Frequently Asked Questions

What is United Way of Roanoke Valley?

Since 1924, United Way of Roanoke Valley has been a local, nonprofit organization that focuses on human service issues facing our community. We serve the citizens of Roanoke, Salem, Vinton and Botetourt, Craig and Roanoke counties. Your United Way uses highly trained volunteers and staff to bring individuals, groups, and organizations together in a community-wide effort to improve the quality of life for everyone in the Roanoke Valley.

Who runs United Way of Roanoke Valley?

Local volunteers lead and support every aspect of this community organization. The volunteer Board of Directors sets priority and overall direction for United Way of Roanoke Valley. Our volunteers are comprised of top community leaders, your neighbors, and caring people just like you. They serve as members of the Board of Directors, the Campaign Cabinet, and committees that direct areas such as marketing, fund distribution and agency certification. Click to see membership lists of the Board of Directors and Key Committees.

Doesn't United Way just raise and distribute funds?

United Way of Roanoke Valley is much more than a fund-raising organization. United Way also plays a major role in identifying problems and finding solutions that build and strengthen our community. United Way convenes knowledgeable, caring people to study ways to better meet the most social pressing issues. The information is used to help determine where to invest contributions. United Way of Roanoke Valley also spearheads collaboration among its partner agencies to reduce costs, increase efficiency, and help eliminate waiting lists.

Isn't the government already providing the services United Way funds?

In many cases, no. United Way of Roanoke Valley funds health and human programs that serve our community’s most pressing and urgent needs. Sometimes these services are also supported by government funding, but few could survive without your contributions to United Way, as well. Many times, United Way money is even more valuable than government funding because it acts as leverage, providing dollar-for-dollar matches for federal and state matching grants.

Why should I give to United Way?

With one gift to United Way of Roanoke Valley, you make possible a local network of human care services. In fact, your United Way touches almost one out of every three people in the Roanoke Valley. And no other charitable effort offers the opportunity to help with so many of our community's critical problems: problems like homelessness, youth development, and our ever-growing elderly population. There are almost 600,000 charities in the USA and 30,000 new ones being formed each year, so how do you know who's doing a good job? With your United Way as your partner, you can rest assured the programs that will receive your contribution have been held to the highest standards. Our volunteers visit, examine and evaluate programs to be sure donated funds are invested where they can do the most good.

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Who decides where the money goes?

Over 100 business and community leaders representing all segments of our community offer their time and talents to help distribute funds donated to United Way. The team makes funding decisions based on the effectiveness of each program and the needs of the community.

Where does the money go?

Our volunteers work very hard to make sure that your donation goes to the programs and services that address the most pressing human needs of our community. Please visit the Community Impact section for detailed reports of investments and results.

Where does the money come from?

Most of the donations to United Way of Roanoke Valley are collected during our annual campaigns. The annual campaign typically splits into the following: 11% from corporations and foundations; and 89% comes from employees and individuals. This means that individual pledges -- like your contribution -- are extremely important to the community and to the success of many human service programs.

What is our local United Way's relationship with United Way of America?

Each local United Way is an independent and locally governed organization. United Way of America (UWA) is a trade association that was formed to assist member United Ways. It serves as a training and service center for United Ways across the country, but is not a national headquarters and has no governance or financing authority over local United Ways. We pay nominal dues – just 1% of funds collected annually - to UWA for training, research, government relations, media relations counsel, a national corporate development program and advertising on a national level (i.e. NFL spots), which few local United Ways could afford.

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