FAQs

We bring people and resources together to meet existing and emerging social needs, in order to improve lives and build community. Through our collaborative networks, we monitor and identify pressing social issues. Whether it be through investing in existing community programs or mobilizing a new collective approach, funds donated by our generous community are put to work to create lasting positive change in the most effective way possible.

In 2022, administration and fundraising expenses made up 29% of our spending. This increased by 5% from 2021 due to one-time investments in fundraising strategy and marketing for The Home for Good Campaign.

We encourage donors to be cautious about using our organizational overhead as the sole way to gauge effectiveness as this number can fluctuate from year to year based on a variety of factors — but that does not mean we are making less or more impact. To learn more, we recommend watching Dan Pallotta’s Ted Talk.

Whether it’s through community or internal investments, donors can trust that we invest our available resources in smart, strategic ways, to help the people who depend on us.

United Way mobilizes the power of caring communities to address the most complex social issues. We currently focus our work on providing adequate basic needs, supporting kids, creating a sense of belonging and inclusion, supporting positive mental health, and providing support for seniors. We work closely alongside issue experts on research planning tables to understand our community’s needs and facilitate investment in programs through a volunteer Community Impact Committee. After our funds are invested in either community programs or collective initiatives, reporting and evaluation is completed and reported annually in our Year in Review report. Click here to view our reports.

Unfortunately, there is a portion of our annual campaign that is pledged but is never received, reducing our available revenue for the community. Beyond that, investing wisely within our organization allows us to reach more people and create more impact, not waste money.

Our salaries are established based on a comparison of other charities’ compensation, an assessment of roles and responsibilities, and a commitment to spending dollars wisely.

For full transparency, donors can consult our annual listing with the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) which discloses staff salaries.

Every bit helps and every donation adds up over the course of the year. When combined with donations from all across our community, United Way can provide millions of dollars to create lasting positive change on pressing social issues.

Every dollar you give to United Way Guelph Wellington Dufferin stays 100% within Guelph, Wellington, and Dufferin. If you prefer for your donation to stay within one of those communities, you may specify that at the time of your donation.

You can certainly designate your donation to one or more specific programs that United Way funds or to other charities that you may wish to support. However, we encourage donors to consider allowing their gift to be used where needed most, rather than designating to a specific organization because:

1. You can rest assured that our research has shown us that we are focusing on pressing issues, through collective approaches which reduce overlap and offer effective solutions.
2. Undesignated donations are more flexible and allow us to be agile when our community requires it, such as responding to urgent situations like the COVID-19 pandemic.
3. Increased funding to United Way provides front line agencies the relief of some of the burden of fundraising, so they instead focus on delivering programs and services.

A tax receipt will be issued for donations over $20. Receipts can be issued for lower donation amounts upon request. If you donate through your payroll deduction, you will see your total gift for the year on the charitable donation line of your T4. Donations made by cheque or cash will receive tax receipts by mail within a few weeks of the gift being received at the United Way office. Please be advised that ongoing monthly donations are provided with receipts at the end of each year.

Depending on your situation, if you have tax that is payable at the end of the year, you may be able to use all, or a portion, of your donation amount to reduce your tax owing. In some cases, you can also transfer donations to your spouse. Donations can be carried forward for up to five years, but can only be claimed once. Visit the Canada Revenue Agency for more information.

United Way is committed to protecting your right to privacy. Information you or your employer provides is used to process and receipt your donation, and to respond to your information requests. Your information is not shared with other organizations. To learn more about your rights as a donor, click here to view our Donor Bill of Rights.

United Way Guelph Wellington Dufferin is a separate and independent registered charity with our own governance, policies, and practices. We are a member of United Way Centraide Canada in good standing with its comprehensive operating standards. United Way Centraide Canada holds an international membership in United Way Worldwide on behalf of its Canadian members. While this membership facilitates access to United Way Worldwide materials and cross-border collaboration with international members, our Canadian network operates independently and with strong governance and financial structures.