Michigan Association of United Ways

In this section you will be able to learn more about the Michigan Association of United Ways as well as the United Way and how we can make a positive impact in your neighborhood through community volunteerism. 

Michigan Association of United Ways
United Way of America




Michigan Association of United Ways

Who are we?

The Michigan Association of United Ways (MAUW) formerly the United Way of Michigan, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency.  It was founded in 1947 by a group of community and labor leaders to simplify the gathering and distribution of funds that were received through charitable giving.

Who do we serve?

Approximately 60 local United Ways who represent the largest network of non-governmental service providers and service funders in Michigan, collectively raising and distributing over $160 million dollars to support local health and human service organizations.

Membership Services

Over the years, MAUW expanded its role to support, nurture and encourage local United Ways.  In 2000, the Board of Directors charted a new direction for MAUW.  There was a name change.  A new vision and a new mission statement were created.  The following membership services were identified as core services to be provided:

• Collaboration/Networking/Relationship Building
• Resource/Funding Development
• Labor Community Services
• Public Policy
• Technology Support
• Consultation and Training - fee based
• State Employee Charitable Campaign - fee based

Guiding Principles

• Enhance the effectiveness of local United Way organizations in caring for people in their communities.
• Enhance effectiveness by building bridges between United Ways of similar size and/or those in close proximity to each other.
• Create opportunities for local United Ways to work with one another to improve performance, reduce costs, and have greater impact at both the local and statewide levels.
• Provide a "neutral table" to facilitate increased cooperation between local United Ways.
• Facilitate stronger working relationships with major statewide employers and with government on behalf of all local United Ways.
  

Michigan Association of United Ways
1627 Lake Lansing Road, Suite B
Lansing, MI  48912-3789
Voice (517) 371-4360 - Fax (517) 371-1801

Email suggestions/comments to:  webmaster@uwmich.org

United Way of America

What is the United Way?

The United Way system, which is based on the concept of community volunteerism, is uniquely American. The Charitable League Society, founded in 1887 in Denver, Colorado, was the first such organization in the nation. The society was founded by a group of religious and lay leaders to bring into being a coordinated, efficient way to help people in need in the Denver area.

The mission of the United Way movement is to increase the organized capacity of people to care for one another. Through a single community-wide campaign, United Way volunteers raise funds to support local agency service providers. In total, voluntary contributions to United Ways support approximately 45,000 agencies and chapters, helping millions of people from all walks of life and income groups. Apart from government, United Ways support the greatest variety of health and human services in the country. United Way volunteers raised $3.54 billion in 1998-99 campaign, which was used for human services ranging from disaster relief, emergency food and shelter and crisis intervention to day care, physical rehabilitation and youth development. That was a 4 percent increase over the $3.4 billion amount raised in 1997.

United Way volunteers ensure that every group receiving funds is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charity governed by volunteers; and that it submits to an annual, independent financial audit, provides services at a reasonable cost, and maintains a policy of non-discrimination. Because of the vast network of volunteers and the simplicity of corporate payroll deduction, administrative expenses for the largest United Ways average 12 percent of all funds raised. This low figure compares favorably with the suggested Better Business Bureau guidelines of up to 35 percent. During United Way's extensive annual community investment process, local experienced volunteers assess community needs and determine how to invest funds so that donors know their money is serving the most pressing community issues and reaching the people who are most in need.

How Does a United Way Fund Services?

Each local United Way organization is governed by a board of directors. The board of directors are volunteers from the community. They are business people, labor union members, civic group representatives, homemakers, retirees, and clergy.

The board of directors makes the decisions about how the local United Way funds shall be disseminated. The board assesses the community's human service needs, meets with service providers to discuss funding requirements, and approves the funding level for the various programs and agencies.

Agencies applying for funding from a local United Way must:

• be a charitable health and human service organization
• fully describe their array of services
• demonstrate how they meet local needs, and
• prove their cost-effectiveness and accountability to the community.

What Else Do United Way Organizations Do?

Besides collecting and distributing funds to deserving human care organizations, many Michigan local United Way organizations serve people in their community directly or in collaboration with other local nonprofit organizations. An example is "Information and Referral", or "First Call for Help". Through this program a single local telephone number is established that people in need may call and immediately be referred to the community service(s) that can help them.

Some other services offered by various local United Way organizations are training for labor union members in how to become effective nonprofit board members or counselors in their local, recruiting volunteers for special community projects called "Day of Caring", and making grants to local emergency food and shelter efforts (such as those operated by the Red Cross and Salvation Army), homeless shelters, and utility-assistance programs; the emergency food and shelter grants are a cooperative program between the federal government and the local United Ways across America.