About Us

Frequently Asked Questions

Who We Are and What We Do
Our Work with Non-Profits
How We Help
The Most Effective Way to Give
Monitoring Our Work and Accountability

Who We Are and What We Do

What is United Way of the National Capital Area?

United Way of the National Capital Area is a unifying force in the greater Washington region bringing together businesses, individuals, government agencies and services organizations who want to help those most in need.

With a 35 year history of running the largest workplace giving program in the District of Columbia, Northern Virginia, Montgomery County and Prince George's County, we are a trusted partner to over 730 nonprofit organizations who care about their communities and are investing their time and talents in solving critical problems.

What makes United Way unique?

United Way Worldwide is the leadership and support organization for the network of nearly 1,800 community-based United Ways in 45 countries and territories. Our name is known all over the world and our 124 year history is a testament to how effective we are.

United Way of the National Capital Area has a 35 year history of running workplace giving campaigns, and is now working to provide more opportunities for people to take positive action-giving their dollars, their time or their voice for the greatest impact.

Living United means finding and investing in exciting ways to develop and help manage new programs in our local area. Our focus is on three critical building blocks for a good life -- Education, Financial Stability and Health.

What is a workplace campaign?

United Way NCA's annual workplace giving campaign is about bringing people together to tackle our community's most difficult issues, because no one person or organization can do it alone. Whether you're a small business, a major corporation, or even a nonprofit, you can join the hundreds of local businesses and organizations that run workplace campaigns each year.

Workplace campaigns give organizations and their employees the opportunity to learn about our community's needs and give them a convenient opportunity to get involved. We partner with a wide variety of businesses in many different industries and recognize individuals and organizations that run excellent campaigns.

Can I choose how my donation will be used?

Your United Way NCA provides four donation choices that reflect what's important to you:

Give Directly to United Way NCA -- The easiest way to make a difference in your community. Your contribution goes where it's needed most and provides the means to achieve United Way NCA's mission of improving lives by mobilizing the caring power of our community to advance the common good.
Give to a Particular Impact Area -- Your contribution will help solve some of our region's most critical needs in the areas of Education, Financial Stability, Health and Basic Needs.
Give to Your Region -- Our teams of local volunteers recommend the most impactful programs to fund, ensuring your contributions go where they will do the most good.
Give to a Nonprofit Organization of Your Choice -- We support many local nonprofit organizations that serve a variety of people in a wide array of communities.

Is my gift tax deductible?

In most cases it is. You must have a receipt for your donation to meet IRS requirements. If you donate to United Way NCA via payroll contribution, keep your pay stubs as your receipts. If you make a one-time donation of $250 or more, you'll receive a tax receipt letter from United Way NCA reflecting the amount of your gift. See your Corporate Relationship Manager for more details.

What are the Community Impact Funds?

Each of the eight regions (Alexandria, Arlington, DC, Fairfax/Falls Church, and Loudoun, Montgomery, Prince George's and Prince William Counties) that make up United Way NCA has its own Community Impact Fund.

These funds help United Way solve critical challenges facing our communities that no one person, nonprofit, or company can address alone. When you give to these Funds, your donation is directed where the need is most urgent in your community.

Funding decisions are made by a volunteer, citizen-led task force that works together with area nonprofits, governments, and business leaders to determine where there are gaps in services and where the funds will do the most good.

Our Work with Nonprofit Organizations

How do nonprofit organizations benefit from United Way affiliation?

Our nonprofit partners can take advantage of United Way's consolidated fundraising efforts with access to over 100,000 potential donors, which give them a dependable source of annual funding and improve their operational efficiency.

An affiliation with United Way NCA raises a non-profits visibility in the private and public sectors, improving their chances to win grants and other vital financial support. United Way also gives access to crucial planning resources, such as community needs assessments, so they can determine how their programs can best serve the public.

How do nonprofit organizations become affiliated with the United Way?

Each year, organizations must apply to participate in our campaign, and, in keeping with United Way's high standards of integrity and accountability, must meet strict criteria for approval, including:

Incorporate as a not-for-profit organization, with a constitution and/or by-laws
Observe and practice a policy of non-discrimination
Form and utilize an active governing body
Account for their funds according to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and, if their revenue is over $250,000, submit to an independent audit
Prepare an annual report or newsletter to the public
Have a substantial presence in the geographical area covered by United Way NCA
Give member nonprofit staff an opportunity to support the community by conducting an in-house United Way NCA workplace campaign.

When are United Way member nonprofit organizations notified that they will receive money?

Each year at the end of March, United Way NCA notifies our nonprofit partners of their designations from the campaign. Donations to write-in organizations are notified at the time they receive payment. Our nonprofit partners are informed of donors' names, should the donor choose to release the information.

How We Help

How does United Way NCA help my community?

Focused on the fundamental issues of Education, Financial Stability, and Health, United Way NCA supports community initiatives and nonprofit organizations that help people from all walks of life. Chances are that you, a family member, a friend, or a neighbor has benefited from United Way's efforts.

What types of services does United Way NCA support?

Your United Way NCA gift is an investment in a powerful network of interconnected programs and services. No one nonprofit organization stands alone. The value of your donation has a "snowball effect," giving it a system-wide impact.

Let's say you designate a women's shelter as the area of need you want to address. It takes a system of support to help a woman who has lost her home, potentially her family and many other facets of her life, back on her feet.

When you donate to United Way NCA, your contribution supports programs that can help people find work, transportation, permanent housing, child care, and more. By donating to United Way NCA, you strengthen that system. And by strengthening the system, you strengthen your entire community.

Our member nonprofit organizations recognize this value. By partnering with United Way NCA, they can spend more of their time and resources fulfilling their mission, rather than on going after dollars. That's why they sign on to be a part of our network.

The Most Effective Way to Give

Why should my company host a United Way NCA Campaign?

United Way NCA's annual fundraising drive is the easiest and most efficient way to give. It brings volunteers and contributors together to enable hundreds of nonprofit organizations to have the farthest reach into their communities. Contributors will see their charity dollars at work. Launching a workplace campaign will bring your staff together to help its community, improving employee morale and building goodwill for your company.

Why should I give to United Way NCA -- why not give directly to an individual charity?

Giving to United Way NCA is the most efficient way to give because:

United Way NCA adds value to your contribution by providing annual eligibility requirements for charities' budgets and programs, ensuring that your gift is being used effectively.
United Way NCA's annual campaign efforts give area nonprofits a reliable source of funding without having to allocate scarce resources to solicit individual contributions. These organizations can count on United Way to cost-effectively promote and administer a single campaign that raises money for many causes at once.
While you may give to other worthy causes as well, view your United Way gift as a "gift to the community," because it supports a network of member nonprofits with wide reaching impact throughout the whole community.

I live in a community outside of Washington, DC. Why should I give?

United Way NCA member nonprofits provide services not only to residents of the District of Columbia but also to people living in surrounding regions. Consider giving to one of our regional Community Impact Funds to help residents in one of the other areas we serve, such as Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax/Falls Church, Prince William, Loudoun, Montgomery, or Prince George's counties.

Monitoring Our Work and Accountability

How do you track the results of my donation?

Our annual eligibility assessment means that our member nonprofits adhere to high standards of performance and fiscal responsibility.

How can I be sure that my donation to United Way NCA will be used efficiently and effectively?

Your donation is a statement of trust in our organization and our ability to serve the community. Because the value of that trust is priceless, we are committed to complete transparency and accountability so you can be assured your dollars make the greatest possible impact. We employ the best practices in fiscal responsibility, including:

Rigorous independent annual financial audits - with a strong track record of positive results and responsible stewardship
Strong financial controls
A dedicated and vigilant Board of Directors
Monitoring management of performance of individual agencies annually before allocating funds raised in the campaign
A strict Code of Conduct adopted and signed by all staff, volunteers and an independent ethics officer who monitors adherence.

How much of my United Way NCA donation goes to programs and services?

United Way NCA has long been a leader in low-cost community impact. Our proven consolidated fundraising concept, combined with the generous efforts of our campaign volunteers, helps us maintain low costs and high efficiency.

If I designate "United Way NCA" on my pledge card, where does my donation go?

The easiest way to make a difference in your community; these funds help drive community initiatives and provide the backbone for our continuing support of programs and advocacy throughout the region. Funds may also be directed to the Community Impact Fund, where they're used to address the most serious issues affecting the community, as well as to other important community building initiatives.

How Can I Live United?

Join our community of giving. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and read our community blogs to keep apprised of how we work to advance the common good around our community.

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Did You Know?

In 2011, the Lamb Center, a United Way NCA member nonprofit, provided: 44,725 meals,12,952 showers, 9,531 loads of laundry, 270 AA meetings, 575 job counseling sessions, and more.

The Capital Area Food Bank reports more than 641,000 residents of the Washington region are experiencing or at risk of hunger, including more than 100,000 in Fairfax County alone.

Residents in Ward 8 have to travel far to gain access to a public library. This distance can make it hard for residents to continue to succeed in their education.

Residents in Ward 7 have to travel far to gain access to a public library. This distance can make it hard for residents to continue to succeed in their education.

Residents in Ward 5 have to travel far to gain access to a public library. This distance can make it hard for residents to continue to succeed in their education.

In Ward 8, over 40% of single-family home and condominium sales resulted from foreclosure completions or owners selling under distress.

45.0% of residents living in Ward 8 receive food stamps.

In Ward 7, over 40% of single-family home and condominium sales resulted from foreclosure completions or owners selling under distress.

35.0% of residents living in Ward 7 receive food stamps.

5.0% of residents living in Ward 2 receive food stamps.

9.8% of residents in Ward 4 are unemployed.

3.2% of residents in Ward 3 are unemployed.

6.0% of residents in Ward 2 are unemployed.

In Ward 1, over 40% of single-family home and condominium sales resulted from foreclosure completions or owners selling under distress.

12.0% of people living in Ward 1 receive food stamps.

6.0% of people live below the poverty level in Prince William County.

9.4% of students in Prince William County drop out of high school.

More than 130,000 residents in Prince William County do not have health insurance.

8.9% of students in Montgomery County do not graduate high school.

In Montgomery County, 1 in 6 children under 18 is at risk of hunger.

6.7% of people live below the poverty level in Montgomery County.

13.9% of students in Prince George's County do not graduate high school.

7.8% of people live below the poverty level in Prince George’s County.

In Prince George's County, approximately 1 in 4 children under 18 is at risk of hunger.

30,000 children in Northern Virginia live in poverty.

In Northern Virginia, 1 in 6 children under 18 is at risk of hunger.

In seven out of the eight wards in the city, residents are closer to fast food restaurants than large grocery stores, which could have a negative impact on residents’ health.

17.2% of residents in the District of Columbia live below the poverty level.

19.0% of residents in the District of Columbia receive food stamps.

11.9% of residents in the District of Columbia are unemployed.

22.0% of students in the District of Columbia do not graduate high school.

32% of children live below the poverty level in the District of Columbia.

In the District of Columbia, nearly 1 in 2 children under 18 is at the risk of hunger.

12.5% of residents living in Maryland do not graduate high school.

9.2% of people live below the poverty level in Maryland.

Last year 2-1-1 Maryland answered 240,000 calls around basic needs such as food, shelter, eviction prevention and financial assistance for prescriptions

Ward 8 public schools have the lowest average share of students testing at required standards, only 33% in reading and 32% in math.

Over 28% of residents living in Ward 8 are unemployed.

Nearly 20% of people living in Ward 7 are unemployed.

67% of children living in Ward 6 are below the poverty level.

15.8% of people living in Ward 5 are unemployed.

There are more than 40,000 uninsured residents living in Loudoun County.

6.1% of students living in Loudoun County drop out of high school.

Nearly 8,000 people in Loudoun County live on an income of $20,000 to support a family of four.

10.6% of people in Fairfax County do not have health insurance.

5.6% of people live below the poverty level in Fairfax County.

7.9% of students living in Fairfax County drop out of high school.

10.5% of children in Arlington County live below the poverty level.

9.4% of students in Arlington County drop out of high school.

More than 3,000 people in Northern Virginia are homeless, 10% of these live in Alexandria, Virginia.

In the past year, 2-1-1 has answered approximately 632,000 calls from the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia from residents seeking services.

Last year 2-1-1 Maryland answered 240,000 calls around basic needs such as food, shelter, eviction prevention and financial assistance for prescriptions.

In Northern Virginia, 1 in 6 children under 18 is at risk of hunger.

In Prince George's County, approximately 1 in 4 children under 18 is at risk of hunger.

In Montgomery County, 1 in 6 children under 18 is at risk of hunger.

In the District of Columbia, nearly 1 in 2 children under 18 is at the risk of hunger.

Kids who attend a high quality preschool are more likely to graduate from high school and have higher lifetime earnings.

Every $1 invested in high quality early childhood education saves taxpayers $7.

Upon entering first grade, the average middle-class child has spent 1,000 to 1,700 hours of reading time with picture books; a low-income child averages just 25 hours.

Food stamps last an average of 2 1/2 weeks.

By age three, middle-class children have a vocabulary of about 1,100 words compared to 525 words for low-income children.

According to the Partnership for America's Economic Success, if 50 first graders enter school with reading problems, 44 of them will still have difficulties reading in the fourth grade.

The 2009/2010 official federal poverty level for a family of four is an annual household income of $22,050. 185% of poverty is $40,792, a level at which people still struggle with hunger.

The Rand Corporation states that 90% of a person's brain growth happens before the age of 3.

More than 130,000 residents in Prince William County do not have health insurance.

Our Impact

Success Stories

Camp Fire Patuxent Area Council: Sam and Nikki’s Story

We had the privilege of having two children at Camp Fire, both adopted with special needs and identified as having serious learning and behavioral problems, participate in our program.