I need financial assistance.
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's 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.
Why should I give to United Way?
No other organization can leverage resources to improve Education, Income and Health like United Way. With one gift to United Way of Champaign County, you impact 41 programs at 31 local nonprofits – all of which have a track record of results.
Our grant making efforts are just one way that we bring about positive change in individual lives and community conditions. United Way is a partner in change, working with a broad range of people and organizations to identify and resolve pressing community issues. Our initiative work recognizes that no one organization has all the solutions – we work together to tackle the toughest challenges.
A designated gift is narrowly focused and doesn’t make the broad impact like a gift to our Community Impact Fund. The Community Impact Fund is truly the most powerful way to change lives in our community. In short, you give to United Way because you want to improve our community as a whole.
What is United Way’s administration and fundraising cost (Overhead)?
UWCC is proud that we keep our expenses low. In FY2018, UWCC’s overhead ratio was 15%. Of that, 5.4% is Administration, and 9.6% is Resource Development. This means 85% of all our expenses go to Community Impact, or 85 cents on the dollar.
This information is found in our Form 990, which is filed annually with the IRS and available for inspection on our website.
UWCC is near the U.S United Way network’s administration/overhead average of 14.5%. We are also well below industry standards and recommendations (like the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance at 35% and the Office of Personnel Management/OPM at 25%). United Way has received Charity Navigator’s 4-Star rating in accountability and transparency – because of our commitment to sound financial policies. United Way helps many other nonprofits maintain low overhead rates, too.
Does my Community Impact Fund gift stay local?
Yes.
Community Impact Fund grants are given only to programs that serve residents of Champaign County. You can be assured your gift is helping local people right here in our County. A full list of all Community Impact Fund grants is on our website.
I want to request funding for my agency or project.
Please visit our Program Funding Opportunities page for more information.
I want to volunteeer.
That's wonderful! Visit our partner CUVolunteer.org to find a listing of local organizations who are currently seeking volunteers.
Does United Way fund Planned Parenthood?
No. United Way of Champaign County does not provide program funding to Planned Parenthood. No United Way funds are currently used, or have ever been used to support abortion services.