FAQs
Why should I give?
The North Penn United Way is a community leader dedicated not only to funding programs that confront the issues facing our community, but also finding solutions to overcome them.
The broad range of United Way-funded programs and services help create a strong community, and your generosity benefits your coworkers, neighbors, friends, or perhaps even family members throughout the county. By investing in your community today, you ensure a life-changing program will be available for someone in need tomorrow.
Where does my money go?
When you give to the North Penn United Way, you can be assured that your contribution is being invested wisely. United Way partner agencies meet rigorous management standards that are reviewed on a regular basis by United Way professionals and specially-trained volunteers. Each agency has an established record of service and is financially stable.
Local United Way volunteers invest your contributions in local programs that are designed to make our community stronger and safer and help people live better lives. Those programs include quality, affordable child care for working parents; emergency response when safety nets have failed; access to affordable, quality health services for families; and preventing substance abuse from destroying lives.
Who directs the work of the United Way?
The North Penn United Way is led by a dedicated local Board of Directors. All funding decisions are made with active citizen involvement from all walks of life. The Board is supported by a team of professional staff, and an army of volunteers and other community partners. Founded more than 50 years ago, the North Penn United Way is an independent, local organization formed and directed by a broad cross-section of community volunteers who are concerned about the welfare of their fellow community members.
Why give to the United Way?
Leverage - Your contribution has more impact when pooled with those of other donors. When you give to United Way, you build support for a Campaign that raises over $1.3 million per year in voluntary giving. United Way is most powerful when we bring communities and funding partners together around a set of issues that can only be addressed collectively.
Network of Care - No single agency can serve every need. You help a child, but you don’t help the parent. Or you find someone a job but you don’t help them with day care. United Way funds a network of services so that the needs of the whole family can be met and sustained. The Community Solutions/Impact Fund is the only option that allows you such far reaching impact with a single donation. And, your gift is invested only in programs with proven results. Imagine, if you directed your gift to only one agency, you are excluding people who desperately need crucial services that are provided by the broad range of agencies within our identified community solution areas providing the maximum community impact.
Community Impact - United Way provides a safety net for individuals in need and measurable initiatives to tackle the root causes of critical issues. By giving through United Way, donors can make a difference on problems they care about as well as those that fall outside the course of their daily lives. United Way’s broader reach touches people whose lives we can only begin to imagine.
Results - United Way provides oversight for donors because we understand that most donors do not have the time to be personally involved with a non-profit agency in order to monitor the use of their charitable gift. United Way staff convenes community leaders to research needs, selects the most effective approaches to dealing with particular problems, and identifies agencies best qualified to do the work.
Why choose the Community Solutions/Impact Fund?
Local United Way volunteers invest your Community Solutions/Impact Fund contributions in local programs that are designed to make our community stronger and safer, and help people live better lives. Those programs include affordable child care for working parents, emergency response when safety nets have failed, access to affordable quality health services for families, and preventing substance abuse from destroying lives.
Who decides how the money raised is allocated to local agencies?
The money is allocated by community volunteers who serve on Community Impact Teams. Last year, close to 40 local volunteers dedicated more than 600 hours evaluating each member agency and its ability to manage community needs, the effectiveness of its programs and its fiscal accountability.
Can I give directly to my favorite agency?
Through our specific agency designation program, it is possible to direct your gift to one or more agencies that request United Way funding or to another United Way. We encourage unrestricted giving to our Community Solutions/Impact Fund which addresses the most pressing needs right here at home.
How do I know that United Way handles its finances and my money responsibly?
A certified public accounting firm audits the North Penn United Way annually. Results and recommendations are presented to the Board of Directors. Copies of our financial summaries are available by calling 215-855-3002.
Our most recent 990 is always available by logging on to www.guidestar.org.
Do the Boy Scouts still receive support from the United way?
Boy Scouts of America, Cradle of Liberty Council, is a full member agency in good standing with the North Penn United Way and currently receives funding for programs through the Community Solutions/Impact Fund and donor designations. Boy Scouts of America and local chapters are eligible to receive donor deisgnations.
Does United Way support abortions or Planned Parenthood?
No. At one time, United Way did provide funding to Planned Parenthood, but the funds were used only for counseling and education services. In the early 1980's, Planned Parenthood's Board of Directors voluntarily withdrew from United Way funding so that other United Way agencies would not be harmed by the controversy surrounding their agency. The North Penn United Way honors donor designations to Planned Parenthood.