What is the Greater Kalamazoo United Way?
Why should I give to GKUW?
What does GKUW do in addition to raising money?
Is GKUW a national or local organization?
How much of my contribution to GKUW is invested in programs that support the community?
How is GKUW held accountable?
How do I know that my donation will help those who need it most?
Why should I give to GKUW instead of directly to an agency?
Is my GKUW contribution tax-deductible?
The agency or program I want to support is not listed. Can I still designate my gift to that particular agency?
I am on a tight budget. How can I afford to give?
How can I get help?
Q. What is the Greater Kalamazoo United Way?
A. The Greater Kalamazoo United Way (GKUW) is a dynamic local nonprofit organization that uniquely brings our community together and focuses a broad array of resources on the most critical human care needs in Kalamazoo County. By partnering with all sectors, including: business, government, health care, the faith community, education, nonprofits and individuals, we’re able to monitor and address the current, emerging and unmet needs of our community. As a convener, collaborator, funder and leader in addressing health and human service needs and issues, GKUW plays a unique and critical role in making our community a better place. And thanks to the generous support of people throughout Kalamazoo County, we’re helping to improve lives every day.
Q. Why should I give to GKUW?
A. When you give to GKUW, you help provide solutions to critical human care issues in our community. By contributing, you become part of a well-coordinated, community-wide effort that brings about measurable changes that matter most where you live and work. GKUW leverages your contribution by combining it with thousands of others, and strategically investing in substantially-vetted programs and initiatives that have demonstrated outcomes and results. Giving hope to kids, families, seniors, people with disabilities and individuals fighting disease, you help address the most pressing needs and issues in our community. Additionally, with the ease of payroll deduction, you can help others and improve the quality of life in our community substantially, with one donation.
Q. What does GKUW do in addition to raising money?
A. Fundraising is just one part of the immense value GKUW brings to Kalamazoo County. GKUW fulfills a unique and vital role in our community by regularly monitoring needs, identifying critical issues, and bringing together all sectors and a broad spectrum of resources to make a powerful impact on lives in our community. Trained volunteers, along with United Way expertise, help ensure that your contribution is invested to achieve the greatest impact on the issues that matter most. The Greater Kalamazoo United Way is a true community partner, actively working with more than 30 local collaborative partners and initiatives, to ensure that information is shared and used effectively in community decision-making.
Q. Is GKUW a national or local organization?
A. GKUW is a local, autonomous nonprofit organization. Like the more than 1,350 United Ways across the country, GKUW is governed by a local volunteer Board of Directors. GKUW participates in the United Way of America membership in exchange for important cost-efficient services, including: staff training, community research and comparative information, campaign products, national and regional advertising, as well as, ongoing consultation.
Q. How much of my contribution to GKUW is invested in programs that support the community?
A. For every dollar contributed to the GKUW Community Care Fund, approximately 88-cents of every dollar is used to make an impact on services, systems and local programs that improve lives. Undesignated contributions or contributions to the GKUW Community Care Fund go through a rigorous and time-tested volunteer review, to ensure that your gift supports human care programs that are achieving measurable results and doing the most good in our community.
Q. How is GKUW held accountable?
A. GKUW prides itself on being a trustworthy and accountable organization. A volunteer committee of qualified and skilled financial experts meets monthly, monitoring the organization’s financial activities. We maintain high standards of operation and are reviewed each year by an outside independent auditor, who verifies that our financial statements fairly present the financial position of GKUW and that our systems and controls meet or exceed Generally Accepted Accounting Principals (GAAP). Annually, GKUW must meet national standards on financial accountability to be considered for membership in the United Way of America national association of United Ways.
Q. How do I know that my donation will help those who need it most?
A. More than 70 community volunteers commit to serve two-year terms, and are trained to carefully invest United Way contributions in local programs. This group of dedicated volunteers includes representatives from the general community, business leaders, organized labor, government partners, etc... Throughout the year, they carefully monitor community needs, meet with local health and human service providers, review agency requests for program funding, monitor program outcomes, and invest your contribution in effective programs that improve lives and address the most critical human care needs and issues Kalamazoo County.
Q. Why should I give to GKUW instead of directly to an agency?
A. Supporting GKUW is the best way to help the most people in our community for several reasons:
- By investing in the GKUW Community Care Fund you are able to have an impact on the most pressing health and human care needs and issues in our community. Giving an undesignated gift or giving to the Community Care Fund ensures that your gift is helping to improve lives and create measurable and substantial impact.
- Community volunteers carefully review each United Way-funded program annually. Their oversight ensures that agencies adhere to sound fiscal policies and that your contribution is invested in programs that do the most good. Contributions that are designated to a specific agency receive no oversight from GKUW.
- Giving through GKUW reduces costly and time-consuming fundraising efforts for the agencies providing programs. This enables them to better spend their time helping people in need.
- When you give through your workplace campaign, your contribution can be spread out over the course of a year through payroll deduction, making it easier and more cost-effective for you to support the human care needs of our community.
- When you give to GKUW, your contribution is invested with the contributions of others to help provide a continuum of care for those most in need. Even if you restrict a portion of your contribution to a specific service or agency, we ask that you consider investing part of your contribution in the Community Care Fund. This enables you to partner with us in creating sustained changes in community conditions that improve the most lives throughout Kalamazoo County.
Q. Is my GKUW contribution tax-deductible?
A. Yes, your contribution is tax-deductible if you itemize your deductions.
Q. The agency or program I want to support is not listed. Can I still designate my gift to that particular agency?
A. GKUW recommends that you give to the Community Care Fund, due to our unique and intimate working relationship with this set of program providers; however, if you prefer, you can donate to United Way and designate your contribution, the organization must be a 501(c)(3) health and human service program or organization.
Q. I am on a tight budget. How can I afford to give?
A. Every contribution matters! Even a modest contribution per pay period can help provide solutions to the most critical human care needs and issues in our community. And by giving through payroll deduction, you can spread your contribution over the coming year – making it more manageable than a one-time and/or out-of-pocket contribution. If you can’t support GKUW financially, please remember that you can become a volunteer. Each year, thousands of volunteers come together through the GKUW to improve our community, through Day of Caring programs, GKUW, or, other nonprofit organizations.
Q. How can I get help?
A. If you or someone you know needs help, please dial 2-1-1 from a landline phone or (269) 381-HELP (4357), from a cellular phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, to receive information and referral assistance.
