Response from CEO to recent New Haven Register letters to the editor
Submitted by Jack Healy on July 31, 2009 - 9:29am
Recently, two letters to the editor critical of United Way were published in the New Haven Register. We have been challenged as to whether or not to respond publically. After consultation with Chairman of the Board Al Smith and Board member Charlie Mason, we agreed that it was not constructive to begin a public debate. However, we did feel that this letters required some response.
Last week, I had a wonderful conversation with Richard Abbiatello, the author of the first letter. He had commented on our sponsorship of Cluefest and was concerned about our using money to fund this type of event rather then putting the money into community agencies. I told him about why we decided to use some of our very few marketing dollars on this wonderful civic event and he completely understood and in fact thought it was an excellent decision. I explained that Cluefest was not only a fun civic event but also attracts over 300 young professionals, the exact group we are trying to reach with our “Live United” marketing message. The money we used for the sponsorship was part of our fundraising costs and in no way affected the money we use to support our efforts to improve the community through investments in programs focused on education, health and financial stability.
The second letter, published on Sunday July 26th , was a different type of letter. This one was not written from a constructive perspective but rather to promote a struggling federated fundraising organization that is trying to advance their cause. Community Works is a Hartford based group that represents a broad array of nonprofits (most based in the Hartford area) with missions including animal rights, patient safety, the environment and access to the theater arts. Participating nonprofits use money from their fundraising budgets to pay Community Works to raise money for them and then split the money raised. While we don’t believe this approach is cost effective, UWGNH doesn’t have a problem with Community Works and, in fact, donors giving through the United Way Campaign can give to Community Works.
Jeffry Larsen, author of the letter, claimed donors that designate a specific nonprofit through payroll deduction in a United Way workplace campaign are just replacing money that we are investing through our community impact process. This is not a true statement. We offer all regional 501c3 human service organizations an opportunity to be included in the United Way annual campaign. All they need to do is be a Connecticut-based nonprofit, have an active board of directors and file a 990 tax form. Donors can write in a qualifying agency on thier pledge form. When a donor chooses one of these nonprofits, the gift is viewed as “restricted” by our auditor and must go to the donor’s choice and not be included in the money the United Way Board of Directors is able to decide upon. We believe in a donor’s right to choose how their gift is used and we spend significant effort to ensure that donors know they can choose and in honoring their choices.
United Way of Greater New Haven is not a federated fundraiser. We are a local organization made up of volunteers, partner agencies, community leaders and a professional staff that has as its mission mobilizing the community to advance the common good. We do this by offering people the opportunity to give, to volunteer and to advocate in the areas of education, income and health to benefit their local community. We are led by a committed and diverse board of local citizens that believe in our shared community and invest both their time and money to ensure that this mission is advanced.
Jack Healy
President and CEO
United Way of Greater New Haven
Add new comment