Welcome to Burke County United Way

GENERAL INFORMATION

Burke County United Way is a single county, private nonprofit corporation governed by a local Board of Directors to meet the human service needs of Burke County residents.

Burke County United Way is focusing on five major needs area identified by the community in the Roadmap to Impact process:

1. Unemployment/Underemployment

2. Access to Affordable Health Care/Insurance

3. Child Abuse & Neglect

4. Mental Health

5. Substance Abuse

United Way makes an impact in these areas of need by:

1. Funding local viable programs with strong, positive outcomes.

2. Providing administrative support to new and ongoing community collaboratives.

Funds are raised for Burke County United Way efforts by a 20 member campaign cabinet made up of local community volunteers.

Funds are awarded to local programs by 23 member community investment cabinet made up of local community volunteers.

Funds are managed by a 20 member Board of Directors made up of local community volunteers.

An annual audit is completed by Lowdermilk Church and Co. and the IRS 990 is posted above. Burke County United Way has always had clean audits with NO financial or management issues.

Where the Money Goes...

Unemployment/Crisis Programs - 22%

Youth Programs - 10%

Health Care Programs - 10%

Child Abuse/Domestic Violence - 11%

Mental Health/Substance Abuse - 13%

211 Information & Referral - 8%

Donor Option - 8%

Administrative/Fundraising - 18%

Additional Data

Why is Burke County part of United Way and not just a local united fund?

The 18% administrative/fundraising figure includes the annual dues paid to the United Way of America and United Way of North Carolina. These dues total less than $10,000 or 1.6% of total agency funds and in return Burke County receives access to national marketing initiatives and the ability to receive funds from donations designated to us through other United Ways, national company campaigns and the NC State Employees campaign. Last year the affiliation resulted in $75,000 flowing into Burke County from across the nation. This figure does not include the value of training and marketing assistance provided by the United Way network. The total investment coming into Burke County far exceeds the amount we pay in dues.

What impact is the economy having on Burke County United Way?

The 2008-2009 campaign ended at $594,000 in total pledges, down $150,000 from the prior year. Burke County United Way worked diligently for the past two years to reduce internal operational costs and hold allocations level to local programs. This year with a $150,000 less in pledges and an economy requiring a higher pledge loss estimate, Burke County United Way had to reduce allocations to local programs at a time when funds are critically needed to meet local needs.

What is pledge loss?

Pledge loss is the estimated amount of pledges that will not be paid. Burke County United Way has historically budgeted 7% of total pledges that will not be paid. This year Burke County United Way is conservatively estimating a 15% pledge loss figure.

What about funds in reserve?

Burke County United Way has a small fund established with the Burke Community Foundation with less than $10,000 in available reserve funds.

What do United Way employees do in addition to raising funds?

United Way employees provide administrative, planning and marketing assistance to the following projects at no cost:

Distribute the Familywize Drug Discount Cards resulting in $75,894 of savings from July 1, 2009-May May 31, 2009 to Burke residents.
Assist the Toys for Tots program that provided gifts for 247 children through the United Way office as part of the larger Marine Corps initiative.
Host human resource fairs in the community bringing agency services under one roof for easy access by people in need.
Update the 211 information data base for Burke County that hosts service information available to residents via telephone or computer and answer daily calls from residents seeking assistance.
Provide administrative support for the local Emergency Food and Shelter board, the Strategic Community for Youth initiative and an indigent health care planning board.
Provide technical assistance to local agencies as requested and link agencies with outside resources.
Staff the Burke Teens In Action program, a youth philanthropy program sponsored by Burke County United Way.

The costs of these services are based on staff time and allocated back to our community investment areas in the "Where Our Money Goes" section above.