What do you guys think about United Way

[flambus]

I just started a new job. the united way campaigns in my work place. one person is given the responsibility of handing out donation cards. well... tomorrow, just about everyone I work with expects me to go to a united way meeting. You hand in your card, on it is a donation. they draw the cards out of a hat and you can win prizes. i feel pressured into giving and going. This also kinda makes me mad, because I feel like work is not the place for this. I give to other oganizations.

what your thoughts.

 

[kranky]

If you're unhappy don't blame it on the United Way. It's your employer that agreed to let them come in. And don't feel like you have to give.

Payroll deduction has been very successful as a method of giving and many people like the convenience.

If you feel not giving will hurt you at work, look to see if the organizations you already give to are part of the United Way. Then you can designate contributions directly to them through payroll deduction and cover both bases.

 

[azazyel]

1st of all United Way is a great organization! Bill Gates donated a few million dollars to them recently. What this means is that the United Way will no longer have to use donations to run the origination. Instead all donations will go directly to charity. Also, like kranky said you can usually give to a specific organization that is supported by united way. I personally give 5% of my paycheck to Hospice of Seattle

 

[flambus]

i now nothing about united way.

i give to hospice. is that part of united way?

 

[rudder]

1st of all United Way is a great organization!

I hope so. I remember a few years back where the CEO of United Way was pulling in over $400K a year in salary. I haven't given to them since. Hopefully they have improved.

 

[azazyel]

Yes it is. They will have something on the card that will allow you to have your money go directly to them. I know they actually do it because I always get a letter from them saying thanks.

 

[wyvrn]

<< I hope so. I remember a few years back where the CEO of United Way was pulling in over $400K a year in salary. I haven't given to them since. Hopefully they have improved.

>>



There are two sides to this, seriously. You want quality management or the money is going to be wasted in other innefficient ways. You are going to have to pay people at that level some amount of money to attract the good CEO's. Like it or not, that is part of the business world. I mean, are you going to volunteer to work for the United Way as CEO for $50,000 a year when other companies will hire you at 10x that amount? Doubt it!

And I also wanted to pt. out the fact that not giving to the UW hurts the people who would otherwise be getting the benefits of your contribution more than it does the CEO!

 

[Tominator]

If you can put up with their bogus Management and their huge saleries, limos and expensive trips....not to mention them letting political special interest sway their funding priorties such as cutting funding to the Boyscouts of America, fine, donate through them....However I do not! Never will again! There are other fine orginisations that DO NOT use public moey for political purposes...

 

[spidey07]

oh, you mean the gestapo? er...sorry I meant United Way.

Great charity with loads of different organizations. But the way they guilt/force you to give at work is downright dispicable. why don't they just put a gun to your back and tell you to pony up?

 

[wyvrn]

Oh yeah you shouldn't feel forced to give to a charity, that is a contradiction. Refuse if you don't want to and simply state that other charities are already getting your money.

 

[Doomer]

The only people who should benefit from a charitable contribution are the people who NEED it. There are too many crooks thieves and scam artists in the world and unfortunately they flock to charities life a fly to sh!t.

If someone is motivated to do for those in need, the source of that motivation should not be financial compensation.

 

[wyvrn]

If someone is motivated to do for those in need, the source of that motivation should not be financial compensation.

I agree, but answer my previous question. Would you be willing to earn 10x less than what other companies are ready to give you to work for the UW? If so, then you are realistically in the minority.

The only people who should benefit from a charitable contribution are the people who NEED it. There are too many crooks thieves and scam artists in the world and unfortunately they flock to charities life a fly to sh!t.

Good point. However you need people and normal resources for the organization, so it is not possible for 100% of every dollar to go directly to the beneficiaries, unless you walk up and hand it to them. Some amount of normal expense from the donations should be expected in order to keep the operation moving smoothly. How much should a person working at UW get? Is there a standard discount over normal salaries becaues it is a charitible organization? If so, how do you raise a family if you are working on a steep discount (and I am not talking about CEO's here, more like the nominal worker)?

 

[Tripleshot]

I wouldn't give them the time of day,let alone my money.

They are a top heavy,buerocratic 501.3c.

Give to you church,or Salvation Army. Two reliable sources that give more than they take in,with Gods help.

 

[HowardStern]

I wouldn't give in to their extortion. If you really want to give to a charity, then just make the donation directly (and I recommend your local cat shelter). United way says that they will give "your" money to a specific charity, but then the shift other people nondesignated money to go elsehere which negates your giving it to a specific charity through United Way (or so I am told).