FAQs

99 cents out of every dollar stays right here in Erie County, helping to crush poverty and improve the lives of more than 100,000 people in our community every year.

Firstly, thank you for giving. Together we can accomplish more than anyone can alone or through a single charity. United Way is looking at the big picture - assessing community conditions, investing in focused goals and measuring results to create long-term changes. By giving through United Way, you are choosing to support crushing poverty in Erie County through well-researched investments focused on root causes. Although it would not be tied to community impact goals and measurements, you may choose to direct your United Way gift to any qualified 501 c (3) nonprofit.

Because it is largely supported by volunteers, United Way ensures extremely low overhead costs. 85 cents out of every dollar raised goes to support programs and services that improve lives right here in Erie County. United Way is recognized as one of the most effective, cost-efficient human service organizations.

United Way is held accountable for the money it raises by a group of informed community volunteers who form the board and citizen review committees. These volunteers allocate money based on agency and community needs to make sure that designated funds are distributed according to contributors’ wishes. United Way strictly adheres to stringent standards of accounting and financial reporting which govern the fiscal affairs of voluntary health and human service organizations.

Click here to view a copy of our most recent complete audited financial report.

Yes, you can designate to any 501(c)3 organization through United Way.

United Way operates on behalf of the residents of Erie County, and our commitment is to invest your United Way donations into the most highly performing collaborative programs, initiatives and movements meeting the most pressing community needs.

Some organizations cannot meet United Way funding requirements, while others follow national policies requiring them to operate independently. Still, others are not admitted because their programs closely resemble or duplicate existing programs, or they cannot consistently demonstrate significant and measurable improvement and outcomes in the lives of their clients.

With limited resources at our disposal, it would be impossible to effectively support all of the hundreds of nonprofit organizations in Erie County. View a complete list of our funded programs, initiatives and movements.

United Way of Erie County does not fund – nor has it ever funded – abortion services or agencies that provide abortions.

United Way of Erie County is a local organization and does not pay for the NFL commercials. Players donate their time to make the commercials and the NFL provides public service time, free of charge, to air them during NFL games on behalf of United Way. As part of their public service programming, newspapers, television and radio stations often include public service announcements for United Way and affiliate agencies free of charge.