Frequently Asked Questions
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GENERAL QUESTIONS
United Way of the Plains mobilizes our community to action so everyone can thrive. We are a local, volunteer-driven organization that brings together people and resources from across the community to advance community-led solutions for social issues. Whether that means building partnerships, advocacy, fundraising, grant writing, or bringing people together around focused issues—that’s what United Way does. Learn more about what we do.
Our United Way is a local organization run by community volunteers who determine all policies, procedures and decisions. We are autonomous from United Way Worldwide. These dedicated volunteers, with support from United Way’s professional staff, oversee every aspect of the organization. Community leaders monitor and govern United Way’s financial operations and ensure that funds are prudently managed. Volunteers from the community assist the annual fundraising campaign. Diverse groups of volunteers help evaluate nonprofit agency applications for funding awards that are approved by our board of directors.
There are more than 900 local United Ways around the world. Each is independent, separately incorporated, and governed by local volunteers. In total, voluntary contributions to United Ways support thousands of agencies and chapters, helping millions of people from all walks of life and income groups. Apart from the government, United Ways support the greatest variety of health and human services in the country.
United Way Worldwide is the global service and training center, supporting its members with services that include advertising, training, corporate relations, research, networks and government relations. Our United Way is a local organization run by community volunteers who determine all policies, procedures and decisions. We are autonomous from United Way Worldwide. United Way Worldwide is governed by a volunteer board. The first national service center was established in 1918.
There are two main reasons:
Most of us have organizations we support because we know something about them. With United Way, you can support other important programs that address our community’s greatest challenges. United Way volunteers monitor community needs and support programs and collaborations to address those needs. You can be confident that your donation is being used to strengthen the community.
United Way is unique. In addition to investing in charitable programs, United Way also provides an array of direct services to fill the gaps in the social services landscape, including…
- 211 Information and Referral service that connects Kansans in crisis to resources.
- Bank On ICT, a coalition of financial institutions, community organizations, and local government entities working to connect individuals with safe and affordable banking services.
- Champions for Literacy, a collaboration with WSU Athletics to distribute new, free books to kindergarten through third-grade students at Title I schools to fight summer learning loss.
- Coalition to End Homelessness in Wichita/Sedgwick County, which works to make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring.
- Delta Dental Community Benefit Plan, which offers $5-10 deductibles for low-income households to ensure they have access to dental care.
- Disaster Response. United Way helps communities with immediate relief and long-term recovery after natural disasters, such as floods, wildfires, and tornadoes.
- Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which mails free books monthly to preschool children to help them develop a love of reading before they start school.
- Endowed Scholarships to help support students on their path to college and career success.
- Free Tax Filing Services to help low-to-moderate income households retain more of their budget and access tax credits they are eligible for. Refunds received help these households cover necessary expenses while boosting the local economy.
- Give Items of Value Warehouse, which serves as a bridge between companies with excess inventory and nonprofits with limited budgets. With the help of volunteers, who process donated items, nonprofits can access goods for free to support their mission.
- Homeless Pet Owner’s Fund, which covers the cost to board a pet while its owner finds stable housing.
- Read to Succeed, which pairs elementary students who are struggling with their reading skills with volunteer Reading Coaches.
- Serve United, a community of volunteers who support United Way programs.
- SingleCare, a prescription discount card that helps make vital medications more affordable.
- Veterans Ride Free, a collaboration with City Transit and the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center that provides free rides on city buses for veterans.
- Volunteer Center, which matches the interests, talents, and schedules of individuals and groups with the needs of charitable organizations in the region.
FUNDING QUESTIONS
We look at problems in our community that need solved, the people that need help and the local programs that can meet those needs best. Our funding supports health and human service nonprofits in the areas of:
- Health: Providing access to quality services so all can get – and stay – healthy.
- Education: Helping children enter school ready to learn, achieve at grade level and graduate on time.
- Financial Stability: Empowering adults with the resources and education needed to ensure fiscal security.
- Basic Needs: Helping those in crisis cover their basic needs so they can survive today and move forward to live their best life possible.
United Way of the Plains invests in the community through three nonprofit investment opportunities: Opportunity on the Plains, Promise on the Plains and Impact on the Plains. Each supports our work to strengthen local resilience, advance health for all, create a stronger financial future for every generation, and address urgent needs today for a better tomorrow.
- Opportunity on the Plains: The largest annual investment program from United Way of the Plains to help meet the most pressing needs in our community. Applications are accepted in the fall.
- Promise on the Plains: Aims to invest in the capacity of grassroots organizations geared towards impacting communities in need. Applications are accepted in the spring.
- Impact on the Plains: A “Shark Tank”-style social innovation competition in pursuit of bold solutions to community issues. Applications are accepted in the summer.
Panels of community judges review nonprofit grant applications in each funding stream and make final funding recommendations.
No. United Way represents a neutral ground where people can join together for the greater good of the community.
United Way of the Plains works year-round to make our community a better place to live and work. United Way does this in many ways, including:
- Operating United Way 211 Information and Referral service that connects people to nonprofit and government human services with an easy-to-remember phone number (dial 2-1-1 toll free, statewide). Callers can find needed services or volunteer opportunities. Information also available by searching online at 211kansas.org, texting your ZIP Code to 898-211 or chatting live with a referral specialist at unitedwayplains.org/211.
- Promoting volunteerism and youth involvement throughout the community through United Way Volunteer Center.
- Operating the Give Items of Value program which accepts donated items from companies and offers them at no charge to nonprofits.
- Fostering literacy and a love of reading in preschool children by funding the administrative costs and postage fees for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. The program mails a free, age-appropriate book monthly to children until they turn five years old.
- Filing taxes for low-to-moderate income households to help them save their hard earned money and access larger refunds through our Free Tax Prep Program. With the help of the IRS’ Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, community volunteers become certified to file taxes and identify tax credits to help clients access larger returns. Volunteers also connect clients to resources to help them to build their financial stability. Learn more at unitedwayplains.org/taxprep.
- Researching and planning for community needs.
- Reviewing United Way agencies and community needs to direct funds where they will do the most good. Learn more at unitedwayplains.org/grant-review.
- Providing feet on the ground and a supportive presence to lead long-term recovery when disasters and devastating events strike communities across our state. Learn more at unitedwayplains.org/disaster-response/.
- Collaborating with community groups to study challenges and work toward solutions.
Learn more about what we do.
Learn more about the local programs we fund.
The Community Fund is the title for all the undesignated donations we receive. Your gift joins thousands of other contributions to change the odds for countless individuals and families in our region. Through your undesignated gift to the Community Fund:
- United Way will continue to support individual agency programs that have addressed tremendous needs in our community. They will be funded through our traditional process of reviewing grant requests from local agencies and setting aside funds for specific programs. See who we fund.
- United Way will continue to run innovative programs such as:
- 211 Information and Referral: A free helpline that connects people to food, shelter, and other vital services.
- Volunteer Center: The Volunteer Center can match your interests and talents with the needs of nonprofit organizations in Wichita and south central Kansas.
- Give Items of Value: Companies donate items that are made available to area nonprofits for free.
- Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library: preschool children receive free, age-appropriate books each month until they turn five years old.
- United Way will expand its collective impact work.
Sometimes community-level problems are beyond the scope of any one organization or even service sector. To remedy such problems, United Way of the Plains has adopted a unique problem-solving approach called collective impact. Through collective impact work, United Way acts as a convener organization to bring cross-sector partners together, including nonprofit organizations, schools, churches, businesses, labor, foundations, cities, government entities and donors. Together, we tackle our most pressing challenges and take advantage of our biggest opportunities. Collective impact requires that partners work together to:
- create a vision and set goals
- align programs and strategies
- track and share data to measure success
- and continuously communicate among partners.
DONOR OPTION QUESTIONS
You can designate a contribution to any local, health or human service 501(c)3 organization that meets United Way policies by writing the name and address of the organization on your pledge form. A minimum gift of $100 per nonprofit is required. Giving through United Way reduces costly and time-consuming fundraising efforts for those agencies, so their time can be spent helping those in need.
Read our full Donor Designation Policy.
ADMINISTRATIVE QUESTIONS
Your donation stays local. Donations raised during the fundraising campaign are used to fund a wide variety of health and human service programs at local, nonprofit agencies beginning the following year. Donations also support United Way’s collective impact work and 16 direct services, including the United Way Volunteer Center, United Way 211 Information and Referral, and Give Items of Value (GIV) Program (a gift-in-kind program). Because United Way’s overhead and administration costs are so low, you know your donation is reaching those who need help most.
Every three years, United Way researches the needs in our community, asking thousands of people throughout the community what issues affect their homes, families and jobs. This information and other research is shared with approximately 150 grant review volunteers who monitor agencies and make sure your money is well spent.
We offer a variety of ways for donors to support our work, including payroll deduction and online recurring gifts. View the many ways you can give.
United Way of the Plains is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)3 charity. As such, contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
United Way of the Plains serves the people of south-central Kansas, including Sedgwick, Barber, Butler (all ZIP codes except 67042), Cowley, Harper, Kingman, Pratt, and Sumner counties.
To start a workplace campaign or explore other ways to support United Way’s mission, contact Gwen Kochman, United Way of the Plains Vice President of Philanthropy, at gkochman@unitedwayplains.org or (316) 267-1321, ext. 4123. Visit our Corporate Hub for more details.
Giving should always be a personal matter and decision, free from coercion. Campaigns should not use undue pressure in any way, shape or form. That’s not who we are, and it’s in direct conflict with our operating standards. We emphasize the use of information and education, not pressure tactics. If you have felt pressured to donate to United Way at your workplace, please contact Gwen Kochman, United Way of the Plains Vice President of Philanthropy, at gkochman@unitedwayplains.org or (316) 267-1321, ext. 4123.
