Newmont employees receive governor’s award

Getting Involved

United Way is Results Oriented.

Programs are funded based on results/outcomes versus outputs/efforts. United Way helps people become self-sufficient and contributing members of our community.

United Way is Local.

Contributions stay here in our community. The Board of Directors is made up of local volunteer leaders and the United Way volunteers making the program funding and agency accreditation decisions could be your employees, neighbors, co-workers or family members. United Way's door is open to all local non-profit health and human care agencies with an IRS recognized tax-exempt status.

United Way Helps the Most People.

Employees give to one organization to help the most local people. Running a single campaign is an efficient use of staff time and resources. The United Way campaign has a broad reach which includes 18 strong agencies with programs that touch 1 in 5 households each year.

United Way Campaigns are Fun.

Company-wide employee campaigns are fun and build employee morale. Employees have the opportunity to strengthen team- building skills while managing the company United Way campaign. Successful organizations seldom have unsuccessful United Way campaigns. United Way is experienced at tailoring a campaign to your workplace and your needs.

United Way Brings Us Together.

United Way's approach brings together grassroots efforts, business, government, education, health care and social services to address community problems and measure the progress being made.

United Way Inspires People to Do More.

Employees feel good about giving, knowing that their donations directly help those who need help the most. Our community is strengthened and helped by United Way funded programs. Employees like to work for a company that cares.

United Way Cares About Our Community.

United Way funding focuses on people and issues close to us: families, children and youth, older adults, health and wellness, and basic needs. Healthy communities lead to healthy workplaces. United Way offers your employees multiple options to donate.

United Way is Efficient.

Low administrative and fundraising costs mean more than 85 cents of every dollar goes to services in the community. Annual independent audits ensure that your donations are handled with care and stewardship. Donations are wisely invested in high-quality, results oriented programs.

United Way is Dependable.

Although United Way has been present in our five-county area for many years, your local United Way of the Great Basin agency has worked hard for the past 5 years to ensure that locally raised funds stay to work right here where we live and work. We want your business to be successful and your employees and customers to enjoy the quality of life that a caring community provides.

United Way is Effective.

When you give to the United Way of the Great Basin you are investing in people -- not giving to charity. United Way helps to provide opportunity, hope and offers a hand up to people who need help the most.

 

 

More Campaign Information

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I give to the United Way of the Great Basin?
Many people want to see their contribution help people right where they live. Your donation stays to work in your community!

There are so many organizations out there asking for a donation. It’s overwhelming. I can’t help everyone. What makes this any different than giving to any other agency?
United Way originally formed as a group of people who recognized the many needs in the community they lived in. Those first volunteers, who included skilled physicians, craftsmen, laborers and caregivers, gave their time and money to those needs. However, the needs often outweighed their own resources so money was still needed to buy supplies, provide transportation, and pay for services that were not volunteered. The group began to raise funds for a “Community Chest”. When a need arose in the community, the collection provided support. United Way of the Great Basin is the fundraiser in your community! Through workplace campaigns, you can choose to have as little as $1 taken out of each paycheck. So, over one year, you can make a $24 tax-deductible contribution!

Who decides where my contribution goes?
Pledges and cash contributions are totaled at the end of March every year. At that time, volunteers who live in your own community listen to and review requests from our “Partner” agencies. Because the volunteers live where you do, they are sensitive to actual problems, needs and programs in your area. After they talk to representatives from the agency, the panel of volunteers makes a recommendation to the United Way of the Great Basin Board of Directors. This process effectively sends your donation to programs that help the most people. So, your donation often serves many programs at the same time.

What if I decide that I want my contribution to go to a certain agency?
Just write the name of the agency on the bottom of the pledge form. Our only requirement is that they must be an IRS recognized Non-Profit agency.

So, if I am going to give a certain amount to a certain agency anyway, why can’t I just send them a check?
You can! They will love you for it! We just think payroll deductions, spread out over twelve months, make it easier for you to help build a safe, healthy and strong community.

How much of my donation actually goes to the agency and how much goes to administrative expenses at the United Way of the Great Basin?
Although the IRS allows every Non-Profit agency up to 50% of your contribution to be used for administrative expenses, our United Way policy is to never use more than 15% of the total campaign each year. In fact, if a campaign is large, the annual administrative budget may require much less than that. There are only two of us working to raise funds for Elko, Eureka, White Pine, Lander and Humboldt County agencies. We run on a tight budget because you do too!

When does the money come out of my check? (If I choose payroll deductions)
Companies usually begin deducting contributions from the first pay period in January and end with the last check in December. Your contribution ends if you move away. If you want to continue giving, just tell your new employer you would like to support the United Way.

What is a “Partner Agency”?
Any non-profit agency can apply to our United Way for partnership status. They must submit information and pass a checklist we call Standards of Excellence. We make sure; they have a good reputation in the community; have annual financial reviews and audits by an outside professional; tell us why they think their program is needed in the community; tell us how many people they are actually helping with the money they spend. We even want to know who is on their Board of Directors, so we know they fairly represent the community.

Not all agencies meet these rigorous standards. However, the organizations listed on the back of your pledge form are our “Partners”. You can feel good about giving to them because we did our homework to recommend each one as reputable and hard working. We continue to monitor their activities to ensure your donations are spent on programs that make your neighborhood safer, healthier and more attractive.

Wal-Mart employees participating in the 2004-2005 United Way Campaign.

Top Ten Reasons to Run a United Way Campaign