Where Donations Go

You can count on United Way of Greater Kansas City (UWGKC) to be accountable for the dollars you entrust to us. We're very proud of our record of efficiency and strive to be completely transparent to the donors that place their confidence and hard-earned money in our care to use as effectively as possible in our community.

The Better Business Bureau recommends that a nonprofit spend at least 65% of its annual expenses on program activity, while the American Institute of Philanthropy sets its minimum standard at 60% of expenses. United Way of Greater Kansas City is proud that 88% of our overall budget goes to programs and services. Charity Navigator, the leading charitable review web site, gives UWGKC four stars, its highest rating. Copies of our IRS 990 forms are available by clicking here.

United Way of Greater Kansas City is a local organization, overseen by a Board of Trustees made up of local community leaders. It is these same volunteers, plus many others, who helped to create our strategic plan as well as our Community Impact Agenda. Volunteers also help determine how the dollars we raise each year are invested in accordance with that agenda. Here is an overview of UWGKC's 2011 budget:

Program Allocations and Grants (47%)

In 2011, United Way of Greater Kansas City is providing financial support to more than 300 programs through allocations and other grants in the following impact areas:

Education
Ensuring children and youth attain their full potential.

Income
People achieve financial independence and stability.

Health
People and their neighborhoods are safe, healthy and thriving.

Program Services Budget (10%)
Programs and services provided by United Way directly linking people to assistance, volunteer opportunities, labor relations and planning. This includes United Way 2-1-1, an easy-to-remember central phone number connecting people to available community resources and volunteer opportunities 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

In addition, program services include community change strategies in each impact area, which are partnerships that respond to specific community problems and help us address the underlying causes of issues.

Combined Federal Campaign (12%)
Honoring federal employees' requests to direct gifts to specific nonprofit agencies through their workplace fundraising campaigns.

Donor Designations to Community Impact Areas (1%)

Donor Designations (18%)
Honoring donors' requests to direct their gifts to specific nonprofit agencies.

Fundraising and Administration (12%)
Utilization of thousands of volunteers results in minimizing staffing costs related to fundraising and marketing, keeping overhead much lower than the national average for charities.

This includes dues of 1% to United Way Worldwide, a national organization that functions much like a trade association, providing suppor to local United Ways. While UWGKC is locally governed, organized and operated, as a member of United Way Worldwide, we receive access to national advertising, research, staff training and other services.

*Based upon the 2011 United Way of Greater Kansas City budget