United Way Myth Busters

Myth:    Money I give to Genesee County United Way doesn’t stay in Genesee County.

Fact:      100% of funds raised in Genesee County Stay in Genesee County.  When donations are received it is logged into the database by the regional office.  It is then mailed to Rochester for disbursement to the proper agencies.  Each agency receives a monthly check and the Regional Office receives a monthly report so we have proof that the funds are staying right in our county.

 

Myth:    Most of the money goes to administration.

Fact:      The average amount of funds spent on overhead for nonprofit organizations is 25%.  United Way is proud to say we keep our overhead extremely low at 13%!  So every penny possible goes back to the community.

 

Myth:    United Way supports abortion.

Fact:      This myth was started years ago and I am not sure of the origin but we do NOT support abortion.  The topic doesn’t have anything to do with our line of work, and none of the 14 agencies we fund have anything to do with family planning, pregnancy, or abortion.

 

Myth:    Money I designate to a specific agency doesn’t go to that agency.

Fact:      Every agency receives a list of donors that designated to their agency so they can send thank you cards out to them.  So all designations are taken seriously and tracked carefully.

 

Myth:    United Way has asked individuals of disasters to refund money.

Fact:      A local story was started that United Way Cross had asked families of disaster to return money they had given them for aid.  First of all United Way doesn’t give individuals money, we help fund agencies so it isn’t even feasible that we would be put in that situation, nor would we ever ask for funding back from anyone.

 

As a fundraising agency you learn that many negative stories are started by individuals that have misconceptions.  It is hard to hear these stories because Genesee County United Way’s sole purpose is to raise funds to help our local agencies survive, and myths about the agency could have disastrous effects for our local non-profits.  A hairdresser once told me if you give someone a positive experience they may tell one other person, if they have a negative experience (in this case misconceptions) they will tell 7 other people.  Please be an advocate for your community and stop these myths in there tracks. Call me if you have questions or concerns. Jamie Beedham-Rada jamie.rada@uwrochester.org or 343-8141

You may think that it’s just a bag of food…to us it is a conversation starter.  You may think your gift to the United Way is only a few dollars a week…to us it is a life saver.   

     ....Captain Patricia Kurtz Salvation Army