Does your company make you try to donate to United Way?

[Golgatha]

http://www.charitynavigator.org/

You're welcome Internet.

 

[midwestfisherman]

I quit giving to the UW when they decided to exclude the Boy Scouts from their list of recipients. They (UW) have not received a cent from me since then. Now I just give a donations directly to who I choose.

 

[Imp]

You would be amazed by how many people would flat out lie to your face and say they filled out the online form when they never bothered to look at it. I knew they were full of it, too, because I had a spreadsheet filled with the names of people who didn't fill out the form that was just updated the day before. Hell... I even had records on whether or not you opened the e-mail with a link to the form. Lotus Notes is evil like that

Ahahahhaahah... I'm too "nice" (read: pussy) to hang up or close the door on people, so my solution nowadays is to ask if they have a website, then tell them I'll check it out and donate there later.

 

[Vic Vega]

http://www.charitynavigator.org/

You're welcome Internet.

That's neat. Here is my old local UW:

Overall 62.57 (out of 70) 4 stars
Financial 60.29 4 stars
Accountability & Transparency 66.00 4 stars

REVENUE Contributions Contributions, Gifts & Grants $19,311,997 Federated Campaigns $0 Membership Dues $0 Fundraising Events $18,535 Related Organizations $0 Government Grants $2,624,293 Total Contributions $21,954,825 Program Service Revenue $285,174 Total Primary Revenue $22,239,999 Other Revenue $838,120 TOTAL REVENUE $23,078,119 EXPENSES Program Expenses $18,895,012 Administrative Expenses $1,686,609 Fundraising Expenses $1,422,372 TOTAL FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES $22,003,993 Payments to Affiliates $167,585 Excess (or Deficit) for the year $1,074,126 Net Assets $24,762,921

 

[rcpratt]

Yes. UW signage occasionally adorns our various walkways. The only time that it is unavoidable is the once per year when they bring a UW rep into some team meeting and let him give his spiel. The managers then distribute the donation form. They definitely strongly encourage, but I've never felt uncomfortable. All they ask is that you hand in a form/envelope with your name on the envelope, filled out or not, so that they know that everyone was at least encouraged.

Donating to the company PAC is a bit more pressure, but not too bad. They definitely do a bit of guilting if your department does not have 100% participation. I give them $1/paycheck just to check the box. Managers and above do get pressured even more to give at least 1%.

 

[BurnItDwn]

I donate to the charities of my own choosing, not somebody else's choosing. (Shriner)

 

[DrPizza]

$3 per paycheck; I think some years I've done $5. I don't even notice it. The money stays local & there are a lot of people in significant need in this area.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

my company encourages supporting charity by matching donations. they dont endorse any single charity though.

 

[rcpratt]

my company encourages supporting charity by matching donations. they dont endorse any single charity though.

Forgot about this...the company I work for does a couple of "matching" fundraisers throughout the year as well. I think the matching is available at any time and through any charity, but they do advertise it for certain charities at certain times.

 

[Mixolydian]

Yep, and I do it. $2-3 a week will hardly be missed.

 

[Red Squirrel]

What I do hate about either employee's giving to charity through a company, or customers (ex: when Walmart asks if you want to donate a dollar) is that the companies actually get the credit and tax break from it. I rather donate money myself directly to the charity.

 

[Gardener]

If you don't like UW don't contribute, it's that easy.

Back in my college days, I paid for school working at factory jobs. One of those jobs was for the Bissel Vacuum cleaner plant in Grand Rapids Michigan, on Fruit Ridge Avenue.

When I was a hired, I was told that it was my choice to sign off on a payroll deduction to UW. I was also told that 100% of the current employees at the plant participated in the program. When I told the HR person I had no intention of donating to the company appointed charity, he pointed to the door.

I decided to contribute 2% of my $6/hr wage.

 

[DaveSimmons]

I give to the Seattle Times Fund for the Needy instead, the paper pays all admin costs and gives 100% of the money to local nonprofits. I also give to Northwest Harvest which supplies food to WA food banks.

And Child's Play of course -- see you in November

 

[jagec]

Yeah, they do it. If they matched I might consider it, as it is, I say "Thanks, but I prefer to donate to MSF". Which I do.

What I do hate about either employee's giving to charity through a company, or customers (ex: when Walmart asks if you want to donate a dollar) is that the companies actually get the credit and tax break from it. I rather donate money myself directly to the charity.

But you get the tax break too, so when you add up federal, state, and local for both parties, you've probably deprived the government of a good 70 cents of revenue for each dollar that you contribute.:awe:

 

[TridenT]

My company runs a 2-3 month campaign about donating to the united way. Doing some research at home I found out that the foundation's CEO makes about 271k a year not including benefits. So where does all the money go?

I prefer to donate my old clothes and other things to the salvation army. But it's like at work they try and push you to donate to united way by signing up through eft check deductions. I think they want around .5 to 1% of your salary.

Does anyone else have to do this ?

Go with Goodwill instead. Salvation army is a religious nutball group.

And no, none of my jobs have.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Yes, I don't contribute.

 

[richardycc]

yes, and one year I opted out, and my annual review that year was really bad, then I signed up to donate a few bucks every paycheck the next yr, and my review was good that year. I've been donating every yr since...not sure if there is any correlation, but I am not gonna chance it.

 

[dullard]

My company runs a 2-3 month campaign about donating to the united way. Doing some research at home I found out that the foundation's CEO makes about 271k a year not including benefits. So where does all the money go?

I prefer to donate my old clothes and other things to the salvation army. But it's like at work they try and push you to donate to united way by signing up through eft check deductions. I think they want around .5 to 1% of your salary.

Does anyone else have to do this ?

Almost everyone I know has employers who push the United Way. I personally dislike the United Way because it is just another middle-man drain on the donation. Why donate $100 to the United Way only to have $83 of it go to the charity of your choice when you could instead donate $100 to the charity of your choice?

That said, almost all charities pay their employees and executives. It costs money to recruit and retain good leaders. For example, the Salvation Army you mention pays over $126,000 per year to its executive, http://www.bbb.org/charity-reviews/...on-in-alexandria-va-1221/governance-and-staff and won't publish salaries of other top employees. $271,000 per year isn't all that bad either. Many charities pay their top person well over $700k: http://www.charitywatch.org/hottopics/Top25.html

 

[jpiniero]

Yeah, pretty much most "charities"/non-profits are somewhere between a tax scam and an easy way for the 1% to make a nice chunk of change without having to deal with those pesky shareholders.

 

[Imp]

Almost everyone I know has employers who push the United Way. I personally dislike the United Way because it is just another middle-man drain on the donation. Why donate $100 to the United Way only to have $83 of it go to the charity of your choice when you could instead donate $100 to the charity of your choice?

Then the actual charity skims another... 50%?

Even clothing collection may be a scam. Apparently, some clothing bins are just companies that collect clothing and sell it by the ton. How much of it actually goes to someone who can't afford an extra shirt or jacket?

 

[sze5003]

Then the actual charity skims another... 50%?

Even clothing collection may be a scam. Apparently, some clothing bins are just companies that collect clothing and sell it by the ton. How much of it actually goes to someone who can't afford an extra shirt or jacket?

I've heard that is what Goodwill does too but I'm unsure.

http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2013/03/18/non-profit-outlet-store-selling-clothes-by-the-pound/

 

[dullard]

I've heard that is what Goodwill does too but I'm unsure.

http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2013/03/18/non-profit-outlet-store-selling-clothes-by-the-pound/

Goodwill's charity is to hire people who are otherwise difficult to employ. They sell the donated items and use the proceeds to hire the handicapped, mentally challenged, minorities, elderly, etc. They are hired to sort items, price good items, bundle crap items for selling by the pound, and/or operate stores. This gets these people off the streets or off of the public welfare train wreck.

So, yes, selling clothes is exactly what Goodwill does and does well. As a side benefit, needy people get cheap clothes (sometimes by the pound and sometimes individually in their stores).

 

[CPA]

What I do hate about either employee's giving to charity through a company, or customers (ex: when Walmart asks if you want to donate a dollar) is that the companies actually get the credit and tax break from it. I rather donate money myself directly to the charity.

What are you talking about? No they don't.

 

[Platypus]

no, and that sounds awful.

 

[sportage]

Many years ago at my first job, co head of a department in banking, the CEO pretty much made all department heads sign their form to give, then Pinned each one of us that gold I GAVE united way pin as an example for the employees to also give. I had not planned to give, but obviously had no choice.
Then came the untied way scandal. Remember that?
The united way CEO living in luxury homes, paid travel vacations, and driver driven limo.
All on the united way tab.
I haven't given since, even though untied way has claimed to have cleaned up its act since the scandal, I seriously doubt that.
I prefer to give their recommended contribution directly to the charity(s) of my choice.
No middle man.
Plus this...
Some years ago a neighbor fell on hard times. Lost job. Single mother with kids.
She went to the local united way for assistance. She was turned away.
So much for charitable intentions.

Give if you feel the desire, but never because you feel pressured.
I always give a nice check to our local hiv/aids meals on wheels effort in memory of my cousin.