Well, I googled this question. I found one web site that was from one of the United Way sites. (not sure of the state offhand, I think it was Iowa). It said they deducted around 11.5% (giver or take .2%) with a minimum of $10 and a max of $200.
So I'm sure that some agencies may have different fees, so what I posted earlier may be a bit high, but from the United Way agencies on web page, they take a huge chunk of fees.
As to the comment about donating time etc. I do, my wife does, my kids do. We donate to our community (coaching two teams, my wife for two others), we donate time to our church, to our schools and to the community. One of the groups I coached and donated time to, besides teaching kids about robotics (FLL), we grew a garden and had the kids donate the proceeds to a local soup kitchen in town.
I also realize the Cancer society has administrative fees of their own. Even if their fees are 20%, the money that gets to them is still less if I go thru the United Way. Also, on the United Way web page, the company matching donations do not go where I designate, it goes into the general fund.
I was all for United Way a while ago, but ironically, I became disillusioned after going to a day of caring. I went to day care sponsored by the United way that helped to offset the costs to Poor families etc. What really irked me, was two things.
1. Why didn't the parents who got free or highly subsidized day care staying themselves for a bit of time and helping to clean or organize? I asked the person who ran the location and they said that parents don't volunteer.
2. The parents who were picking up their kids were driving cars nicer then I had. I was scratching my head, how is it they have nicer cars then me, they don't help out. No one even said thanks.
Sorry that really turned me off.
As to why I want to donate to the Cancer Society. My Grandmother (on mom's side) died of uterine cancer, my grandfather (on my dad's side) died of Leukemia, my dad died of kidney cancer, one sister had melanoma, one sister had breast cancer that spread to her bones. MY MIL had breast cancer. So to me, the cancer society is personal. I want to give money to help to stop this disease. I've also participated (and my family) in Relay for Life weekends etc. I donate time to coaching, church etc.
I think it's funny that to many many people in UPS, if you aren't behind the United Way 100% then there is something wrong with you. Many people who are rah rah United Way give way less overall to charity then I do. I just decide to go in a different direction. I enjoy coaching, I enjoy working with my church, I enjoy the relay for life. I enjoy helping to fund to fight cancer. I just don't enjoy the United Way. Sorry.
One last thought, Why is it that the President of the United Way has a salary in the 1,000,000 range? Isn't that excessive for a charity leader?
