Who Are We?

Mission Statement

The mission of the United Way of Gloucester County is to be the leader in building community capacity to foster individual well being.

The United Way is among the best-known charitable non-profit organizations in Gloucester County and throughout the United States. The United Way of Gloucester County is an independent 501(C)(3) non-profit organization whose activities are guided and managed by a thirty-member Board of Directors, representing the needs, resources, and diversity of Gloucester County communities. Board members are appointed for varying terms of office to maintain this representation as the circumstances of the county evolve. The United Way of Gloucester County is fully autonomous as is approximately 1,200 other United Ways across the United States.

United Way of Gloucester County was established in 1957. Since that time, local United Way campaigns have stimulated more than $92 million in charitable giving by county residents. It is the largest and most successful fundraising organization in Gloucester County.

With the funds generated by our employee campaigns, United Way supports programs offered by our 22 partner agencies. United Way also provides funds to stimulate innovative solutions to community problems and seeks additional agency members. Examples of this are initiatives such as our “Mini-Grants”, which are funded by our 365 Live United Small Business Members, and support organizations such as Emmanuel Cancer Foundation and Gloucester County Habitat for Humanity. Another example is funding for the Pureland East-West Community Shuttle, which enables employees to get to their jobs in the Pureland Industrial Complex for only $1.00 each way.

United Way’s principal resource development program is the annual community campaign. Starting in August and running through November, the campaign provides the funds available for allocations to local programs. Corporate and employee workplace contributions are the backbone of the campaign. More than 100 Gloucester County employers participate in workplace campaigns each year.

Vision

Through collaboration with the United Way, consumers and providers of health and human services in Gloucester County will be more self-sufficient.

Goals

• Be the recognized leader in identifying and addressing critical community needs
• Stimulate community involvement
• Develop resources sufficient to meet community needs
• Affect sustainable solutions
• Enable self-sufficiency

As the nation’s leading community solutions provider, United Way invests in and activates the resources to make the greatest possible impact in communities across America. The United Way movement includes approximately 1,300 community-based United Way organizations. Each is independent, separately incorporated, and governed by local volunteers.

United Ways bring communities together to focus on the most important needs in the community – building partnerships, forging consensus and leveraging resources to make a measurable difference.

United Ways across the nation generated an estimated $4.4 billion to help America’s communities address their most critical issues. The resources raised include $3.93 billion in revenue from the annual campaign and other gifts such as planned gifts, corporate sponsorships, and government grants. In addition, United Ways mobilize more than a million volunteers annually in communities nationwide.

United Ways ensure that each organization in which they invest is a non-profit, tax-exempt charity governed by volunteers and that it submits to an annual, independent financial audit, provides services at a reasonable cost, and maintains a policy of non-discrimination.

A vast network of volunteers and the simplicity of corporate payroll deduction keep administrative expenses low – averaging 13% of all funds raised at the largest United Ways. This figure compares favorably with the suggested Better Business Bureau guidelines of up to 35%.

United Way Worldwide is the national organization dedicated to leading the United Way movement in making a measurable impact in every community across America. It invests in the programs and services that strengthen the ability of local United Ways to identify and build a coalition around a set of community priorities and measure success based on community impact.