Frequently Asked Questions

Most United Ways are not set up to provide direct financial assistance to individuals, but we work with many community partners that do. In the U.S. and Canada, the best way to get connected to locally available resources is to call 211. It's a "help" number like 911, but for access to health and human services. Calling 211 will get you a trained resource and referral specialist, who will know what services are available in your area. You can also go to www.211.org and type in your ZIP code. 

If you have trouble, you can call your local United Way and they may be able to point you in the right direction. Find your local United Way.

In the U.S. and Canada, the best way to get connected to locally available resources is to call 211. It's a "help" number like 911, but for access to health and human services. Calling 211 will get you a trained resource and referral specialist, who will know what services are available in your area. You can also go to www.211.org and type in your ZIP code. 

If you have trouble, you can call your local United Way and they may be able to point you in the right direction. Find your local United Way.

You won't be alone. There are 1.5 million volunteers working with United Way to make a difference. There are a few ways you can find volunteering opportunities near you.

First, go to our volunteer page and type in your ZIP code to find available opportunities are listed for your area.

Or you can connect with your local United Way, which might be able to direct you. Find your local United Way.

Contact your local United Way directly if you're interested in internships or job opportunities there. Find your local United Way.

To see posted job opportunities all across the United Way network, check out the careers area of our website.

That's great! And it's a conversation you should have with your local United Way, unless you're specifically interested in United Way Worldwide in Alexandria, Virginia. More information about the work of United Way Worldwide is available elsewhere on this website. Specific regional programs and other details are available at your local United Way. Find your local United Way.

This is a question for your local United Way, since almost all funding happens at the local level. Local United Ways are independently incorporated nonprofit organizations with their own grantmaking guidelines, and local boards who make funding decisions. Find your local United Way.

United Way is engaged in more than 1,110 communities across more than 37 countries and territories worldwide. As one of the largest privately-funded nonprofits in the world, we work with partners to fuel solutions that build stronger, more equitable communities. We're improving education, strengthening economic mobility and making communities healthier. But we don't do it alone. Nearly 1.5 million volunteers and 6.8 million donors are engaged with us across the world to advance community-based and community-led solutions. 

We bring people and organizations together to do more together than any of us can do on our own. Employers, nonprofits, government, faith organizations, educators, labor, health providers, community leaders, youth and many others partner with us. Together, we tackle some of the world's toughest issues. We're after solutions that create real change. It's not simple, or easy. But we're making progress, and seeing results.  

Want to know more?  Please read more about the work of United Way.

If you want to know more specifics about what's happening in your community, please connect with your local United Way. Find your local United Way.

For every dollar donated to United Way, 85 cents goes to our mission. 

Overhead rates vary at local United Ways.  In the U.S, the local United Way network-wide overhead rate is 14.5%, which is well below industry standards. United Way helps hundreds of other nonprofits maintain low overhead rates, too.

If you want information about your United Way's expense or overhead rates, please contact your local United Way. Find your local United Way.

Giving should always be a personal matter and decision, free from coercion.  

We don't want campaigns using undue pressure in any way, shape or form. That's not who we are, and it's in direct conflict with our operating standards. That's why we conduct training programs for fundraisers. We emphasize the use of information and education, not pressure tactics. We recommend that workplace fundraising be led by peers, not managers.  And we discourage the practice of setting 100 percent participation as a campaign fundraising goal. 

United Way's Board of Directors has made this official by adopting the following policy statement:  The Board of Governors of United Way ...  believes that the most responsive contributors are those who have the opportunity to become informed and involved.  A well-planned campaign with an effective communications program, conducted by committed volunteers, will ensure responsive contributors.  While we have always been unalterably opposed to coercion, we do recognize a responsibility to state our beliefs formally, as freedom of choice is a basic tenet of our democratic society.

If you have felt pressured to donate to a United Way campaign, we encourage you to raise those concerns directly with your local   United Way. Find your local United Way.

Checks should be made out to United Way Worldwide.

Mail checks to:
United Way Worldwide
PO Box 358086
Pittsburgh, PA 15251-5086

For wire transfers, please contact Sheila Dyer for more information.

Please visit United Way Online or Ask United Way. Employees at local United Ways should be registered at United Way Online, where you can find resources, tools and direct contact information for all United Way Worldwide staff members. You can also call the Regional Engagement Director for your region; find the regions and contact info for your Regional Engagement Director here). 

All local funding decisions are made by the individual United Ways with the input of local leaders and community stakeholders. United Way Worldwide does not control funding decisions by local United Ways.  In many instances, funding for Planned Parenthood is the result of specific direction from individual donors, including those from the United Way Worldwide Donor Advised Giving program.

Several local United Way partners provide professional family and individual counseling services. Local United Way-funded pregnancy related programs focus on community health maintenance (e.g. communicable disease prevention; medical care service; family planning; health education; public awareness services; and family preservation) and strengthening services like counseling and family life education.