United Way is a leader in assessing and prioritizing community needs.

United Way is a community builder bringing together United Way agencies, and other organizations to stretch community dollars and address short term needs and long term solutions to the problems our community faces.

United Way is your friends and neighbors in action-working together to have an impact on the future of our community.

Each local United Way across the country is autonomous. The national organization,United Way of America, is not a governing body for local United Way agencies. It exists to provide services such as national advertising and promotion programs, supplies and publications and training for United Way professionals and volunteers. In return for those services, United Way of Ponca City pays annual dues of .75% of the amount we raise each year.

United Way of Ponca City sponsors programs with either private or public monies at no cost to United Way.

• A 32 member AmeriCorps program serving at 21 sites to help children and families and risk by expanding services at local non-profits and organizations with little cost to the organization.


• Helping others, One Child at a Time through Learn and Serve America grant to help low and moderate income children birth to five by encouraging early development of literacy.


• Success By 6 initiative designed to target the needs of infants and small children to make sure they are healthy, protected, cared for, and prepared for school by the age of six.

Again, no United Way funds are used to run these programs.

When you support United Way of Ponca City, your dollars are added to the dollars of your neighbors and together you support a network of local human service agencies and organizations working year-round to bring about positive change in Ponca City.

• preventing family violence
• combating the spread of drugs
• alleviating hunger and homelessness
• building good leaders for tomorrow
• impacting the lives of children and adults through sports. leisure and character building activities
• providing activities for our teens and elderly in a safe environment
• and being there to serve the emergency needs of the community.

How much of my contribution is earmarked for administrative and fund raising costs?

United Way of Ponca City is proud of its efficiency. The administrative and fund-raising costs total only 12.5 cents of every dollar raised last year. The Better Business Bureau and National charities Information Bureau guidelines suggest that 40-50% overhead costs are acceptable. United Way of Ponca City is able to keep its overhead costs low thanks to the support and help of hundreds of volunteers who contribute their time, efforts and talents.

Who decides how my money is spent?

Volunteers--including a friend, neighbor or co-worker of yours may serve on committees which review funding requests for participating United Way agencies. These volunteers scrutinize budgets, make site visits, talk to agency staff and volunteers, and then recommend which agencies should be funded and the level of funding they should receive.

The tax records and financial audits are open to the public. In addition, careful oversight by local volunteers has been our hallmark for the past 65 years

• If there's a tornado in Ponca City you may be thankful for the services of THE AMERICAN RED CROSS.
• If you have a youngster looking for a program to help build leadership skills or go to summer camp, you may look for organizations like GIRL SCOUTS-BLUESTEM COUNCIL OR CIMARRON COUNCIL OF THE BOY SCOUTS.

Other agencies are available for those people in our community who really cannot help themselves as much as they would like; a victim of physical or sexual abuse, an unemployed single mother of three who lost her home and needs a helping hand until she gets back on her feet. Some people give because they want to maintain the services in case they do need them, but a number of people give because there are people in our community who cannot pay their own way and just need their help. Again, not everyone needs the services of the United Way agencies, but, during this past year thousands of people were served by participating United Way agencies. (education, direct care, etc.) Even you benefit indirectly because United Way supported services help lift the level of living for all of us.

Yes. Most agencies have developed additional income sources such as foundation grants, state and federal contracts, membership enrollment programs, special events, and service fees based on the ability to pay. It is important to remember that funding from United Way goes directly to providing services for people in need. Income from all other sources is reviewed and considered by volunteers prior to determination of the amount to be allocated by United Way.

United Way supported agencies serve all kinds of people--not as a charity, but as an aid to everyday living. These agencies provide essential services needed in every community across the country. The funds raised by the campaign ensure that no one in need will be deprived of the services because of inability to pay. People who can afford to pay do so; others pay what they can afford and many services are provided at no charge.

The best part about the United Way campaign is that you can give one check once a year and assist 16 different agencies. If everyone only gave to his or her favorite agency, all of the organizations in United Way would receive some support but none of them would receive enough to operate their programs.

An important element in United Way agency admission is sound fiscal management. This is ensured by review of all financial reports and annual audits.

No. One of the advantages of giving to United Way is the assurance to you, the giver, that campaign dollars are allocated to agencies in accordance with community needs. Volunteers not only raise the money; they also help decide how the dollars should be allocated to help the right people. And, agency directors, volunteers and staff work together with other agencies to avoid duplications, provide quality services at low cost, and share resources to insure your dollars stretch as far as possible and still provide the services needed in the community.

Dollars contributed to United Way are allocated where they will do the most good for the entire community. Member agencies' services are aimed at helping all people, no matter what their income level.

Yes. However we encourage you to give to the United Way campaign and allow the Allocations committee who spend countless hours reviewing budgets, visiting agencies and meeting with staff to make the important determination of how much money an agency should receive.

None of the agencies are perfect but they all provide a valuable service or they wouldn't be a part of United Way. Every agency must justify to the volunteer Allocation committee the need for their services to the community. Please don't deny support to so many agencies because of a dislike for one or two.

Living costs are high but most of us can afford something. Just a $.25 a day amounts to $91.25 a year. If you have payroll deductions that's just $1.93 a paycheck. If everyone in Ponca City gave $.25 a day, we'd easily make our goal.

United Way has established a guide for giving throughout the years to answer the question "What is a reasonable and meaningful contribution"? This guide is based on what it costs to provide the kinds of services and programs to meet the needs of our community. Generally, if everyone gave one hour's pay per month, that would be appreciated.

As working partners, you contribute to your family's income. As a partner in our community, each of us might consider providing support to those who need it most.

If you itemize your deductions on your federal income tax return, your United Way donation is fully deductible.

No one wants to be pressured into giving. That's why United Way has a firm policy against pressuring people to give. Forcing someone to give defeats the idea of voluntary giving on which United Way is based. We want people to give because they understand the critical needs in our community.