What happens when you donate to united way?

What happens when you donate to United Way? That’s a great question. Our team of volunteers works together to ensure that your dollars are used in a trustworthy way that changes lives in our community. Watch the 60 second video below to see how!

how much should I donate?

The amount you choose to give should be your personal decision, because all of our situations can be a little different. We have many donors who like to give their “Fair Share.” The Fair Share is equivalent to 1% of your salary, or 1 hour of pay per month. Some choose to go the “Extra Mile,” which is 1.5x the Fair Share amount. Interested to see how much it takes to make a difference in a life? Take a look at our levels of giving below.

$10 weekly

or

$45 monthly

Can provide professional mental health counseling for struggling individuals.

$25 weekly

or

$110 monthly

Can give a pair of siblings in a low-income household access to afterschool care, snacks and even a dinner to eat.

$40 weekly

or

$175 monthly

Can provide financial planning to a struggling family, free of charge, setting them on a path to a financially stable home.

donate to help those in need

OUR top partners

our impact from 2021 grants!

lives improved in Carter County

lives improved in Johnson County

lives improved in washington county

youth served across our region

FAQs

What does United Way of East TN Highlands do?

United Way of East TN Highlands is a 501c3 non-profit organization that raises and allocates funds for local nonprofit organizations working to improve the health, education and financial stability in our community. We bring people and organizations together to do more together than any of us can do on our own. Employers, nonprofits, government, faith organizations, educators, labor, health providers, community leaders, youth and many others partner with us. Together, we tackle some of the world’s toughest issues. We’re after solutions that create real change. It’s not simple, or easy. But we’re making progress and seeing results.

How much of my donation actually goes toward helping others?

With combined administrative, non-operating and fundraising expenses of 5%, 95 cents of every dollar goes directly to help your neighbor.

What is a United Way Campaign?

The United Way workplace campaign unites employees in all offices or branches of a company, and gives them an opportunity to donate, volunteer and speak out for causes that matter to them. You can see the results of successful programming right in your community because funds stay local.

Why should I give to United Way instead of directly to one of their partner agencies?

While our partner agencies certainly rely on and appreciate direct donations, they have applied to and been chosen as United Way Partners for maximum community building impact. Donors know partner programs have been well vetted for both effectiveness and fiscal responsibility. Being a United Way partner gives agencies and programs access to additional funding, volunteers and other area social services professionals. By working together, duplication of services can be reduced as well.

How does United Way of East TN Highlands decide how much funding each partner receives?

It doesn’t! Thirty community members from a wide range of ages, genders, races and socio-economic backgrounds are assembled each year to form an Allocations Team. Team members visit the agencies, speak with directors (and participants when appropriate), review program descriptions and financials then get meet to determine how to allocate funds raised the previous year to be of the greatest benefit for our community.

How can I be certain you don’t support organizations that with which I disagree?

Please click here to view the programs for which we provide funding. All donations we receive support only the programs listed.

Our Newsletter

The Highlander

The Highlander is our monthly newsletter. It typically comes out in the first week of each month. It highlights our top news or headlines from the previous month and a look ahead to upcoming events. We've had this option for a while, so you may already be signed up for it. If not, we highly recommend it.