Landing-header

FAQs

Valley of the Sun United Way has compiled a list of questions asked most often. If the information you're seeking isn't here, please email us at information@vsuw.org.

Q.  What is Valley of the Sun United Way?
A.  Valley of the Sun United Way is a local non-profit organization that advances the common good and creates opportunities for a better life for all by focusing on education, income and health. These are the building blocks for a good life a quality education that leads to a stable job, enough income to support a family through retirement and good health. Our goal is to create long-lasting and measureable changes that improve the quality of life for struggling individuals, families and children throughout Maricopa County.
back to the top

Q.  I heard Valley of the Sun United Way is focused on the common good. What does that mean?
A.  It means Valley of the Sun United Way is committed to creating opportunities for a better life for everyone by focusing on education, income and health. Specifically, United Way is advancing the common good by focusing on the building blocks for a good life: a quality education that leads to a stable job, enough income to support a family through retirement and good health. We will collaborate with all sectors big business, small business, elected officials, non-profits, academia, the faith community and individuals to create lasting and measurable change.
back to the top

Q.  What do you mean that education, income and health are life’s building blocks?
A.  These are the basics everyone needs for a good life. Education is essential to getting and keeping a job with a livable wage and benefits. People need adequate income to pay for today’s necessities and save for the future. This provides individuals and families the financial stability they need. Access to quality healthcare is also essential. It keeps children on track in school and adults productive at work. These building blocks are interconnected. It takes all of them, working together, to ensure that all individuals lead a good life.
back to the top

Q. I heard United Way of America set 10-year national goals. What are the specific goals and how will they know if the goals are met?
A. Like Valley of the Sun United Way, United Way of America’s goals also cover the areas of education, income and health. In education, the goal is to cut by half the number of young people who drop out of high school. This means, about 560,000 more young people will receive a diploma. In Income, the goal is to cut by half the number of working families that lack financial stability. This means 1.9 million more working families will become financially stable. In the area of health, the goal is to increase by one-third the percentage of young people and adults who are healthy and avoiding risky behaviors like substance abuse. This means here will be 1.9 million more healthy young people and 29.2 million healthy adults.

United Way of America will keep a pulse on the progress of each goal by working closely with local United Ways and national partners. We envision that by 2018 United Way of America will share with the community-at-large the results in each area. Perhaps an updated State of the Common Good Report will be issued by United Way of America at that time.
back to the top

Q. Will the national goals affect your local work and funding decisions? Will you be setting similar local goals?
A.  No, the national goals will not shift the focus of our local work. In fact, we’ve been doing work in the areas of education, income and health for quite some time. Our local work continues to be possible because of the community’s support of the community fund. Our immediate goal is to continue to fund human care programs that are proven to achieve results in the three areas.
back to the top

Q.  What type of work have you been doing in education, income and health?
A. We have a long-standing commitment to the issues of education, income and health.

Education
We’ve been committed to education since our beginning more than 80 years. We continue our commitment to quality early childcare and education to help children from zero to six be healthy and active and entering school ready to succeed. We’ve also been active in supporting Valley youth with character development programs that are proven to keep kids in school and ensure youth become productive members of society.

Income
In Income, we’ve actively focused on helping individuals gain and maintain employment through job skills training and placement. This ultimately helps families and individuals increase their income and become financially stable. We’ve also focused on workforce development for youth. We’ve helped at-risk youth finish high school obtain job skills training and steady employment. And we’ve partnered with many local non-profits to educate people about the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites helping many hard-working families qualify for a state tax credit that can lead them to greater economic stability.

Health
We are committed to improving people’s health. Through United Way-funded programs we ensure that individuals are physically and mentally healthy. These partnerships make sure people have access to basic healthcare through dental or medical clinics helping them get back on their way to a healthy life. A core part of our work has been providing support for people in times of crisis which contributes to the overall health and well-being of an individual and our entire community.
back to the top

Q. How will you measure your success in Education, Income and Health?
A. Valley of the Sun United Way has developed a system to measure our work in Education, Income and Health at both the program and the community levels. The system was developed in part from existing research and industry best practices that relate to the unique Partner Agency program outcomes that align with our commitment to improve education, income and health. While Valley of the Sun United Way’s measurement system is customized to the specific community needs within Maricopa County, United Way of America will also deploy a similar approach to measurement, but on a much larger scale.
back to the top

Q. I’ve heard a lot of talk about LIVE UNITED. What is it?
A.  LIVE UNITED is a call to action, a movement, a way of life. LIVE UNITED is an invitation to become part of the change we want to see in our community. The call to action to LIVE UNITED embodies the notion that it takes everyone in the community working together to create a brighter future. It is knowing that together, UNITED, we can accomplish more than any single group or individual can on their own. And we are inviting our entire community to LIVE UNITED with us. You can LIVE UNITED by accepting our invitation to GIVE, ADVOCATE or VOLUNTEER. It’s much more than an advertising campaign; it’s a credo to live by.
back to the top

Q. I understand what you mean by give or volunteer, what do you mean by advocate?
A.  To advocate means to champion a cause and Valley of the Sun United Way invites you to become an advocate in our community. Whether you are speaking out to improve education, income and health, sharing information about social issues with friends or family, or wearing the LIVE UNITED shirt to show your support, your active participation in championing United Way can inspire hope and create opportunities for a better tomorrow.
back to the top

Q. Why should I invest in United Way?
A. An investment in Valley of the Sun United Way allows you to tackle multiple social issues with one single contribution. Supporting the work of VSUW ensures that a strong network of programs is available to help many people in need. Your investment makes you a part of a coordinated, community-wide effort that creates lasting community changes right here, where you live and work. In addition, your contribution is leveraged and combined with others then strategically invested in results-driven programs and initiatives. Plus, with the ease of payroll deduction, you can improve the quality of life for others without the financial challenge of a one-time donation.
back to the top

Q.  What does United Way do in addition to raising money?
A.  United Way plays a unique and vital role in our community. In addition to raising money, United Way monitors needs, identifies critical social issues, and brings the right people together to advance the common good. Often United Way partners with non-profits, businesses and government to educate the public about key social issues. Recently, United Way helped increase awareness of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to help working families and individuals increase their financial stability. In addition, United Way rallies community volunteers and connects them to volunteer opportunities. For example, local volunteers have teamed-up with United Way to assembly our School Readiness Kits. These comprehensive tool boxes help parents and caregivers improve a child’s literacy and motor skills, preparing them to successfully enter kindergarten.
back to the top

Q. Is United Way a national or local organization?
A. Valley of the Sun United Way is a local, autonomous non-profit organization. Like the more than 1,300 United Ways across the country, we are governed by a local volunteer board of directors. Valley of the Sun United Way pays nominal dues to United Way of America in exchange for important cost-saving services such as staff training, community research information, campaign products, national marketing partnerships and ongoing consultation.
back to the top

Q. Why are there two United Ways in Maricopa County?
A.  Maricopa County does in fact have two United Ways, each with distinct roles, serving the human care needs of local residents. Mesa United Way raises money and helps provide assistance only within the City of Mesa. Valley of the Sun United Way raises money throughout Maricopa County, except for the City of Mesa, and provides services county-wide. Valley of the Sun United Way offers investors a variety of giving options to accommodate individual giving preferences, and honors designations to Mesa United Way, any other United Way or qualified non-profit organization.
back to the top

Q.  What is Valley of the Sun United Way’s overhead costs?
A.  Valley of the Sun United Way incurs costs for fundraising, marketing and common business operations such as accounting, human resources and overall organizational management. As careful stewards of our donors’ contributions, Valley of the Sun United Way operates with the utmost efficiency and effectiveness. Twelve percent is spent on administrative cost and 88 percent is invested in local programs and initiatives that help struggling individuals, families and children throughout the Valley.

Compared to the average 18 percent* administrative costs reported by non-profits, Valley of the Sun United Way is one of the most efficient non-profits in the country.

*2003 McKinsey & Company Study as reported by the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
back to the top

Q. How is Valley of the Sun United Way held accountable?
A.  Valley of the Sun United Way prides itself on being a trustworthy and accountable organization. A volunteer committee of financial experts from the community meets year-round, monitoring the organization’s financial position. Collectively, we maintain high standards of operation and are reviewed each year by an independent auditor, who verifies that our financial statements fairly present the financial position of Valley of the Sun United Way. In addition to posting our Form 990 on our Web site for public review, Valley of the Sun United Way is an active member of the Better Business Bureau and a past recipient of its Ethics Award, which recognizes businesses for maintaining high ethical standards and accountability in their business practices.
back to the top

Q. How do I know that my donation will help those who need it most?
A.  Local human care programs that receive United Way funding go through rigorous volunteer review. Each program is carefully reviewed and evaluated by trained and knowledgeable community volunteers. Volunteers carefully monitor community needs, meet with local health and human service agencies and review each agency’s program funding request. This ensures your investment is going toward human care programs that are proven to obtain results and improve lives.
back to the top

Q.  Many people in our community are worried about foreclosure. Where can people turn to for help or information?
A.  People concerned about foreclosure can contact a free 24-hour Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Hotline to obtain information and get connected with local community resources. Residents can reach the hotline at 877.448.1211. The hotline is administered by Community Information and Referral, a United Way partner, and is expected to be available from June through November. Callers are transferred to one of the 13 state-approved mortgage counseling services, which can offer advice and services for local residents.
back to the top

Q.  What criteria must non-profits meet in order to be eligible for donor designated funds?
A. Non-profits are subject to a certification process and must meet the following minimum standards:
Registered by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, non-profit organization.
Provide health and human care services, or health and human service program(s).
Comply with all applicable Arizona state laws and regulations including the maintenance of corporate status as designated by the State of Arizona’s Corporation Commission.
Comply with applicable Federal laws including the USA Patriot Act and other counter terrorism laws.
Governed by a local board of community volunteers.
back to the top

Q.  How do I become a Primary Partner agency?
A. The Primary Partner relationship is by invitation only.  Upon determining significant gaps in service in a particular area, Valley of the Sun United Way identifies potential agencies that are leaders in the community in addressing specific community issues.  Potential agencies are identified through our existing partnerships in the community.  From amongst these agencies, Valley of the Sun United Way invites those that achieve significant outcomes, partner and collaborate to mutual benefit, and have demonstrable impact on the community, to become new Primary Partners.
back to the top

Q.  Are there other opportunities for agencies to partner with Valley of the Sun United Way other than being a Primary Partner?
A.  Opportunities for nonprofit organizations to work with Valley of the Sun United Way may arise as we work to assess and address specific community issues in collaboration with public, private and/or government agencies. Working with United Way toward community outcomes may or may not involve funding and/or Primary Partner status. Often collaboration, connecting to resources, consensus around solutions and collective learning are characteristic of these informal partnerships.
back to the top

Q.  Why have you changed the Primary Partner invitation policy?
A. In an effort to fully leverage the work of Valley of the Sun United Way, and serve the region more effectively, our Primary Partner invitation policy has changed. This will allow us to be more effective in both monitoring and filling the community service gaps that exist throughout Maricopa County. Valley of the Sun United Way will continue to work collaboratively with our community partners to identify potential Primary Partner agencies to ensure that funding supports results-oriented programs that achieve lasting changes in support of our mission to improve lives throughout Maricopa County.
back to the top

Q.  What criteria must Primary Partners meet to be eligible for funding?
A.  Valley of the Sun United Way and our Partner Agencies collaborate to create solutions to serve our community’s most pressing social issues. The relationship with Primary Partners is unique. It is characterized by cooperative efforts in community problem solving, outcome measurement of progress toward community problem solving, communication, Valley of the Sun United Way program funding support and fundraising. A Partner Agency is responsible for adhering to a number of compliance criteria in order to receive United Way program funding. This includes:
Be a Tax-Exempt, Non-profit Corporation
Provide Health and Human Service Programs
Have Active, Rotating Volunteer Leadership that Represents Diverse Elements of the Community
Demonstrate Sound Financial and Program Management and Be Willing to Make Full Disclosure
Provide Timely Financial and Program Outcome Measurement
Annual Compliance Documentation Required to Be On File with VSUW, including Current USA Patriot Act Certification Form
back to the top

Q.  How are Primary Partners held accountable to United Way?
A. United Way-funded programs operated by Primary Partners are reviewed through our Investment Process. This is a volunteer-driven process governed by a number of committees that monitor finances and agency performance. Valley of the Sun United Way staff facilitate the process as well as provide research, technical assistance and advisory expertise to ensure volunteers have the resources and support to make informed decisions.
back to the top

Q.  What happened to Teen Health, Diversity and Tolerance investment panels and funding?
A.  In order to maximize community partnerships and resources, United Way integrated Teen Health, Diversity and Tolerance outcome goals and partnerships into the traditional annual funding and evaluation process. The integration brought increased efficiencies for volunteers, agencies and staff meanwhile strengthening United Way’s goals of serving disenfranchised and underserved Valley youth. With this move, more than four non-profits achieved United Way Primary Partner affiliation. This alignment is inspiring innovation and collaboration among partners and programs to create lasting community change. Diversity and Tolerance remains a priority for United Way and donors are invited to contribute to the community fund or the Diversity and Tolerance focus area to push this work forward.
back to the top

Q.  Is United Way still focused on helping senior citizens?
A.  Valley of the Sun United Way remains committed to the needs of seniors. This activity includes funding for social centers, home-delivered meals, personal care, transportation, home repairs and other related services that maintain the health and well-being of our senior population throughout Maricopa County. During 2007-2008, individuals 65 and older accounted for 10 percent of all people served through United Way-funded programs.
back to the top

Q.  How much influence do I have over how my contribution is invested?
A. Donors are given options for investing in our community. These choices include investing directly in the work of Valley of the Sun United Way, the most proactive way to improve lives by creating lasting change. Donors may also choose to invest in one or more of the three areas of this work, including: Ensuring Children and Youth Succeed; Increasing Financial Stability; and Ending hunger and Homelessness. United Way also honors a donor’s choice to designate to a specific non-profit agency as long as it meets required criteria.
back to the top

Q.  Is my United Way contribution tax deductible?
A. Yes, your contribution is tax deductible if you itemize your deductions. You may also qualify for a state tax credit by designating a portion of your contribution to United Way’s Financial Stability/Helping the Working Poor focus area. Please contact a United Way representative for more information.
back to the top

Q.  Last year, I contributed directly the Helping the Working Poor Fund and qualified for a tax credit. Is that option still available? What are the benefits of choosing this option?
A. If you’ve donated to the Helping the Working Poor Fund in previous years, you could address the same issues by investing in United Way’s Financial Stability/Helping the Working Poor focus area. Your contribution will assist hard working families that are struggling every day. Your investment will lead individuals and families to greater self-sufficiency and life stability.

If you itemize your taxes and give to Financial Stability/Helping the Working Poor, you may be eligible for a state tax credit up to $400. In order to take advantage of the state tax credit, you will need to establish your base contribution (the amount you gave to charity in 1996 or later) and then you must increase your current year contribution over your base contribution. This can be accomplished by directing all or a portion of your increased contribution (up to $400) to the United Way’s Financial Stability/Helping the Working Poor focus area. For details about the Helping the Working Poor speak with your United Way representative. An important note to investors: United Way is not a tax advisor. As with any financial recommendation, contact a qualified tax advisor for expert advice on your specific tax situation.
back to the top

Q.  The agency I want to support is not listed. Can I still restrict my contribution to that particular agency?
A.  A contribution to the work of Valley of the Sun United Way is the best way to support a diverse range of human care programs to serve our community’s most pressing needs. This is the most proactive way to improve lives through lasting change in Maricopa County. You may still restrict your contribution to any 501(c)(3) health and human service organization as long as the organization meets set criteria. To verify if an agency meets United Way’s criteria, please call the agency certification line at 602.631.4813. All calls will be returned within 48 hours.
back to the top

Q.  Does United Way fund animal organizations?
A. All non-profits must meet certain criteria to be eligible for United Way funding. One of the fundamental requirements is that the organization provides health and human care services or administers a qualifying health and human care program. Currently, United Way-funded programs at Gabriel’s Angels provide individuals support through animal therapy. Experts believe therapy involving loving animals provides important mental and physical stimulus as well as offers a nurturing environment for people facing crisis.
back to the top

Q.  I am already on a tight budget. How can I afford to give?
A.  Every contribution helps advance the common good! Even a modest contribution per pay period helps advance the common good and improves the lives of many struggling families, individuals and children throughout the Valley. And by investing in our community through payroll deduction, you can spread your contribution over the coming year—making it more manageable than a one-time contribution.

You may also choose to get involved by volunteering or advocating with United Way. You can lend your time, muscle and voice to help champion a cause. As a volunteer you can get actively involved with United Way’s community work. As an advocate you can share important information about key social issues with others. To learn more about volunteering with United Way, please contact Stefani Robles at 602.631.4849 or srobles@vsuw.org or visit our volunteer page for more information.
back to the top