Frequently Asked Questions

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United Way of Northeast Louisiana is committed to Helping People and Improving Community right here at home. We are improving community by focusing on three community impact areas - Income, Education, and Health.

>>EDUCATION: Children and youth achieve their potential

Target Issue: Increase Graduation Rates

>>INCOME: Hardworking individuals and families become more financially stable

Target Issues: Increae Income, Build Savings, Gain and Sustain Assets

>>HEALTH: People's health is improved

Target Issue: Increase Access to Care and Preventative Health & Nutritional
Services for Individuals and Families

Although we're committed to making lasting changes in our community, we remain firmly committed to supporting a foundation of services that respond to basic and/or emergency needs such as food, shelter, medicine, and disaster relief.

United Way of Northeast Louisiana is a locally run and governed non-profit organization that has been supporting health and human service programs in Ouachita Parish since 1956, and in the entire Northeast Louisiana area since 1987. A volunteer Board of Directors made up of 35 community leaders governs the organization. Hundreds of volunteers serve on committees including those that plan and implement the annual fund-raising campaign and those that determine how dollars raised should be invested in the 12-parish area we serve. Volunteers are supported by a professional staff.

United Way of Northeast Louisiana is a regional organization covering the 12 parishes of northeastern Louisiana: Caldwell, Eat Carroll, Franklin, Jackson, Lincoln, Madison, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland, Tensas, Union, and West Carroll. United Way 2-1-1 covers an additional 3 parishes: Catahoula, Concordia, and LaSalle. The money raised by United Way of Northeast Louisiana stays right here in at home, providing critical health and himan services and working to make the greatest impact in the community.

United Way of America [UWA] is a national trade association whose primary objective is to support activities of over 1,300 local United Ways across America. The organization provides education opportunities for volunteers and professional staff nationwide. It provides national media advertising such as television Public Service Announcements during the NFL football season. It also sets national goals and provides brand leadership for local United Ways. In additiona, UWA conducts a vast array of research to assist member organizations in the development and implementation of their local community impact agendas. United Way of Northeast Louisiana pays 1% of its annual campaign dollars to United Way of America for dues.

The Community Investment Committee and teams of volunteers representing all segments of our community determine how dollars raised should be invested.

Funding for our community impact agenda comes from the United Way campaign, contracts and government and foundation grants.

In order to receive funding from United Way, an agency must demonstrate that it is meeting strict accountability requirements:
* Be a tax exempt, non-profit corporation
* Be governed by a volunteer board whose members are elected and supported by trained, professional staff
* Have an annual, independent financial audit (Agencies with under $100,000 in revenue may have an independent review.)
* Meet reasonable standards of financial responsibility and efficiency
* Quantify or measure the changes that the agency/program is making in the lives of the people it serves.

While United Way has standards for Partnership, each agency is autonomous and is governed by a Board of Directors. The agencies determine the programs they provide to the community and their criteria for receiving services. Agencies are not totally funded by United Way dollars and may depend on service or membership fees for finacial support. Frequently, agencies offer sliding fee schedules so that people who are unable to pay the total fee can be charged based on their ability to pay.

Some agencies choose to discontinue their partnership with United Way, others do not continue to meet partnership standards and are asked to exit AFTER every effort is made to help the organization meet the partnership criteria and standards.

United Way has a formal process for funding health and human service agencies that involves volunteer and staff review, fiscal accountability and agency compliance with policies set by the board of directors. United Way enters into contractual partnerships with agencies with the objective of achieving specific outcomes that address our community goals and impact areas.

Yes. Donors who wish to direct their contribution to a specific Impact Area, a Partner Agency, or other 501(c)3 non-profit health and human service agency may do so by completing a Specific Care Form and submitting it with their pledge. Designations must be turned in to the Employee Campaign Manager so they can be turned in with the report envelope.

The fastest way to find out what is available is to call United Way 2-1-1. With just one phone call to 2-1-1 by cell or landline phone, anyone who needs help can speak with a caring, highly trained person who will listen, assess their needs, offer emotional support, and get them connected to the services that could meet their needs. Call specialists have access to a vast array of community and social service resources to help meet the needs of callers.

Yes! Call 2-1-1. A call specialist will talk with you to discover your interests and talents and connect you with appropriate volunteer opportunities in our community.

Yes! The Louisiana Purchase Council of the Boy Scouts of America is a United Way of Northeast Lousiana partner agency.

Background: Over the years, there have been several legal challenges raised concerning Boy Scouts policies. Boy Scouts of America vs. James Dale decision addressed the issue of whether the Boy Scouts, a private membership organization, can exclude homosexuals from serving as troop leaders. The Supreme Court ruled that the First Amendment freedom of expression and association prevented the government from requiring the Boy Scouts to accept gay troop leaders.

United Way is a system of 1,300 separately incorporated independent organizations. Each United Way raises money in an annual fund-raising campaign and allocates funds to local health and human service agencies in their community. While a few United Ways have stopped funding Boy Scouts in their communities, United Way of Northeast Louisiana has a strong partnership with and continues to fund the Boy Scouts, Louisiana Purchase Council.

No! United Way of Northeast Louisiana does not provide funding for any agency which performs abortions or provides counseling on abortions. United Way of Northeast Louisiana member agencies do not refer individuals to abortion as an option. All information and referral telephone lines and crisis intervention telephone lines receiving funding from United Way of Northeast Louisiana, including United Way 2-1-1, have a strict policy of NOT referring individuals to abortion services. Individuals calling specifically for abortion information are referred to the yellow pages of the phone book.

Of all dollars taken in to United Way, 20.7% is budgeted for administrative and fundraising costs.

Yes. Under IRS guidelines, the full amount of your gift, if paid, qualifies as a deductible charitable contribution. The IRS does, however, have new guidelines for the documentation required to substantiate proof of payment:

IRS TAX SUBSTANTIATION DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS:
Old IRS Rule: Donors could deduct contributions up to $250 without documentation.
New IRS Rule: No deduction of any amount without documentation.

Proof of payment to be used for IRS tax substantiation include the following:
If paid with: Cash-receipt from United Way
Checks or credit card-canceled check or credit card receipt
*Payroll deduction-(1) Documentation from employer that indicates amount
withheld AND (2) Copy of Pledge Form in your tax files.

*if paying by payroll deduction please maintain copy of pledge form in your tax files*

No. Giving is a personal decision. United Way has a strong policy against coercion. Whether a person gives to United Way and how much the person chooses to give is up to the individual. United Way of Northeast Louisiana does not support the use of threats or coercion of any kind.

Althought most of us have a strong desire to invest in our community by lending our financial support, it can be very difficult to give a lump sum at one time. The ease and convenience of payroll deduction allows us to make the greatest different possible by spreading our donation out over the year.

In addition, when you give to your community through United Way, you have the assurance that strong accountability standards are in place to protect and assist you in getting the greatest return on your investment.

Anyone who wants to improve their community can't afford not to give. Every gift to United Way of Northeast Louisiana, no matter its size, makes a difference in our community. Many people find that giving through payroll deduction allows them to make a contribution that fits their budget. One of the advantages of giving to United Way is being part of a community effort that combines all of our giving to multiply the impact.

Needs always exceed the dollars available to meet them, so unfortunately, some people don't get help they desire.

United Way of Northeast Louisiana is a regional organization. United Way 2-1-1 and the Partner Agency programs that we fund help people all over Northeast Louisiana. Parish-wide information on funded programs is available from your United Way staff person.