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United Way of Adair County |
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Policy: Criteria for Admission and Continued Support as a United Way Agency
Date Submitted to the Board: March 4, 1993/April 21, 1998/January 18, 2000/February 28, 2005
Purpose of Policy: To ensure that all prospective member agencies receive fair and equal consideration by the Board of Directors.
Introduction: A United Way supported agency should have as its primary objective the development of an individual’s full potential in becoming or continuing as a useful member of society. Not all agencies meeting this general requirement must become members. The determination of which services are appropriate for United Way support will be made solely by the Board of Directors. In admitting new agencies, emphasis should be placed on the quality of operation and supporting services aimed at the most urgent needs of the community. After an agency has attained membership, it is expected to continue to meet these criteria as long as it receives support from United Way of Adair County.
General Provisions:
1. The organization must be legally qualified as a not-for-profit corporation under the law. It must have 501(c)(3) status from the Internal Revenue Service, which means that donations to the organization are deductible for income tax purposes.
2. The organization must have clear purposes and functions which designate it as a voluntary health and human care organization.
3. It is the applicant agency’s responsibility to ensure that it meets the following criteria before submitting its application.
4. Applicant agency must provide a program with primary focus and identifiable benefits relevant to documented needs of the geographic community or target population which it serves.
5. An agency seeking membership must have been serving the people of Adair County for at least (2) years. During this time, and at the present time, it must have demonstrated its effectiveness in meeting stated objectives and show a reasonable degree of continuity and performance.
6. Each new member agency will be on probation for one year during which time it must demonstrate it can fulfill the membership requirements based on the Admissions Criteria. Full membership will be subject to review and recommendations of the Agency Relations Committee at the end of one year.
7. An agency applicant providing a wide range of services must clearly distinguish both in its budget and program between those services for which it is or is not requesting United Way support. If the agency operates under auspices of an organized religious group, it must clearly separate its budget for support of social services from its religious expenses.
8. Among the criteria used to evaluate the applicant agency’s service program will be whether the need is already being met by an existing agency; whether the need can be met by the extension of another agency; and the applicant agency’s willingness to cooperate fully with other agencies performing similar or related functions in the community.
9. Applicants must submit, without changes or addenda, the signed agreement between United Way and the participating agency.
Administration and Community Support
1. Management of the agency applicant must be vested in a responsible and active Board of Directors which meets at least once a quarter and approves all policy and financial decisions.
2. The agency must have a positive non-discrimination policy consistent with state and federal government regulations. No United Way Agency may refuse service or employment on the basis of race, sex, creed, color, or religion, nor should Board membership be so restricted.
3. At least 70% of the agency budget must be spent for delivery of services.
4. The agency must keep accurate accounts of all receipts and expenditures open to inspection by United Way and must present a full disclosure of all the agency’s financial resources accompanied by an audit of the last completed fiscal year, and each year thereafter.
5. The agency must present evidence of community support and interest in services provided. Some indications are successful independent fundraising and an active volunteer force.
6. Agency agrees to comply with all United Way policies including refraining from any supplemental fund raising activities except those approved by the Board. The agency agrees not to fund raise for themselves during the period from the second Friday in September through the first Friday in November. Another group/entity may not conduct a fundraiser for a member agency from October 1 to October 31.
7. Agency agrees to actively participate in the United Way annual fundraising campaign and agrees to solicit on behalf of the campaign, its board, donors, and all assigned accounts. The agency may have a fundraising event for the benefit of the United Way campaign, which may be held any time during the fiscal year (January 1 – December 31). Funds received in November and December will be credited to the following year campaign.
8. Agency agrees to represent itself as a United Way Agency and assist in publicizing itself as a United Way Agency in brochures, literature and releases to the media.
9. Agency agrees to submit an annual budget and other reports as required by the United Way Board.
10. The United Way Board of Directors, with the recommendation from the Agency Relations Committee and the Admission, Allocations and Grant Committee, may vote to reduce or discontinue funding for member agencies in the following circumstances:
a. When the member agency has engaged in unlawful or unethical practices.
b. When the member agency no longer fulfills its stated mission to the community, or is no longer needed by the community. In making recommendations to the United Way Board of Directors, the Agency Relations Committee and the Admission, Allocations and Grant Committee will periodically assess whether United Way dollars transferred to a member agency still meet the organization’s stated need, actual community needs and in general are providing assistance to persons in need.
c. When a member agency refuses to explore and exhaust other funding sources.
d. When an agency does not fulfill the criteria of being a United Way member agency.
11. At the discretion of the Board, any breach in the Membership Agreement may result in reduced or discontinued funding to take effect in the following fiscal year (January 1 – December 31) of the United Way of Adair County, or the following Admission, Allocation and Grant Committee hearing.
12. At the discretion of the Board, the Membership Agreement may or may not be in effect despite discontinued funding to a member agency.