Home | Agency Resources | Become a Partner Agency

How to Become a Partner United Way Agency

United Way of Dane County provides resources for programs of non-profit 501(c)(3) health or human service organizations that bring services to people residing in Dane County. United Way-affiliated agencies are aligned in their vision for our community through their support of the Agenda for Change. They are asked to comply with United Way's Fundraising Guidelines and Eligibility Requirements and to refrain from participating with another umbrella organization. The two different ways that an agency can participate in the United Way campaign are as a Fully Participating Agency or as a Donor Designation Agency.

Fully Participating Agency

An agency becomes "fully participating" by participating in the formal proposal review process and being recommended for funding by a team of citizen volunteers. Once funded, participating agencies agree to certain fundraising restrictions, rights and responsibilities as outlined in an agency agreement.

Donor Designation Agency

Donor designation agencies affiliate with United Way for the purposes of receiving donor-designated dollars only. These agencies are reviewed by a group of volunteers to assure minimum criteria are met before affiliation is recommended. Agencies can request affiliation for designations in the public sector campaigns, private sector campaign or both. Each level of affiliation has different fundraising restrictions, rights and responsibilities.

The following criteria have been established for the review of donor designation agencies. An agency must:

1. Provide health or human services in Dane County. For statewide organizations, the agency must provide written documentation of its use of funds within Dane County.
2. Be registered as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization in the State of Wisconsin.
3. Meet fundraising eligibility criteria for the State of Wisconsin for public sector affiliation.
4. Address an established need in Dane County as documented by the Community Assessment and other professionally acknowledged sources.
5. Demonstrate the capacity to deliver services, including a clear mission and financial, programmatic and/or management stability.
6. Serve people regardless of their ability to pay for services provided.
7. Provide documentation by an independent auditor that the agency's financial status presents fairly the position of the agency. If concerns are expressed about the agency's financial status, the agency must have written documentation of action either taken or planned to address those concerns. The Community Building Vision Council, a team of citizen volunteers, has discretion in the application of this criterion.
8. Information from a prior review by a needs/allocations panel may be considered in the determination of whether an agency can become affiliated as a donor designation agency.
9. Adhere to United Way of Dane County's Fundraising Guidelines, if affiliated as a donor designated agency in the private sector.

Applying for United Way Funding

In its review of agencies for funding, United Way has a multi-year program funding cycle. New agencies wishing to be considered for funding must submit a Concept Paper briefly outlining the program for which they are requesting funding. The appropriate volunteer team will then review the agency's request for funding. If the team wishes to review the full agency request, the agency will be directed to complete a Joint Application Form, which is a shared document used by United Way, Dane County and the City of Madison.

For question about 2010-2011 investment cycle, please call Kathy Hubbard at (608) 246-4373.

Fundraising Guidelines

United Way of Dane County recognizes the need for and encourages supplemental fundraising activities by all agencies with whom it has a funding relationship.

United Way fundraising guidelines are established to:

• Enable United Way to conduct a vigorous and successful campaign on behalf of the community in businesses, workplaces and with individual donors in Dane County.
• Enable United Way to maintain a mutually responsive and supportive relationship with agencies, corporations, business and public sector communities.
• Enable United Way supported agencies to conduct supplemental fund development activities that maintain the high ethical and legal standards of both United Way and the agencies, and do not compromise the integrity of the United Way system.

Download 2010 Fundraising Guidelines for Partner Agencies PDF (46 KB)

Funding Priorities

United Way of Dane County is uniting and focusing the community to achieve our community Agenda for Change. The goals of the Agenda are the priorities volunteers use as they review agency proposals and distribute resources to health and human services program in Dane County.