Frequently Asked Questions


What is the United Way of Benton and Franklin Counties?


Who runs the United Way of Benton and Franklin Counties?


How did United Way select the programs it is currently funding?


During the 2010 Campaign, United Way raised over $4.5 million and distributed $3.75 million. Where do the rest of the dollars go?


Why is United Way a better choice than giving directly to an agency?


What safeguards are in place to ensure accountability for United Way funds?


What is Community Solutions?


Why is United Way doing Community Solutions?


How is United Way solving community problems?


How late can I make a contribution to United Way and receive a tax deduction for the current year?


Will I receive a tax receipt letter for my prior year donations?



What is the United Way of Benton and Franklin Counties?
United Way of Benton and Franklin Counties is a local not-for-profit organization that brings people, health and human service agencies, government agencies, and community groups together to focus resources on the most critical human care needs in our area. As a facilitator, 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.


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


How did United Way select the programs it is currently funding?
United Way pursued a competitive process to identify programs that are aligned with region-wide Community Solutions priorities and can bring about the best results. United Way Board Members who were familiar with Community Solutions participated in the review and rating of the applications. Applications were evaluated in several predetermined areas: organizational governance, financial accountability, program design and responsiveness, cost effectiveness and relevant experience. The United Way Board of Directors made the final determination on how much funding each program received. A total of 39 programs provided by 22 agencies have been awarded funding through the 2011-2012 United Way Investment and Funding Process, providing services in education, health, safety, and self-sufficiency.


During the 2010 Campaign, United Way raised over $4.5 million and distributed $3.75 million. Where do the rest of the dollars go?

These funds go to 4 areas:


    1. Uncollectible pledge loss


    2. Fundraising costs


    3. Administrative costs


    4. The rest went to services provided by United Way, such as facilitating the development and implementation of Community Solutions, Our Babies Can’t Wait and Prepared by 20 initiatives, providing oversight and coordination of 2-1-1, handling the federal Emergency Food and Shelter Program, community needs assessment and planning, etc.


Thanks to corporate support of the Cornerstone Program, local companies targeted their contributions to cover 65% of United Way’s administrative, fundraising and uncollectible pledge costs. Therefore, 95 cents on other dollars received went back into the community for services and programs.


Why is United Way a better choice than giving directly to an agency?
There are several reasons why supporting 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. Donors do not have to choose where to direct their donations because United Way does the important homework for them. United Way supports programs across the spectrum of human care issues based on how effectively they meet specifically identified community needs identified in the Community Solutions Plan.


  • Community volunteers carefully review each United Way funded program on an annual basis. Their oversight ensures agencies adhere to sound fiscal policies and that contributions are invested in programs that do the most good.


  • Giving through United Way reduces costly and time-consuming fundraising efforts for the agencies providing programs. This enables them to better spend their time helping people.


  • When donors give through their workplace campaign, gifts can be spread out over the course of a year through payroll deduction, making it easier to support the human care needs of our community.


  • When donors give to the United Way of Benton and Franklin Counties, their gifts are invested with the contributions of others to help provide a continuum of care for those most in need. Even if donors designate a portion of their gift to a specific service or agency, they are asked to consider investing part of their gift to the United Way Community Solutions Fund. This enables donors to partner with United Way in improving the lives of our families, friends, and neighbors. The bottom line is that gifts to United Way stay local and gets result.


What safeguards are in place to ensure accountability for United Way funds?
Our Board of Directors has established policies that safeguard the investment you make in 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.


What is Community Solutions?
Community Solutions embraces the big picture in tackling human service needs. It brings all the players to the table. It identifies a collective community vision that prioritizes the most important community needs. It makes measurable headway in addressing our human service problems.


Why is United Way doing Community Solutions?
For the past 54 years, 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. A Community Needs Assessment conducted by Washington State University Tri-Cities revealed that 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.


How is United Way solving community problems?

For the past 54 years, 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. A Community Needs Assessment conducted by Washington State University Tri-Cities revealed that 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.


How late can I make a contribution to United Way and receive a tax deduction for the current year?


  • Donations made by credit card must be received by 10 a.m. on Thursday December 30, 2011.


  • Donations made by check and submitted by U.S. mail must be postmarked by December 31, 2011. Due to postal delays experienced during the holiday season, we encourage you to mail your gifts several days in advance.


  • Gifts made through donation of stock must be received by United Way by December 31, 2011


Will I receive a tax receipt letter for my prior year donations?


  • United Way of Benton & Franklin Counties routinely provides documentation for tax purposes to all donors who contribute at least $250 via cash, check, credit card, or stock gifts. You can expect your tax receipt to be mailed by U.S. mail no later than January 31.


  • For contributions of cash, check, credit card, or stock gifts less than $250 you may request a tax receipt by sending an email to unitedway@unitedway-bfco.com.Please provide your name, address, phone number, approximate date of contribution payment and amount.


  • For contributions made through payroll deduction, the IRS requires that gifts be documented through earnings statement(s) provided by your employer along with a copy of your pledge card that contains the following wording: “No goods or services were received in return for the gift.”


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