Answers to common questions about United Way and our work.

United Way of Central Maryland strengthens lives and neighborhoods across Greater Baltimore by advancing equity and expanding access to education, health, economic advancement, and housing. 

Yes, United Way of Central Maryland provides direct services to individuals and families in need, offering support to those struggling to make ends meet. These programs focus on housing, health, education, and economic advancement.  

What is the 211 Maryland United Way Helpline? 

By dialing 211 , individuals and families in need can accessfood, shelter, job resources, healthcare, childcare, and other vital services. The 211 Maryland United Way Helpline is one of four 211 call centers in Maryland and is available 24/7 in 150 languages. Anyone can dial 211 for free, confidential help.  

With the data collected and analyzed from our 211 calls, we pinpoint needs and service gaps, creating a more precise understanding of local requirements and emerging trends. This serves as a valuable tool for funders and program planners. By providing easy access to essential information, 211 reduces unecessary calls to 911 and other emergency personnel, freeing them to focus on what they do best.  

We work closely together with more than 100 partner organizations and our own Region United Network (RUN) Boards established in each Central Maryland jurisdiction, to identify the needs in each community and to ensure your contributions are effectively and efficiently directed toward the greatest needs. The RUN Boards are comprised of community leaders who live and/or work in the community they serve, offering on-the-ground knowledge and personal connections to help identify local challenges. Together, they make funding decisions and guide the work for each jurisdiction..United Way staff with long-standing experience and expertise work closely with these volunteer board members.  

Our work involves so much more than distribution of funds. 

• We provide direct services in housing, health, education, and economic advancement.  
• We collaborate with nonprofit organizations across Central Maryland to truly understand community needs and address them through systematic solutions. 
• We connect the dots between government agencies, businesses, nonprofits, and individuals to create a powerful collective impact.  
• Through the 211 MD United Way Helpline, we link individuals to essential services in housing, health, economic advancement, and education as well as specialized resources, including legal and tax assistance. .    

Measuring results through data is a critical component of tracking our success. Through reports from funded agencies, research and data analysis, as well as partnering with nonprofit colleagues, we are committed to making sure we accurately measure the performance of our funded partners and the direct service work of United Way. We hold all programs that United Way funds accountable for efficient spending and measurable outcomes. On a quarterly basis, we report on program outcomes – through various communications and marketing collateral.. In addition, we issue an annual report at the end of our fiscal year, which highlights our collective impact.  

 Our six  Community Partnership Boards advise and inform United Way on local issues, as does our 211 Helpline. Each Partnership Board has voting representation on our governing Board of Directors. Our supporters can also direct their gift to any of our six community funds, ensuring that their gift stays in the local jurisdiction(s) they select. The 211 Maryland United Way helpline also acts as a barometer of need – informing where the largest gaps in accessing basic needs are in the community, allowing us to have a laser focus on our efforts.    

 United Way of Central Maryland is a critical source of funding, volunteers and other support for more than 100 nonprofits working on the front-line across the region. United Way saves these organizations substantial administrative, fundraising, customer service and marketing expenses. Through our involvement, expertise and leadership, we help other nonprofits build their capacity and efficacy at a time when every philanthropic dollar needs to count. 

Yes, you can. In fact, we encourage philanthropy for the causes that are important to you. We accept designations to other charities for a gift as small as $100.00 ($2 per week) to a 501c (3) organization or another United Way of your choice. Most collected designations are paid to charities monthly. There is a small 5% fee to designate a gift in order to cover any administrative processing fees. This ensures that 100% of your gift goes to the charity you care about.  

A minimum donation of $100 is required for each designation, or it will revert to United Way of Central Maryland. Each designation must be to a 501c (3) organization or another United Way. A 5% fee will be deducted on designations, subject to a $5 minimum and a cap of $500. There is no fee to designate to United Way, our six community funds, the 211 Maryland United Way Helpline, or any one of our education, housing and health programs. 

If you have not provided sufficient information for your agency designation, your designation will be redirected to United Way and its programs. 

If the agency you choose is ineligible and your designation is $100 or more, United Way will notify you so that you may redirect your investment. If we do not get a response, then it will revert to United Way. 

If an agency you choose is eligible but becomes ineligible at any point in the distribution schedule – such as when an agency’s nonprofit status is revoked, or the agency goes out of business – United Way will direct the remaining portion of your gift amounts to United Way and its programs. 

In the simplest of terms, a designated gift is one where you designate your donation to a specific charity of your choice, including to a United Way of Central Maryland program. An undesignated gift is donated directly to United Way, whichgives us the ability to leverage every dollar and address several challenges in the community vs. focusing it on one single issue. It is important to note that you may also designate part of your gift, while giving the remaining portion as undesignated.   

No one agency or organization can influence widespread community change alone. People in need often require the support of multiple services – many of which are often lesser known, but just as important as services with high visibility. By contributing to United Way, you help us fight for every need – of every person – in every community, so that together, we can really make a difference. 

Our trusted experts and knowledgeable staff work with partners across the region to ensure your funds will do the most good for the most people. They help us understand both the existing needs and the resources currently available to address them. This enables us to bridge the gap between the services people require and the services accessible to themWe also make nonprofits more efficient by assuming fundraising, marketing, and customer service expenses for them. We offer the highest level of accountability – for ourselves and our partners. 

As a result, a direct contribution to United Way will leverage your dollars for maximum impact. Contributing directly to United Way, as opposed to designating to an individual charity, truly increases your power to create change. 

United Way is relentlessly committed to driving down administrative, marketing and fundraising expenses . Our overhead rate (which is administrative, marketing and fundraising costs as a percentage of total income received) is 11.83%.  This compares favorably with the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance guidelines, which suggests nonprofit overhead should be 35% or less. In performing marketing, fundraising, customer service and donor accounting on behalf of hundreds of other nonprofit organizations, United Way is in a unique position to absorb these overhead-related expenses on their behalf.  

In addition, United Way of Central Maryland has earned the highest rating of 4 stars on Charity Navigator – the nation’s largest and most-utilized evaluator of charities, and earned its “Give with Confidence” badge.  

The designation fee is a service fee established in advance to cover the cost incurred by United Way to process a transaction from the donor to the designated charity. Overhead, calculated annually, is the percentage of operating costs compared to total income received. Operating costs include administration, marketing and fundraising costs. 

United Way of Central Maryland’s Board of Directors has ultimate responsibility for the organization’s financial condition. By way of its finance committee, the Board retains an independent auditor who then reports the findings to the Board. Financial statements are audited annually by Ellin & Tucker, Chartered. United Way consistently receives an unqualified audit, which is also known as a “clean audit.” 

Since 2000, United Way has been awarded the Standards for Excellence credential by the Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations, and recognized for the organization’s commitment to the highest standards of governance, ethics, and accountability. United Way is one of approximately 75 nonprofits across the state and 200 across the country to have earned this seal of excellence. In addition, United Way of Central Maryland has received 4 out of 4 stars on Charity Navigator – the nation’s largest and most-utilized evaluator of charities. 

United Way Worldwide (UWW), based in Alexandria, Virginia, is the national membership organization for nearly 1,300 independent United Way organizations across the country. UWW exists to serve local United Ways and does not exert control or have any authority over the local United Way management practices. Each United Way is autonomous, governed by its own local board of directors. United Way of Central Maryland’s board chooses to participate with UWW – a global training and service center that provides services to United Way’s across the country. Through membership, we are granted access to and use of United Way’s name and logo, market research, training for staff, national advertising including NFL spots, promotional items, and many other services essential to our operation.  

These programs provide an immediate pathway to join our groups by pledging to gradually increase your gift over three years, reaching the standard entry level.  

The United Way of Central Maryland Step-Up Program is a giving plan that provides you with the opportunity to join one of our exclusive membership groups at a slower pace. By enrolling in this program, you will incrementally increase your gift over the course of three years, reaching your goal of becoming a member of our Leaders United or Tocqueville Society by the third year. Your contribution in the first two years is supplemented with funds provided through the generous support of the Baltimore Equitable Insurance Foundation, France-Merrick Foundation, and Robert E. Meyerhoff. 

Our Step-Up Program is a wonderful way to begin creating change in our community while you get to know United Way of Central Maryland. Both new and active members can leverage matching funds to support more children, families and older adults in our community while enjoying full membership benefits. 

For more information on the Step-Up Program or the United Way Tocqueville Society Impact Incentive, please contact Jeff Pratt at 410-895-1526.

 Yes, as a qualified 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, contributions to United Way of Central Maryland, Inc. are tax deductible within the limits of current federal and Maryland state law. United Way does not provide goods or services in exchange for your contributions. 

To be eligible for a deduction for the current tax year, you must have donated by 9:00 p.m. on December 31 of that year. You will receive a tax receipt for direct contributions of $250 or more made before this deadline.  

United Way will send a receipt before January 31 of the following year. Please provide us with your full home address to ensure your receipt is delivered. When filing your taxes, you must file Form 1040 and be eligible to itemize deductions. For more information, consult with your tax advisor. 

If your contribution is being made by payroll deduction, you should keep a copy of your pledge card and/or email acknowledgement which, along with your pay stubs or other documents furnished by your employer, show the amount withheld for your contribution and will provide the necessary support for your contribution for Federal Income tax purposes. 

A copy of the most current financial statement is available upon request by contacting United Way of Central Maryland at P.O. Box 1576, Baltimore, MD 21203-1576, 410-547-8000. Documents and information submitted to the State of Maryland under the Maryland Charitable Solicitations Act are available from the Office of the Secretary of State for the cost of copying and postage.