FAQ

93 cents out of every dollar stays right here in the Mahoning Valley, helping to improve the lives of over 200,000 people in our community every year. United Way is focused on advancing the common good in the Mahoning County by creating opportunities for everyone in the areas of Education, Income and Health.

The United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley services residents in all of Mahoning County as well as the Trumbull County communities of Girard, Liberty and Hubbard.

The stability and strength of our community depends on our ability to meet people’s needs and to encourage their self-sufficiency. The scope of problems such as substance abuse, illiteracy and homelessness is so great that no one agency can solve them alone. That’s why the best investment in our community is an investment made through United Way. Through United Way, we can mobilize many individuals, agencies and resources to tackle some of our community’s toughest problems. Partnerships with other private and public funders ensures that our efforts complement one another. By working together, we can leverage our resources, focus them where they are most needed and measure their impact.

• identifies changing community needs, establishes priorities and funds programs.
• cuts fund-raising costs through a united campaign.
• offers contributors the convenience of payroll deduction.
• provides information about human services and helps people find the services they need.

While you may designate a portion your gift to a specific nonprofit health and human service organization, we strongly encourage you to consider the benefits of pooling your contribution with the thousands of other United Way donors in the Mahoning Valley who are making a real difference in our community.

Experienced volunteers who are knowledgeable about local needs monitor agencies and ensure that undesignated United Way contributions are well spent. These volunteers study the impact of each agency’s services on community needs. They review agency budgets and funding requests and make sure that agencies are well managed, have an annual independent financial audit, and maintain a policy of non-discrimination. Your United Way contribution is a guaranteed investment in improving the lives of your family, friends, and neighbors right here in the Mahoning Valley.

The United Way is held accountable for the money it raises by a group of informed community volunteers who form the Board of Directors and Community Impact committees. These volunteers allocate money based on agency and community needs to make sure that designated funds are distributed according to contributors’ wishes. United Way strictly adheres to stringent standards of accounting and financial reporting which govern the fiscal affairs of voluntary health and human service organizations.

The United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley’s strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency have earned it a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator. This is the fourth consecutive time that the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley has earned this top distinction

The United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley keeps all donor information confidential. We have not – and will never – give out personal information to any company or agency without the permission of the donor.