RSS
Twitter
Facebook
YouTubeYea, i was bitching about my company, not united way. My company does both of those things. For 8 weeks there is a drwawing every week for like a lcd, a number of ipods and iphones xbox's' plus random 100 buck gift certs, and the company also does match. Still i feel like its a shakedown, i dont want to donate, but u are looked down on if u dont, so i dont, and donate more than i probably spend on eating out, shopping for clothes, random fuins things for myself.
Columbus Underground Messageboard » General Columbus Discussion » Q&A
Forced Giving
[83 posts] [31 contributors]
Topic Rating:
(Total Ratings: )
Rate this topic:
Rate this topic:
-
mikegetsit
Login to Send PM
Posted 2 years ago # -
pez
Login to Send PM
I always donate directly and would never donate to United Way as I don't like the idea of them picking and choosing who is good enough for my money, then taking a cut off the top. And although they aren't the ones strong arming employees, they certainly encourage it. We're pretty lucky though, I can do a payroll deduction for any charity thats 501(c)(3). At the end of the year the company matches up to $2500, although it use to be $5k. It's a great thing for them though, whenever any charity comes banging on the door they can tell them that they support the causes that are important to their employees and only donate through a match program.
Posted 2 years ago # -
greenhouse1014
Columbus
Login to Send PM
I used to work for United Way. United Way uses less than or around 10% of contributions, which is pretty goos as non-profits go. Your job is part of a workplace campaign and is one of the primary funding mechanisms for UW. There's no quota or anything like that. The companies receive nothing in return for their employee contributions, unless you think getting our name on a list is a big deal. How your company handles donations is up to them and, I think what causes the problem sometimes is that the companies promise too much, then lean on their employees to make up what they promised. My present employer runs a workplace campaign and all they ask is contribution, which may mean a donation or not.
Posted 2 years ago # -
WildmanDan
W. Hubbard/Vic Village
Login to Send PM
Well I think if United Way and others want to not look like they are backing employee pressured giving, then quit giving out the plaques for 100% giving and other crap like that that companies are looking to put on their walls to brag about to visitors/clients.
Posted 2 years ago # -
TaraK
probably at the coffee shop
Login to Send PM
WildmanDan wrote >>
Well I think if United Way and others want to not look like they are backing employee pressured giving, then quit giving out the plaques for 100% giving and other crap like that that companies are looking to put on their walls to brag about to visitors/clients.So what could they do to express their gratitude for donations without appearing to support it?
Posted 2 years ago # -
DavidF
Elysium Fields
Login to Send PM
TaraK wrote >>
WildmanDan wrote >>
Well I think if United Way and others want to not look like they are backing employee pressured giving, then quit giving out the plaques for 100% giving and other crap like that that companies are looking to put on their walls to brag about to visitors/clients.So what could they do to express their gratitude for donations without appearing to support it?
Nothing. Obviously a reputable organization would stay above board by refusing to acknowledge any donations.
I've had some issues with United Way, but they are a good organization that does good things. My personal issues do not an indictment of an entire organization make.
Posted 2 years ago # -
alison
Login to Send PM
DavidF wrote >>
TaraK wrote >>
WildmanDan wrote >>
Well I think if United Way and others want to not look like they are backing employee pressured giving, then quit giving out the plaques for 100% giving and other crap like that that companies are looking to put on their walls to brag about to visitors/clients.So what could they do to express their gratitude for donations without appearing to support it?
Nothing. Obviously a reputable organization would stay above board by refusing to acknowledge any donations.
I've had some issues with United Way, but they are a good organization that does good things. My personal issues do not an indictment of an entire organization make.Saying "thank you" is disreputable?
Posted 2 years ago # -
TaraK
probably at the coffee shop
Login to Send PM
alison wrote >>
DavidF wrote >>
TaraK wrote >>
WildmanDan wrote >>
Well I think if United Way and others want to not look like they are backing employee pressured giving, then quit giving out the plaques for 100% giving and other crap like that that companies are looking to put on their walls to brag about to visitors/clients.So what could they do to express their gratitude for donations without appearing to support it?
Nothing. Obviously a reputable organization would stay above board by refusing to acknowledge any donations.
I've had some issues with United Way, but they are a good organization that does good things. My personal issues do not an indictment of an entire organization make.Saying "thank you" is disreputable?
Alison, I assumed that line from David was sarcasm.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Tenzo
Chicago Lakeshore
Login to Send PM
if group A, B and C are slated for $10,000 each and you give $500 to B.
A, B and C still get $10,000 each.In order to have affect on a charity you must donate more than is already set aside. So, you would have to give $10,001 for the money donated to be affected.
It's in the fine print
Posted 2 years ago # -
roy
Downtown
Login to Send PM
In the interest of being charitable I won't list the local UW CEO's salary perks and bennies, anyone can look it up. The whole UW shakedown is ironic in that many workers pressured to give are actually income eligible for the programs UW traditionally has supported.
Last year the Columbus UW announced it was 'changing direction' and abruptly zeroed out two excellent programs I strongly support, so I began contributing directly to the agencies. I was very clear at my workplace and provided documentation so they could use my donations toward our charitable giving 'goals.'
I agree the whole thing is very uncomfortable. It's not cool to see six or ten middle managers and their assistants spending countless hours of on-the-clock work time organizing a bagel sale where they raise a couple hundred dollars for UW with no thought to the actual costs of raising the money.
Tenzo's right about the so-called 'directed donations.' UW gives what they want, where they want. If you feel strongly about specific service providers, give directly not through UW.
Posted 2 years ago # -
misskitty
Columbus
Login to Send PM
Tenzo wrote >>
misskitty wrote >>
I will say that one thing I enjoy about Donating to the United Way is that you can select where your funds go.Where did you get that idea?
So when it has a list of charities on the back of the form I fill out that money does not go to those charities. Even though I say I want my donation to go to group A they never see it? Do let me know if that is the case, I will stop donating with them.
Posted 2 years ago # -
alexs
Limestone bluffs of the Scioto
Login to Send PM
I'll put in a plug for COSMO as a local alternative to UW:
http://www.communityshares.net/
It's an umbrella organization whose members are local non-profits, promoting workplace giving. Members range from the Open Shelter, to Cat Welfare, to NAICCO, etc. Donations can be targeted to a particular organization, and un-targeted donations go to a general fund; the member organizations get a share according to points they earn by participating in the organization.
Posted 2 years ago # -
mrs. howatzer
Login to Send PM
Long time lurker.... first time poster...
I too felt the high pressure sell at work to give to UW. So I did what I do before donating to any charity. I looked up their Annual Report.
http://www.liveunited.org/annualreport/
The most recent year posted in 2007.
Here is the breakdown from page 14:
Investor Relations: 8.62%
Comm Impact Leadership: 8.65%
Ctr. for Comm Leadership: 8.31%
Public Policy: 12.52%
Brand Leadership: 11.75%
Other Expenses: 9.8%
Funds Distribution: 28.21%
Support Services: 12.14%To be clear, I'll repeat... According to the UW annual report, only 28 cents of each dollar raised makes it to the targeted organizations.
Cleary, it is better to dontate directly than through the United Way.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Tenzo
Chicago Lakeshore
Login to Send PM
misskitty wrote >>
Tenzo wrote >>
misskitty wrote >>
I will say that one thing I enjoy about Donating to the United Way is that you can select where your funds go.Where did you get that idea?
So when it has a list of charities on the back of the form I fill out that money does not go to those charities. Even though I say I want my donation to go to group A they never see it?
1) I'm not suggesting anyone not donate
2) But yes. If you designate that your money goes to charitable group B; United way will NOT increase their donation toward that group. It will be the same amount whether you designate them or not.
Or put another way. If charity B is slated to get $500; and 87 people donate $100 and designate it to charity B. Then charity B will still only get $500
UW's explanation for this is that they have qualified people who determine where the money is best spent and how much goes to which charities and with what stipulations.
"The donor is giving their unrestricted gift with the expectation that we would spend it where it's needed most," noted Bill Kitson, a vice president with the Milwaukee United Way. "So we put a lot of effort into the allocation process."
Posted 2 years ago # -
misskitty
Columbus
Login to Send PM
Tenzo wrote >>
misskitty wrote >>
Tenzo wrote >>
misskitty wrote >>
I will say that one thing I enjoy about Donating to the United Way is that you can select where your funds go.Where did you get that idea?
So when it has a list of charities on the back of the form I fill out that money does not go to those charities. Even though I say I want my donation to go to group A they never see it?
1) I'm not suggesting anyone not donate
2) But yes. If you designate that your money goes to charitable group B; United way will NOT increase their donation toward that group. It will be the same amount whether you designate them or not.
Or put another way. If charity B is slated to get $500; and 87 people donate $100 and designate it to charity B. Then charity B will still only get $500
UW's explanation for this is that they have qualified people who determine where the money is best spent and how much goes to which charities and with what stipulations.Boo,
I don’t know how I feel about that. Maybe I should just make all my donations direct payment.Posted 2 years ago # -
Tenzo
Chicago Lakeshore
Login to Send PM
Two sides to the coin.
1) United way is an organization that specializes in distributing the money where they think it is most effective. There are many charities that would not be able to do what they do without the United Way contributions.
2) I want my money to go where I say it goes and I want more than 28% of my donation to go to the charity
Posted 2 years ago #
You must log in to post.
Launched in August 2010, TheMetropreneur.com is a local online resource devoted to small business development and entrepreneurship. Its aim is to tell the stories of Central Ohio's business community, foster regional economic development and assist entrepreneurs with its resource-heavy focus.