United Way of Benton and Franklin Counties has compiled a list of questions asked most often.  If the information you're seeking isn't here, email your inquiry to bgauthier@unitedway-bfco.com.

-What is the United Way of Benton and Franklin Counties?
-Who runs the United Way of Benton and Franklin Counties?
-How does the United Way distribute funds in our community?
-In the 2006-07 Campaign, United Way raised over $4 million and distributed over $3 million.
    Where do the funds that are not distributed go?
-Why is the United Way a better choice than giving directly to an agency?
-What safeguards are in place to ensure accountability for the United Way funds?
-What is Community Solutions?
-Why is United Way doing Community Solutions?
-How is United Way going to create solutions to our community problems?
-How will this affect funding to your current Partner Agencies?

Q.  What is the United Way of Benton and Franklin Counties?
A.  United Way of Benton and Franklin Counties is a local not-for-profit organization that brings, people, health and human services agencies, government agencies and community groups together to focus resources on the most critical human care needs in our area.  As an integrator, convener, collaborator, and leader in addressing health and human service issues, the United Way of Benton and Franklin Counties mobilizes the caring power of our community to improve the lives of our friends, family members and neighbors who are in need.

Q.  Who runs the United Way of Benton and Franklin Counties?
A.  A volunteer Board of Directors comprised of 50 local community leaders governs the United Way of Benton and Franklin Counties.  Board members are selected to represent the diversity and interests of our community.  Eleven full-time and one part-time staff are employed by United Way to manage the organization, raise funds and provide services to our community, including bringing the community together to identify priorities, developing solutions to pressing needs, and coordinating efforts to deliver services efficiently in the Tri Cities.

Q.  How does United Way distribute funds in our community?
A.  Each year, about 40 volunteers participate in a comprehensive process that allocates the United Way contributions to the Community Fund.  Volunteers are trained to study the needs of the community and direct funds to programs and services that can address those needs effectively and efficiently.  Volunteers make sure that your contribution is invested wisely.

Q.  In 2006, United Way raised over $4 million and distributed over $3 million.  Where do the funds that are not distributed go?
A.  These funds go to 4 areas:
.         1.  Fundraising costs are 10% or less.
          2.  Administrative costs are 7% or less.
          3.  Uncollectible pledges are less than 6.5% and have been decreasing over the past 4 years.
          4.  The rest goes to services provided by United Way, such as the oversight and coordination of
               211,  serving as administrator of the Emergency Food and Shelter program, community needs
               assessment and planning, facilitating the development of a region-wide human services plan, etc.
This is the same reason why 20% of gifts designated to particular agencies is withheld in order to share these costs.

Q.  Why is the United Way a better choice than giving directly to an agency?
A.  There are several reasons why supporting the United Way is the best way to help the most people in our
 community.  These reasons include: 
- United Way takes the guesswork out of giving.  You don't have to choose where to direct your donation
   because United Way does the important homework for you.  United Way supports programs across
   the spectrum of human care issues based on how effectively they meet specifically identified community
   needs.
- Community volunteers carefully review each United Way-funded program on an annual basis.  Their
  oversight ensures agencies adhere to sound fiscal policies and that your contribution is invested in programs
  that do the most good.
- Giving through United Way reduces costly and time-consuming fund-raising efforts for the agencies
  providing programs.  This enables them to better spend their time helping people who really need help.
- When you give through your workplace campaign, your gift can be spread out over the course of a year
   through payroll deduction, making it easier for you to support the human care needs of our community.
- When you give to the United Way of Benton and Franklin Counties, your gift is invested with the
   contributions of others to help provide a continuum of care for those most in need.  Even if you designate a
   portion of your gift to a specific service or agency, we ask that you consider investing part of your gift to the
   United Way Community Fund or to one of the United Way's areas of impact.  This enables you to partner
   with us and improve the lives of our families, friends and neighbors.  The bottom line is that your gift to
   United Way stays local and gets results.

Q.  What safeguards are in place to ensure accountability for United Way funds?
A.  Our Board of Directors has established policies that safeguard the investment you make in the United Way.  Each year, our United Way undergoes a thorough independent financial audit.  The structure of our organization also provides for volunteer committees to oversee our business practices and operations on an ongoing basis.

Q.  What is Community Solutions?
A.  Our Board of Directors has established policies that safeguard the investment you make in the United Way.  Each year, our United Way undergoes a thorough independent financial audit.  The structure of our organization also provides for volunteer committees to oversee our business practices and operations on an ongoing basis.

Q.  Why is United Way doing Community Solutions?
A.  Since 1958, our United Way has been very successful in raising funds to support a variety of health and human services in our area.  However, our community has changed and our needs have become more complex over the years.  The 2004 Community Needs Assessment conducted by Washington State University Tri-Cities revealed our community has an urgent need for more coordination and collaboration in the way we deliver human services.  United Way was asked by community leaders, donors, and the Three Rivers Community Roundtable to take a leadership role in creating greater effectiveness in our human service delivery system.

Q.  How is United Way going to create solutions to our community problems?
A.  On October 26, 2006, United Way of Benton and Franklin Counties convened over 100 community leaders to discuss ways the community can work more efficiently in delivering human services in our local community.  The group agreed on essential elements that need to be in place in order to achieve excellence in the human service delivery system.  They also identified the development of a regional plan as as a top priority, and endorsed United Way as the facilitator to move the process forward. Approximately 200 community leaders are now involved in putting together this comprehensive plan.  Three teams, named Kids Matter, Families Matter and Community Matters, have been formed and been hard at work since January 2007.  The teams are supported by a group of Blue Ribbon Advisors who will provide guidance and feedback.  Their work will ultimately be consolidated into a region-wide human services plan.

Q.  How will this affect funding to your current Partner Agencies?
A.  The Partner Agencies are very much involved with this process as we move forward.  While our Partner want to know how Community Solutions might affect the funding they have traditionally received from United Way, they also see opportunities for their organizations.  Community Solutions opens the door in providing funding to not-for profit organizations beyond the scope of our current Partner Agencies.  While there is a dual potential for a reduction or an increase in funding to current United Way agencies, a major benefit of this new approach is its capacity to leverage new resources through private and public funding partnerships.