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Index

History
National partnerships

Fundraising

Charitable trust

Charity store

Financial endowment






  

National partnerships

  • The on-going partnership with the National Football League began in 1973 when the NFL and United Way of America came together to discuss the possibility of using the NFL’s network contract airtime to promote United Way during game telecasts. Then Commissioner Pete Rozelle recognized the partnership as a viable means of communicating the good works of United Ways while putting faces on a league of players hidden by helmets.
  • National partnerships with over 100 corporations are formalized through the National Corporate Leadership Program.
  • Since 1946, the American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) and United Way of America have enjoyed a cooperative relationship
  • Leadership 18 a coalition which represents long-established charities, faith-based organizations, and social and health groups that support and promote the safety, health, well-being and social and economic development of people across America.

Criticism and scandals

  • Reportedly, some workplaces with United Way collection programs do not follow commonly used ethical procedures when soliciting donations. Employees may be pressured into donating through peer pressure tolerated or even encouraged by management. United Way has made public that it doesn't support such measures.[1]
  • In 1992, William Aramony, CEO of the national organization, and in 2004, Oral Suer, CEO of the Washington, DC chapter, were convicted of misuse of donations. [2]
  • Some local United Ways have been known to double count contributions, thus making their totals look higher, and the perceived overhead of operations look better.[3]
  • Some local United Way have been accused of double-dipping overhead costs in donations, especially when donations are earmarked for a specific charity, or transferred from one location to another.

In an effort to address these problems, United Way has implemented new membership requirements and accountability standards in 2003, however problems have continued to occur.

  • In May 2006, Kim Tran the former CFO of United Way of the National Capital Area (Washington, DC) resigned, claiming many issues remain.[4][5]
  • In April 2006, the NYC United Way revealed misappropriation of assets by Ralph Dickerson, the retired CEO of that chapter. The appropriation of resources occurred over a three year period, ending in 2005. [6]