FAQs

Volunteers serving on the UWoSCO's Allocation Committee decide how to distribute dollars to programs requesting funding. The Allocation Committee then make recommendations to the Board of Directors, who have final approval on all funding.

UWoSCO has always enjoyed a strong partnership with the business community. Organizations that host a workplace campaign understand that we all share a responsibility for the people and neighborhoods where we live, work, and raise our families. Employees that contribute to our annual workplace campaign inspire others to further real and lasting progress throughout the community.

Everyone should give to the charities that are closest to their hearts. But a gift to UWoSCO will extend charitable giving by investing in the needs of the five counties UWoSCO serves.

United Way Worldwide, the leadership and support organization for the network of local United Ways, does not provide financial support to Planned Parenthood.   All funding decisions by local United Ways are made by individual United Ways based on an assessment of local needs. United Way Worldwide does not dictate funding decisions to local United Ways.  Out of nearly 1,200 local United Ways in the United States, only a small number (less than 6 percent) provide support to Planned Parenthood. The amount of financial support represents less than one tenth of one percent of total United Way revenue. In many of these instances, funding for Planned Parenthood is the result of specific requests from individual donors.   No United Way funds are currently used or have ever been used to support abortion services.   Several local United Way partners provide professional family and individual counseling services, which include professional counseling on pregnancy-related problems.   Local United Way-funded Planned Parenthood programs focus on community health maintenance (e.g. communicable disease prevention; medical care service; family planning; health education; public awareness services; and family preservation) and strengthening services like counseling and family life education. 

When resources allow, UWoSCO invites applications from organizations that demonstrate measurable results in addressing key issues our communities have identified as most important.

99% of the money raised in by UWoSCO stays within our five county service area the 1% that goes to United Way Worldwide provides us membership into the network and access to the United Way name, logo, marketing materials, resources, trainings, webinars, online branding resources, board education materials and access to donations from national corporate partners who have joined with United Way Worldwide.

UWoSCO is one of the oldest nonprofits within our area, dating back to 1971, we help to create solutions that build stronger communities. Our goal is to improve education, strengthen financial stability and create healthier communities, but we are not in it alone. Our volunteers and donors’ partner with us to advance community-based and community-led solutions. Bringing people and organizations together we can do more together than any of us could ever accomplish on our own. Employers, nonprofits, government, faith organizations, educators, labor, health providers, community leaders, youth and many more partner with us. Together, we tackle some of the toughest and most complex community issues. We are focused on solutions that create real change. It is not simple, or easy. But we are making progress and together we are seeing results. 

United Way is not legally set up to provide direct financial assistance to individuals, but we work with many community partners that do. The best way to find available resources in your area is by calling our 2-1-1 help number. It is a 3-digit number like 9-1-1, but for access to health and human services. Calling 2-1-1 will get you a trained resource and referral specialist, who will know what services are available in your area. Sometimes the 2-1-1 line can be a problem from a cell phone or may not yet be available in your immediate area. If you can't get through on 2-1-1, you can go to www.211.org and type in your zip code. It will provide an alternate number where one is available.