This
has been a tough year at United Way, and we want to keep you informed of the
campaign trends we are following.
Over
the past several years our campaign fundraising has decreased from around the
$500,000 mark to around the $350,000 mark.
Some statistics:
Corporate giving is
down 8.6% from last year.
Corporate giving is
down 50% from 2009.
345 donors that
gave last year did not give this year.
From 2,500+ donors
in 2009, we’ve lost 900 members of our donor base.
We understand, based on your feedback that you are wary about
future health care costs and that most of you have not received raises in
several years while the cost of living has gone up. This is unfortunate
and we do understand. Thank you for letting us know that you still
believe in us and support our cause.
We
operate and provide local community program funding solely off of private
donations, corporate gifts, and small collaborative grants. We do not receive State or Federal funding
from the government. And all of the
funds that UWLC raises are used locally – helping Laurens County residents. This means that YOU decide whether our funded
programs/services stay or go.
Yes,
fears for the upcoming year include funding; but there is a lot more than just
“money issues” that keep me up at night.
If United Way were to close and no longer be in operation one day…who
would carry on the programs that we run directly (VITA, Imagination Library, Benefit
Bank, Born Learning, etc.)? Who would be
the referral site for the emergency relief calls that come in (utility
assistance, food assistance, etc.)? Who
would provide the funding for the many helpful United Way funded programs (32
this year) in Laurens County?
United
Way of Laurens County is working alongside of many organizations to meet needs
and provide opportunities for better futures.
There is still time to get involved with our campaign and help fund
vital services and programs in this community.
Unless you have used United
Way services/programs (received your tax refund without fees, signed up for assistance
benefits online, found free services for children and senior adults, etc.), you
might not see the importance of United Way. You might know that we “do
good things" but the clients we care for, your neighbors and mine, really
understand that we are a first point of contact and sometimes a last resort for
help.
Because our dollars are
down, we are extending our campaign this year.
If you are not already involved, we ask that you join us in our mission
to LIVE UNITED and care for those around us. Please contact me if you
have questions about our viability and or planning as we will be faced with
making hard decisions in March and April 2014.
