costs down. Sharing best practices and working with other nearby United Way’s on new projects is another great benefit.
I heard United Way is changing, what does that mean?
Traditionally, United Way has been thought of as a fundraiser – most people think about the dollars raised and the agencies that receive funds. While our United Way is one of the best in the country in terms of fundraising, fundraising and investments alone aren’t enough.
In the last few years our leadership role has grown in the community and we have become a convener for collaboration. We are working with our agencies, outside agencies and local government agencies to find solutions to continue vital programs that are closing due to budget cuts. United Way is also working with the community on five initiatives to better life in Sheboygan County for all residents.
Why Is United Way the Best Choice for My Gift?
Our leadership role and connections allow us to determine the most pressing issues in the community. United Way works every day to advance the common good by focusing on education, income and health. These are the building blocks for a good life—a quality education that leads to a stable job, enough income to support a family through retirement, and affordable healthcare.
Your donation to United Way may be matched by your company – making your contribution even more effective. No other single contribution supports as many critical human service, health and community development programs that make a difference throughout our community.
How Much Money Actually Goes To The Agency Partners?
84 cents of every dollar collected is going directly to help people in our community, invested in effective programs, services and initiatives that demonstrates meaningful, measurable results. Volunteers donate their time and talents to set priorities, budget funds, evaluate outcomes, and supervise audits.
About 16 cents from every dollar covers materials and promotional costs for fundraising, administrative costs and donations designated outside of our area. Contributions are leveraged to attract public and foundation dollars, further maximizing the impact of your investment.
Why Should I Give To United Way? I Live Outside The Area It Serves.
You can designate to your “home” United Way, but consider contributing to Sheboygan & Plymouth Area United Way if you work here. Our United Way funds programs that your coworkers may be using and we often work with several nearby United Ways like Fond du Lac and Manitowoc on various projects.
How Can I Afford To Give To United Way? Our employees and their families are struggling. How can we ask them to give?
Time and again, some of the most generous donors are those who themselves have needed a helping hand from our community. Everyone should be given an opportunity to express caring through charitable giving, to enjoy the emotional reward that comes from knowing he or she has helped our community become safer and stronger. Only the donor can determine whether he or she can afford to give at this time.
If every employed person working in Sheboygan County gave $3.50 per paycheck we could raise over $5 million dollars!
Thanks to payroll deduction, even a small amount each pay period can add up over the year, and give the employee a real feeling of connection to our community. Even the most modest pledge can provide vital human care services to the people in our community who need help.
If United Way Is A Volunteer Organization, Why Does It Have Paid Staff?
A volunteer board of directors and several sub-committees set United Way’s goals and future plans, which are carried out day-to-day by a small staff. Staff members provide support for volunteers, continuity in working toward long-term community solutions and handle administrative functions as well as coordinating the annual campaign.
United Way has a track record of efficiency. It has been recognized both locally by the Better Business Bureau of Wisconsin and nationally by Charity Navigator, the nation’s largest nonprofit watchdog organization, for its fiscal accountability.
Who Decides Where The Money Goes?
A group of volunteers with financial and business backgrounds, called the planning and allocations committee, annually reviews and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors how much money should be allocated to each funded program based on community needs. The Board of Directors has final approval of all funds distributed.
Can My Dollars Go To A Specific Agency?
A major advantage of United Way is that it offers people an opportunity to give once for many varied services, each important to a healthy community. Some individuals, however, have a special interest in one or more initiatives or agencies because of help they have received or a personal experience. To designate your gift, you may fill out the designation portion of your pledge form. Some contributors designate only a portion of their gift to a specific agency.
What Happens If Designations To An Agency Exceed Its Allocation?
Sheboygan & Plymouth Area United Way support two agencies through designations only, no funds are allocated. (Rehabilitation Center of Sheboygan, Inc. & St. Nicholas Hospital Home Health & Hospice) If designations exceed a program or agency’s allocations the designated amount will be given to the agency.
Does United Way Support Planned Parenthood?
United Way supports programs, not agencies. Sheboygan & Plymouth Area United Way does not support Planned Parenthood or any of its programs. Sheboygan & Plymouth Area United Way does not support any programs that perform abortions.
Why does United Way give money to church-affiliated agencies
United Way only funds health and human service programs within church-affiliated agencies. It does not fund any religious activities of the organization. Agency programs are available to anyone regardless of race, creed or religion.
Why Isn’t "X" Agency Funded By United Way?
An agency may not have programs that align with United Way’s identified community outcomes or they may not have applied for funding. In other cases, the agency may not meet the basic criteria – certified 501(c)3. Specific required elements include alignment with United Way's community outcomes, actual program outcome results, annual financial audits, and effective management practices. Additionally, some agencies do not wish to receive United Way funding. Once an agency program receives United Way funding, continued support is contingent on maintaining compliance with the criteria and availability of campaign dollars.
How can I volunteer to help UW? Join committee or volunteer center
Community leaders can help by volunteering in the campaign cabinet or joining one of our other important committees. If you would like to make a one time commitment, volunteer at one of our events. If you’re interested in working with one of our agencies visit http://www.volunteersheboygan.com/ for more volunteer opportunities.
United Way 2-1-1™ can connect you to over 40,000 community resources—from job training programs and childcare to counseling services and financial assistance. Staffed by trained professionals, this free, confidential help line is available 24/7.
To use United Way services, just dial 2-1-1 from any land line. Cell phone users can call (651) 291-0211. In addition, you can call our offices at (920) 458-3425.
I give to United Way but still get solicitations from its agencies. Why?
Because we fund programs, agencies may require further funding to operate or run other programs that are not funded by United Way. We ask our agencies not to solicit during our annual campaign, late summer/fall, but agencies can hold their own fundraisers and special events during the rest of the year.
What if I have another question?
If you have a question that is not answered here, please contact us.
United Way
History | FAQ | Community Calendar | Work | Assets | Unemployment | Volunteer
Food | Heath Center | Budget | Partners | People | Contributors | Supplies
Donate | Video | What's New | Contact | Home