FAQs

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Local volunteers. Business people, community leaders and residents set policy and provide the overall direction of United Way and its professional staff. Professionals in the accounting and banking disciplines oversee agency allocations and administrative funding of United Way.

We are careful to spend donor dollars wisely. Board Members and Community Leaders make the funding decisions. They ensure that contributor dollars are used for needed services. Volunteers review program funding requests, visit agencies, and study agency audits and budgets. Our low administrative costs means more of your dollars go directly to building the stronger, safer, healthier community we all want.

In some cases, United Way funded agencies provide services on a sliding scale based on an individual's ability to pay. By keeping fees reasonable and requesting payment for services from those who are able to pay, the agencies stretch United Way dollars and help more people.

Agencies must meet the following United Way Standards of Accountability:

Be a nonprofit 501 c(3) health and human service organization.
Provide services that meet a documented community need and cooperate with other agencies providing services for similar populations.
Conduct an annual audit that conforms to generally accepted accounting principles.
Have programs and finances reviewed annually by United Way.
Provide equal access to services to all who qualify without discriminating based on race, religion, national origin, disability, gender, veteran status, sexual orientation or age.
Operate with effectiveness and efficiency – maintaining appropriate administrative records.
Have a Board of Directors and By-Laws governing the board.

Yes. Agencies receive funds from government contracts, foundation grants, membership enrollment programs, special event fund-raising, direct mail, planned giving, major gifts and service fees. Volunteers consider income from these sources when deciding on the amount to be allocated by United Way.

Giving to an individual agency --
--Supports a single organization or service.
--Helps people needing that particular agency or service.
--Requires that each charity run its own fundraising campaign, taking people and resources away from providing services to raise needed funds.
--Gifts might not be multiplied by leveraging government matching funds.

GIVING TO THE UNITED WAY --
--Supports many health and human service programs in Citrus County.
--Helps people who may have multiple health and human service needs, more than any single organization.
--One united campaign reduces costs to the agencies, so more people, time and resources are available to do the real work of the agency.
--Gifts to United Way are leveraged annually, multiplying the impact of each charitable dollar several times.

American Red Cross
Annie W. Johnson Senior Service Center
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Blind Americans
Boys and Girls Clubs of Citrus County
Boy Scouts of America – Gulf Ridge Council
Catholic Charities
Children's Home Society
Citrus Abuse Shelter Association (CASA)
Citrus County Family Visitation Center
Citrus Hearing Impaired Program Services (CHIPS)
Citrus United Basket (CUB)
Daystar Life Center
Early Learning Coalition of the Nature Coast
Family Resource Center
Girl Scouts – Heart of Florida Council
Hospice of Citrus County - Camp Good Hope
The Isaiah Foundation
Key Training Center
Youth and Family Alternatives