Your local United Way is an independent, nonprofit organization governed by a local board of directors made up of volunteers from mid-Missouri. More than 400 volunteers monitor donations and expenses to ensure that funds are distributed fairly and appropriately.

United Way works because it is a partnership of volunteers, donors, businesses and service providers who come together with common goals - to build strong families, help kids succeed and promote health and independence. United Way volunteers serve their communities through efficient Fundraising and fund distribution in addition to building local partnerships that multiply the impact of a donor's gift.

When you make a donation to your local United Way, the money stays in the community and improves lives of 1 in 3 local people.

Giving time and/or money is a personal matter and completely voluntary. Local employers support the United Way campaign because it is the best way to meet people's needs, but your gift is your decision.

There are many organizations that we individually support: our alma maters, churches, schools, environmental organizations or personal charities of choice. At United Way, we respect those commitments and ask that you extend your charitable giving by investing in the needs of the greater community as well.

There are 31 agencies serving people from Boone, Cooper, Howard, Audrain, Callaway, Randolph and Cole counties. United Way also provides emergency and venture funding to other human service programs that are meeting critical community needs.

United Way utilizes a community volunteer-driven funding process called Allocations. Once partner agencies submit funding requests for specific programs, volunteers then review those requests and visit the agencies to learn more about the programs and services they offer. Agency staff, volunteers and clients are also given an opportunity to speak to the Allocations Panel about their agency and how its programs help members of our community. The Panel then meets to discuss and decide how funding is distributed based on funding requests, site visit reports and client testimonials. Through this process, United Way is able to fund agency programs that help improve the lives of people in our community.

No one is denied services from a United Way agency because of an inability to pay. However, several agencies must charge something for their services in order to remain viable. For the agencies that must charge, a person or family is asked to pay all or a portion of the cost for services based on a sliding-fee scale. This policy allows even more people to be helped by United Way.

Donors have two options in stating preferences. Most donors make their gift to the general United Way Community Care Fund. Local United Way volunteers and board members, who have studied the agencies to best determine how the funds should be allocated, distribute all general funds.

Some United Way donors choose to designate a particular partner agency or community initiative. For these donors, United Way honors their choices and their gifts are directed according to the stated wishes. This aspect of the United Way designation policy is as follows: "a designation to a member agency will be 'the first dollars' that an agency will receive toward its United Way allocation. If total designations to an agency exceed the allocation volunteers recommend, the agency will receive the greater amount." To be effective and efficient in fund distribution, however, United Way requires a minimum gift of $40 per agency per designation.

We take the business of investing and managing your gift very seriously. We attack the bottom line, reducing administrative costs as much as possible. Our administrative and fundraising costs 13 percent, which far exceeds Better Business Bureau guidelines, in part due to the dedication of thousands of volunteers. Our extremely low overhead ensures that the vast majority of your money goes to people in need.

Call 2-1-1 to reach a call specialist that can help you identify helpful services and connect you with the right agencies. This service is free and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week year-round. If, for any reason, your phone does not allow you to call 2-1-1, you may also call 800-427-4626 or visit the website at www.211missouri.org.

The United Way office is located at 1700 East Pointe Dr. Suite 201, in Columbia. We can be reached by phone at 573-443-4523 or email at ltesterman@uwheartmo.org. Our office is open 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on holidays.