Philanthropy

One of my least favorite times of year has rolled around again. If it’s mid-fall, then it must be time for annual United Way campaign. My company is a huge believer in the United Way, and has set an internal goal of $18,000 to be raised here. We’ve all just received the paperwork to pledge. I always feel conspicuous when my contribution form fails to make it back to our personnel office.

Don’t get me wrong. I donate to many non-profit and charitable organizations. I just don’t like having 15% of my donation skimmed off the top to pay for administrative and campaign services for the United Way. If I give $100 to the Red Cross, then I want $100 to go to the Red Cross, not $85.

I’m sure that the United Way has its place. It probably induces people to make donations who might otherwise not do so. What I resent is the pressure to give at work, when I would prefer to make my donations privately and keep them private.

And part of me just can’t help but wonder: if people would just make donations directly to their favorite charities, rather than through United Way, what difference would it make? According to United Way’s national home page (2000-01 CAMPAIGN RESULTS), a total of $3.91 billion dollars was raised during the last campaign. If 15% of that was retained by United Way, then they kept $586.5 million dollars in administrative fees. That’s half a billion dollars that could have gone directly for charities to use instead, if people had just made a direct donation.

I think I’ll just continue to make direct contributions.