Here in Michigan, the days have turned cooler, the kids have gone back to school, and the United Way pledge cards have arrived in our office. Because our company makes software for United Ways, we all know how important it is to support your local United Way. But, as I drove into work this morning, I wondered how many people out there really know all that United Ways do.
For instance, I wondered if people see past the Pledge Card sitting on their desk. It might be easy to dismiss this as just another non-profit organization with its hands out...another request for part my hard earned pay. What do they do with all that money they raise? How do I know if they can be trusted?
This year, my Pledge Card crossed my desk at the same time as my annual 401k statement. I'm not an investing wizard, so I've plunked my retirement money into mutual funds. I let the mutual fund manager worry about which stocks and bonds to buy and when to buy them. Sure, the mutual fund manager charges me a small fee to do this, but it's one less thing that I need to worry about.
It occurred to me that United Ways do a similar thing. When I give my money to a United Way, they manage it for me just like my mutual fund manager. I don't need to spend a lot of time deciding which charitable organizations I should support...nor do I need to decide how much to send to each one. My United Way does all that for me.
And then, there's the issue of trust. Do I want to review the financial statements of all the charitable organizations that I support? Do I want to review their programs to be sure they are meeting real needs in the community? Once again, I don't need to worry about this because I know my United Way is doing that for me. And I know my local United Way is run by local volunteers; community leaders that I know I can trust.
Since I've worked with United Ways for so many years, I already know these things, and my Pledge Card gets filled out immediately. My 401k statement will get stuffed into a dusty folder at home, but my Pledge Card will reach out to every corner of my community. That brings a smile to my face and a bit of warmth to my heart.
If you're looking for information on your local United Way, the United Way of America web site is a good place to start. And, if there's a Pledge Card at the corner of your desk, fill it out now. It really does feel good.
