Pledge Today!
Department Representative List
The Importance of Your Gift
What Does United Way Do?
United Way of Merced County advances the common good by partnering with local organizations that enhance and improve education, financial stability and healthy individuals. Specifically, United Way of Merced County:
- Identifies the most significant issues affecting our community;
- Evaluates programs designed to address these issues and bring about positive change;
- Pools resources and gifts to fund programs making the most impact, and
- Measures the impact of its funding and reports those results to the community.
What Can Your Gift Accomplish?
By donating to the Community Fund, you can help the United Way of Merced County support meaningful, well-managed programs that address local needs. See below what a monthly donation through payroll deduction can provide for one year:
Just a little from your paycheck DOES make a BIG difference
| $5 Monthly | Pays for toiletries for two students |
| $5 Monthly | Pays for food for a family in shelter for two weeks |
| $10 Monthly | Pays for crisis response to an emergency sexual assault call |
| $10 Monthly | Pays for four (4) individual grief support counseling sessions |
| $20 Monthly | Pays for hand controls for a vehicle or materials for a wheelchair ramp |
| $20 Monthly | Provides 24 meals per month |
| $50 Monthly | Pays for school supplies for 10 students |
| $50 Monthly | $600 per year will adopt ten seniors on the Brown Bag Program |
| $100 Monthly | Provides 121 meals per month |
What Are Some of the Other Benefits of Giving?
Dollars Stay at Home
Contributions stay here in Merced County to help maintain the quality of life that our residents enjoy. The only exceptions are funds specifically designated to charities located outside of Merced County.
Low Administrative Costs
Because of volunteer involvement, administrative costs are currently about 18 percent in Merced County. As more people donate, administrative costs decrease proportionally. In addition, the single, annual fund-raising drive is the most economical method, combining efforts for one appeal instead of many individual drives. This means that more of your donation goes directly to those who need it.
Many Programs and Many People Affected
This year, United Way is funding 15 different programs of non-profit agencies. These programs provide wholesome activities for youth, education and counseling, pain therapy and dignity for the terminally ill, services for the disabled, support for the down and out, and much more.
Community Pride
Most of us are glad we work and live in a good community so we take pride that we are able to give back by donating to those less fortunate. In doing so, we make our community a better place to live and for that we can be especially proud.
Accountability
A group of volunteers meets each year to carefully review how donor dollars are spent and to make sure accountability is carefully preserved. Volunteers evaluate local services to ensure that agencies are effectively meeting community needs and to prevent unnecessary duplication of services.
Tax Write-Off
United Way is a 501 (c) (3) organization so donations are tax deductible. Please check with your tax preparer to determine the proper way to claim your income tax deduction. In addition, selecting the payroll deduction option allows you to easily budget your annual donation so a smaller amount is taken out of each paycheck.
