What is United Way of York County, SC?
We are a local, independent, nonprofit organization that provides support for crucial health and human services in York County. We are governed by a local volunteer Board of Directors. We are fundamentally different from other nonprofits as we can allow donors to give a gift to help the whole community, not just one person or one issue. We pride ourselves on being a proactive community leader, improving lives by uniting the people, organizations, and resources in our community resulting in a strong, safer and healthier York County.

What is the relationship between United Way of York County, SC and the United Way of America?
Like 1,400 local United Ways across the country, United Way of York County, SC is an autonomous organization, separate from any other United Way organization in the United States. United Way of America does not conduct any governance or policy-making decisions for local United Ways. We have a local volunteer board of directors who determines our vision, mission, purpose, goals and objectives. Locally, we rely on United Way of America to provide training for staff and volunteers, use of the United Way logo and community building resources that would otherwise be unavailable. For these services, we pay them a membership fee, much like a trade association.

Why should I give to the United Way of York County, SC?
Giving is a personal decision. We would like you to consider giving to United Way of York County, SC for the following reasons:

• 89% of donations are applied to local programs. We are proud to continually have one of the lowest administration costs, allowing more dollars to be applied to the needs in our community.
• Comprehensive solutions to complex human problems. You want your dollars to go where it will do the most good. Every human service agency relies on other agencies. No one agency stands completely alone. United Way is the only way to make sure that a complete network of quality human services exists for people right here in York County who want to change their lives for the better. We believe if you examine all of the alternatives, you will find that United Way is the best way to help the most people.
• Local volunteers decide. Each year, local volunteers provide a rigorous, informed, and fair review for programs that seek United Way funding. Programs are examined for need, efficiency, and effectiveness, and for financial accountability. This process, unique to United Way, provides quality assurance on behalf of all donors.
• The money raised here stays here. 99% of the money raised here stays in York County, helping your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers.
• Payroll deduction makes it easy. Payroll deduction makes it possible for each of us to give a little at a time. By sharing a little bit of each paycheck, each one of us can give much more than we could if we had to do it all at once.

What are the administration and fundraising costs?
We are committed to keeping costs at a minimum so that your dollars can have the greatest impact in our community. With only 11 cents of each dollar donated to the United Way of York County, SC being applied towards administration and fundraising, 89 cents benefits 51 local health and human service programs.

Who decides where the money goes?
Each year, local volunteers provide a rigorous, informed, and fair review for programs that seek United Way funding. Programs are examined for need, efficiency, and effectiveness, and for financial accountability. This process, unique to United Way, provides quality assurance on behalf of all donors. Anyone is welcome to participate on the Allocations Committee. For more information about the Allocations Committee or to participate, please call (803) 324-2735 or click here to send us a message.

Can I designate my gift?
Yes. You may designate your gift to our five impact areas, our 35 partner agencies, or another United Way. Each designation must be $50 or more.

Does the United Way of York County, SC still partner with the Boy Scouts of America?
Yes. The United Way of York County, SC Board of Directors feel the Boy Scouts are an important agency benefiting young men in the York County community and should continue to be a part of the United Way.

There is a popular misconception that United Way is a national organization with local chapters across the United States. This is not the case. Each of the 1,400 local United Ways in the U.S. is governed entirely by local volunteers. The money is raised locally, stays in the local community. All decisions, including policy and funding decisions, are made locally.

Does the United Way of York County, SC support agencies performing abortions?
No. None of our partner agencies practice abortion, therefore no donations given to United Way of York County, SC support abortion in any form.

Does United Way money support church-related activities?
United Way funds agencies covering a wide range of services including some that are affiliated with churches. However, all agencies are funded because they meet a critical community need. United Way funds only the service programs, not the religious activities, of these agencies. Services by all United Way agencies are based on need, regardless of age, sex, race or religion.

I support a favorite charity of my own. Why give to United Way, too?
We all have our favorite charities, but the problems of the community are much larger than any one agency can handle. United Way agencies offer a broad mix of programs and services to meet the diverse needs of our total community. The United Way campaign helps keep individual agency fund-raising costs low.