What is United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra? What does UWNNS do?

United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra is part of a national network of locally governed organizations that work to create lasting positive changes in communities and people’s lives. United Way of America helps local United Ways accomplish their missions by providing research, training, technical support and other important services that local United Ways cannot do efficiently alone. Local United Ways pay one cent per dollar of the amount they raise for UWA services. We operate independently of United Way of America and the other 1200+ locally governed United Ways.

What is the Community Fund?

The Community Fund is the best investment you can make in your community. Local volunteers study the community’s needs and then invest the fund in ways that support long-lasting change. When you make a contribution to the Community Fund you can be sure that your contribution will be managed to achieve results and carefully allocated to programs and initiatives that address the underlying causes of the community’s most pressing problems.

Your contribution will support local programs that:

Your contribution also supports important initiatives including:

Yes. These options are listed on your pledge form.

UWNNS focuses on human services to ensure that a full range of services is available and that agencies work together to help clients. That way, your United Way contribution is invested in bringing lasting change, improving lives, and building stronger communities in the region.

Economies of scale help us to effectively fundraise for health and human services throughout our service area. Our community-wide fundraising model reaches more than 200 workplaces. If nonprofits had to do this fundraising, collections and verification work on their own, it would increase their costs and take their focus away from delivering services to the community.

Another advantage of giving to United Way is that we maximize the impact of your gift by combining it with others to address the most critical needs of the community.

All complaints will be investigated thoroughly. If you have a complaint, please contact our CEO and President at 775-322-8668 or P.O. Box 2730, Reno, NV 89505.

We know that people sometimes dislike the policies or practices of one agency or another. United Way believes is that while everyone may not like every organization or everything about the services included, there is value in a full range of services being available in our community.

Yes. You can make a contribution to any 501(c)3 organization of your choice by writing the name and address of the organization on your contribution form in the space provided. To keep costs as low as possible for our contributors, we require a minimum gift of $52 per agency.

Please contact our finance staff at 775-322-8668.

UWNNS’ Support Service expense ratio is 17.7%, based on our FY2006 IRS Form 990 tax return. For nonprofits, the Better Business Bureau suggests this ratio be no more than 35% of each gift. A few ways we keep our expenses low: good management practices and a commitment to organizational efficiency, a high level of volunteer participation and leadership, in-kind services provided by our partners, and responsible investments.

United Way has a clear non-coercion policy, and does not endorse or support coercion in any form. Our community impact is made possible because so many people give voluntarily. Any semblance of pressure (whether real, implied or perceived) is contradictory to our operating standards and organizational values. If you feel that you have been pressured to give, please contact your Employee Campaign Manager to express your concern, or contact our donor development staff at 775-322-8668.

Our Board of Directors oversees the management of United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra. Service on the Board is not compensated. Our Administrative Committee is comprised of volunteers including Board members that review and approve our annual budget and financial statements, which include annual fundraising results, community investments and operating expenses. Our financial statements are audited annually by an accounting firm which certifies that its financial statements are in full compliance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). A copy of the most recently audited financial statements are available online at www.uwayreno.org and by request.

To be eligible for a United Way Community Fund grant, your organization/ program must be aligned with our mission and focused funding areas, serve within our region and also be accredited through our Standards of Excellence process.

Please contact our finance staff team at 775-322-8668.