Frequently Asked Questions

How much of my money does the local charity receive?

Our audited gifting process ensures that at least 90% of donated funds end up in the recipient's hand.

Who am I helping when I give to United Way (NZ) Inc?

Money raised locally is spent locally on a variety of human services that target the unique health and human needs of people from all over New Zealand.  United Way NZ's (UWNZ) donors and volunteers help to support services ranging from after school care, budgeting advice, emergency housing and caring for the elderly, to job training and literacy tutoring.  These are only a few of the kinds of programmes supported by UWNZ.

What Is the UWNZ Community Chest?

The UWNZ Community Chest is a pool of contributed dollars given by individual and corporate donors. These are invested by trained volunteers in a strategic portfolio of the community’s most effective human welfare programmes.  The result is a high return in changed lives and a measurable impact on the local quality of life.

Why is it sometimes better to give to UWNZ Community Chest than directly donating to one agency?

Most simply put, UWNZ Community Chest is the easiest way to make a positive financial contribution to your community. Through the power of collective effort your investment is added to those of others. The result is that your gift is maximised - multiple needs are met. Your ability to help many people, causes and agencies is increased significantly. The positive impact achieved in your community is far greater.

What is the role of UWNZ in our community?

UWNZ is a community leader in pulling together a variety of resources – money, expertise, in king goods and volunteers. It then targest these resources to proven areas of need in order to achieve measurable outcomes.

Who decides which charity programmes are funded and how much they’ll get?

Teams of locally trained UWNZ volunteers throughout New Zealand meet during the year to assess local community needs and review local applications for support.  Applying agencies must demonstrate annually that their UWNZ funded programmes have been effective and efficient in providing critical services.  Local volunteers provide the leadership and support to ensure that UWNZ is responsive to local needs and effective in creating solutions.  The decision as to whether a local community agency receives funding grants from UWNZ is made primarily by the local volunteers.

What qualifications are required by agencies seeking funding from UWNZ?

They must be Human Welfare charities/agencies registered in New Zealand for charitable status for IRD, and have annual operating expenses less than $750,000 excluding GST. Funding is normally distributed in the same geographical areas where is has been raised.
Local UWNZ allocation volunteers rate applications according to the programme's ability to:
• Provide a proven needed service that helps significant numbers of residents to overcome obstacles and/or learn new life skills
• Have a positive, measurable impact in the community
• Receive funding from other sources as well
• Provide a professionally audited financial accounts report and manage the annual budget responsibly
• Operate as one of the most effective and efficient community programmes dealing with a particular community need

Where does the UWNZ Community Chest get its money?

Payroll Giving

Payroll giving is an efficient but simple system for employees to exercise their personal choice in contributing regularly as concerned citizens through their company’s payroll.

A variation on payroll giving is the $2 Plus Club. Donors who are members of this club donate $2 or more a week ($8 or more a month). All personal donations are tax deductible.

Corporate Partnership

Companies may be involved as partners with UWNZ by making annual corporate donations and they may also choose to match the payroll giving of their employees dollar for dollar.

International Donor Advised Giving

A service which is delivered in partnership with United Way International and gives UWNZ the capacity to raise funds overseas for New Zealand based agencies from ex-pat New Zealanders and other off shore philanthropic persons or companies. The donor (in consultation with United Way) receives tax concessions from the country they are donating from. The NZ charity receives the benefits of the donation. UWNZ is the conduit through which this process takes place.

Individual donation

Individuals find that one of the great benefits they receive from donating regularly to their community through UWNZ is that they can then advise numerous telemarketing/fundraising callers that they already donate to the community - through United Way NZ.

Fund Management

A number of Trusts & Foundations use UWNZ to manage their community funds. This means UWNZ takes responsibility on behalf of the Trust/Foundation to allocate grants to the community through the United Way process. This includes seeking, screening and processing applications plus allocating grants.

Wills and Bequests

For those who want to leave a legacy, including UWNZ in their will ensures their generosity continues to make a significant impact long into the future.

If you would like to make a bequest to UWNZ please include the following wording (or similar) in your will.

“I give and bequest to United Way (NZ) Inc the sum of $_______ (or description of items or property), and declare that the receipt of the treasurer or other authorised person of United Way (NZ) Inc shall be a good and sufficient discharge to my Trustees”

For more information on this subject please contact the Chief Executive, on DDI (09) 377-2087 or email don@unitedway.org.nz

How does UWNZ ensure the money I give is invested wisely?

Volunteers from throughout New Zealand conduct a thorough review of all agencies seeking funding from UWNZ. This includes on-site visits and a review of each programme's effectiveness in truly helping people in need. Before meeting with the charities that run the programmes, volunteers are trained in outcome measures, and specific topic areas relating to the community needs. Additionally, both UWNZ and all charities with programmes funded by the UWNZ Community Chest are independently audited on an annual basis.

What does UWNZ do with my money?

In 2004 UWNZ distributed $886,904 to 188 different community agencies (charities) in ten regional centres throughout New Zealand. Around 501,979 people benefited from the variety of services provided by these charities provide. Funds raised by UWNZ in a particular community are used in that local community.

How is a Community Foundation different from UWNZ?

Both are important resources to the community. Often a Community Foundation has a broad scope of funding and covers the arts, the environment and scholarships, not just improving quality of life at a humanitarian level. Someone has described the differences by suggesting that UWNZ is more like a community cheque book, raising and distributing money annually while a Community Foundation is more like a savings account, distributing interest from long term funds in perpetuity.