Iowa State University United Way Campaign

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Does ISU participate in the UWSC campaign?

The UWSC campaign is community-based and ISU is an important part of this community. Many students and faculty/staff are affected by UWSC-supported services. UWSC meets the ISU criteria for solicitation and payroll deduction.

Do part-time/hourly/student employees give?

In many workplaces, part-time hourly and even student employees are involved in successful campaigns. You may decide not to ask part-time employees to fill out pledge cards. Rather, you could involve them in special events and activities such as a loose change jar, jeans day, potluck, or other promotion. If you have students or other younger employees, this is a great way to get them started in charitable giving.

Should I give even if my spouse gives?

The main thing is to have your family involved. However, you might think about splitting your family gift - or even increasing it if you can - so that both of you are involved and both of your workplace campaigns reflect that involvement. You want to be part of your workplace total too!

Why should I give if I live in Story County, but not in Ames? If I live in a different county?

We know it's perceived by some around the county that this is an Ames campaign. Actually, almost all of the 90+ services and initiatives supported by UWSC donors are provided throughout Story County. We have statistics that give you a snapshot of that county-wide service provision on the stat sheets.

The needs that we describe in Story County are very similar to needs in surrounding counties. In those counties there are other organizations, similar to UWSC, that are helping meet the needs. If you want to designate your gift to the county where you live, it's very simple. You can still support your workplace campaign, but simply fill out a donor choice card and note the county where you live. UWSC will send your donation to that county.

Why give to United Way? Why not give directly to agencies?

Certainly the most important thing is to give. The advantage of giving through UWSC is that, because of our work throughout the community, we are aware of the most pressing needs in Story County. Our process for distributing funds allows us to support specific services that are addressing those needs. So you can be sure your contribution is being used where it will do the most good. We fund services - and agencies that receive funds are accountable that they're using them to support those services.

How much of each donation is actually used to fund services? How efficient is UWSC?

UWSC's administrative overhead is 11.09%. These administrative dollars allow us to operate as a professional business. The Federal government recommends an administrative overhead of 25% or less, and we are in an appropriate range for our size organization. We pay 1% of our total campaign revenue for membership in United Way of America. That allows us to use the United Way name and logo and also connects us with many valuable resources offered by United Way of America. There are 1400 UW's across the country and we're all autonomous, locally governed organizations. United Way of America sets policies for us only in the areas of accountability and licensing of the name and logo. UWSC is by far the most efficient method to fund services for so little administrative cost to partner agencies that provide services.

How much of the money stays in Story County?

Unless designated elsewhere, every contribution supports programs right here in Story County to meet the needs of local people who live and work here. When you discount contributions that are designated out of the county, 99% of contributions stay in Story County, either to fund the 90+ services and initiatives or UWSC.

What should I do If I only want to support some of the UWSC partner agencies - OR - if there's an agency I don't want to support?

Though we encourage donors to give to the pool of funds that supports many programs and people, we recognize and respect the wish of some donors to designate or exclude. That can easily be done on a donor choice card.

Designations are on top of allocations that go through the regular process and exclusions truly result in decreased funding to those organizations.

Does UWSC support services by the Boy Scouts?

UWSC supports services provided by the Boy Scouts in Story County, largely to make it possible for boys from low-income families to participate. This year, the funding amount is $8374, all of which stays in Story County. Any donor who wishes to exclude the Boy Scouts, or any other agency, may do so on the donor choice card.

The UWSC Nondiscrimination Policy:

United Way of Story County will not discriminate against its clients, volunteers or employees on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, age, disability, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or any other factor protected by any applicable laws.

United Way of Story County partner agency programs and other programs funded by United Way of Story County shall not exclude any person who seeks services from receiving any service based on his or her race, color, creed, national origin, age, disability, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or any other factor protected by any applicable laws.

United Way of Story County requires all partner agencies to follow Federal, state, and local nondiscrimination laws and encourages diversity in the selection of staff, Board members and other volunteers.

Why do agencies fund raise in addition to receiving UWSC support?

In this day and age, the generous support of UWSC donors does not, in most cases, fully fund the cost of providing services. Partner agencies do not do individual fundraising during the UWSC campaign period, other than a few events and product sales.

How confidential is the process of returning pledge envelopes?

ISU faculty and staff return their envelopes by putting them in campus mail to 184 General Services Building, Stop #22. (United Way of Story County has paid for the mailbox.) The envelopes will not be opened till they reach UWSC, and no one at the university will know their contents.

A donor choosing to utilize payroll deduction must include some kind of ID on the pledge card for use by ISU Payroll. No ID is pre-printed on the card, so the donor may add either his/her social security number or other unique ISU ID.