Our success is driven by passionate community champions like you! Thank you for your commitment to advancing the common good in our community as an ECM.
Getting your campaign started is easy using the materials available on this page.
Check out the videos below and our Community Solutions playlist on YouTube.
Use this handy ECM worksheet on Goal Setting.
Download PDFs with helpful information on a range of community issues, ways to give, and more.
There are many ways to Live United.
Make a hands-on difference and join the fight against poverty through on-site volunteer activities with your company or at-home philanthropy.
Get InvolvedUnite with others in an affinity group like Women United, Generation United, Retire United, or Tocqueville Society, and be stronger together.
Learn MoreIf you want to improve lives — and sharpen your public speaking, sales, and customer service skills — this program could be a great fit for you.
Learn MoreUnited Way provides our business partners a unique opportunity to reach their social responsibility objectives, engage employees, meet customer expectations, and make a difference.
See HowThese are aspirations we all share:
Your support makes this possible.
Since 1925, Valley of the Sun United Way has unified diverse partners, donors, business supporters, nonprofits, government and faith-based communities to build a stronger Valley for us all.
Because of you we can help break the cycle of poverty together. No other organization unites as many people to fight poverty in as many ways.
United Way uses every dollar, every volunteer hour and every bit of your support to:
You can fight poverty in countless ways. Change won’t happen alone. We must unite and we must fight.
Q. What is Valley of the Sun United Way’s overhead costs?
A. Valley of the Sun United Way incurs costs for fundraising, marketing and common business operations such as accounting, human resources and overall organizational management. As careful stewards of our donors’ contributions, Valley of the Sun United Way operates with the utmost efficiency and effectiveness. Less than 10 percent is spent on administrative cost and approximately 90 cents of every dollar goes back into the community to improve lives throughout the Valley.
Compared to the average of 15 percent administrative costs reported by large non-profits, Valley of the Sun United Way is one of the most efficient non-profits in the country.
*According to Charity Navigator, a trusted authority on non-profits ratings, reports the benchmark “maximum” overhead is 35%, with the average overhead rate for the top large nonprofits at more than 15%. (2013)
Q. Last year, I contributed directly to the Helping the Working Poor Fund and qualified for a tax credit. Is that option still available? What are the benefits of choosing this option?
A. Yes, donations to Valley of the Sun United Way’s Helping the Working Poor fund, qualify for the “Arizona State Tax Credit for Donations Made to a Qualifying Charitable Organization”. The Helping the Working Poor fund provides job-skill training, affordable child care, educational opportunities and more to the working poor in our community. These are individuals and families with low-wage jobs that just can’t make ends meet. By donating a portion of your United Way contribution to helping the working poor, you help people increase their self-sufficiency and you could receive a dollar-for-dollar state tax credit this tax year. Donate up to $400* for individuals and up to $800* for those filing jointly. You don’t have to itemize deductions to claim a credit for contributions to a Qualifying Charitable Organization.
* Valley of the Sun United Way is not a tax advisor. As with any financial recommendation, contact a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific tax situation.
Q. Why should I give directly to Valley of the Sun United Way instead of designating my donation directly to a United Way partner agency or other organization?
A. To encourage collective impact, Valley of the Sun United Way brings together partners from every sector – public, business, non-profit and faith-based organizations – to get things done. Together, with your support, we will ensure kids succeed, end hunger, end homelessness, and increase the financial stability of families and individuals, breaking the cycle of poverty in ways no one organization can do alone.
Q. What criteria must Valley of the Sun United Way Partners meet to be eligible for funding?
A. Partners are responsible for adhering to a number of compliance criteria in order to receive United Way program funding, including:
In addition, United Way continues to work toward strong alignment between programmatic outcomes to break the cycle of poverty. We do this by continuing to fund partners through an investment process and aligning funding to our goals. Together, we will ensure kids succeed, end hunger, end homelessness, and increase the financial stability of families breaking the cycle of poverty in ways no one organization can do alone.