FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

What is United Way of the Lower Mainland?
Where is the Lower Mainland?
What is United Way's address and contact details?
Who does United Way of the Lower Mainland help?
Which communities does United Way of the Lower Mainland serve?
Why focus on seniors and children?
How does United Way work?
How can my non-profit apply for United Way funding?
How can my non-profit become a United Way member agency?
Why should I give to United Way?
Where does my money go?
What is the impact?
How many people are helped by United Way?
Does United Way measure results?
How does United Way know my dollars are used wisely?
What is United Way's administration and fundraising cost?
I would like to donate, how?
Is personal information from donors protected?
I have a question that is not on here, who can I speak to?

What is United Way of the Lower Mainland?
United Way of the Lower Mainland is a charitable organization dedicated to creating healthy, caring and inclusive communities in the Lower Mainland. We rely on donations from individuals, work places, charitable trusts, corporate gifts, sponsorship, money raised by individuals and gifts raised during our annual campaign to improve lives and create measurably better communities.

Where is the Lower Mainland?
The Lower Mainland is a geographical area in British Columbia that encompasses communities from Pemberton to Langley including all of Metro Vancouver.

What is United Way’s address and contact details?
We are located in Burnaby, 12 km east of downtown Vancouver.
4543 Canada Way
Burnaby
BC V5G 4T4
Tel: 604.294.8929
Fax: 604.293.0010

Who does United Way of the Lower Mainland help?
United Way was established nearly eighty years ago to support those in need in the Lower Mainland. Today, we focus on helping children, seniors and their families by breaking the cycle of poverty, helping children make the right life choices, and supporting seniors to age with dignity. See Key Priority Areas.

Which communities does United Way of the Lower Mainland serve?
United Way of the Lower Mainland serves 23 communities: Anmore, Belcarra, Bowen Island, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Delta, Langley, Lions Bay, Maple Ridge, New Westminster, North Vancouver, Pemberton, Pitt Meadows, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Richmond, Squamish, Sunshine Coast, Surrey, Vancouver, West Vancouver, Whistler and White Rock.

Why focus on seniors and children?
Through years of research, evaluation, community dialogue, collaboration and experience we’ve learned that United Way can create the greatest positive change, for everyone in our community, by focusing on children and seniors and in doing so prevent social issues before they occur. See Our Work.

How does United Way work?
United Way is more than a fundraiser; we are an organization committed to making a measureable difference in our community. Experience and research tells us that to do this effectively we must get to the heart of our communities greatest challenges. Our prevention-based approach does just that, by focusing on the root causes of our communities key social issues, including poverty, bullying and isolation. See Our Work.

How can my non-profit apply for United Way funding?
United Way of the Lower Mainland specifically targets investments to children age 0-6, children age 6-12, seniors and our foundational strategy of Building Stronger Communities. Occasionally, opportunities may arise where an open grant call is made available for interested non-profit social service agencies to submit applications for funding. All notices will be posted on our website homepage and updated regularly. 

How can my non-profit become a United Way member agency?
United Way’s funding model no longer includes ongoing grants to member agencies.  In order to most effectively accomplish our mandate to create a lasting and measureable impact in our community, the majority of our funding is now provided to partners in the community through three-year funding agreements, or specifically directed one-year grants to agencies whose mission and mandate are clearly aligned to our priority areas or the foundation strategy.

Why should I give to United Way of the Lower Mainland?
When you give to United Way of the Lower Mainland you are making a profound difference in people’s lives in your local community, and improving the quality of life we all enjoy. You are helping at-risk children get the best start in life, and helping them to grow up healthy, happy and resilient. You are helping isolated seniors to age with dignity and stay connected to their communities. You are helping to build a better tomorrow for everyone.

United Way is an organization committed to preventing social problems, such as poverty, and making a measureable difference in our community. We are the only organization funding approximately 160 social service agencies to deliver more than 500 prevention-based programs for vulnerable people throughout the region. But we are more than a funder, United Way knows how to prevent poverty, bullying and social isolation by; undertaking research to get to the root cause of our community's greatest challenges; strengthening non profit organizations, enabling them to deliver life-changing programs; multiplying our impact by working in partnership; raising our voice to influence public attitudes, systems and policy; and evaluating the performance of our investments and efforts to ensure long-term social change. Together with people like you, we can create a community everyone is proud to call home. Please give.

Where does my money go?
It is invested in building a healthy, caring and inclusive community because United Way knows how to prevent poverty, bullying and social isolation. Your donation helps United Way break the cycle of child poverty, endured by one in five children in BC. It helps older children make the right life choices and end destructive behaviours, such as bullying. And it enables seniors to age with dignity and to live in their own homes, surrounded by friends, families and neighbours. In addition, these dollars will support the BC 211 helpline, community crisis lines, volunteer centres, research, advocacy, and innovative efforts – such as the United Way Public Policy Institute – that create strong and effective non-profits.

United Way of the Lower Mainland funds approximately 160 non profit social service agencies that deliver more than 500 prevention-based programs for vulnerable people throughout the Lower Mainland. For example: in 2010/11, United Way invested approximately $6.1 million to support the development of children age 0-6, $5 million helping children age 6 to 12 and $3.4 million helping seniors remain independent and engaged in their community.  We also undertake research to get to the heart of the problem, and raise our voice to influence public attitudes, systems and policy.

What is the impact?
When you donate to United Way you ensure children in your community are growing up able to take advantage of opportunities and their families are empowered to help them succeed. Seniors are no longer isolated and are able to share their wisdom and experience with the rest of their community. In simple terms, the work United Way of the Lower Mainland does – preventing social issues, researching, planning, funding programs and services and evaluating who and how we are helping - has lasting impact. With your help, we are making the Lower Mainland stronger. Read more about the lives we help to improve.

How many people are helped by United Way?

Children 0- 6
United Way invested $6.1 million in a number of strategies to help parents, caregivers and their communities to provide nearly 36,000 children age 0-6 a good start in life. We also provided 35,000 caregivers and 26,000 families access to much needed supports, over 100,000 nutritious meals to young children in early childhood development programs, and secured housing for nearly 800 mothers and their children. Our investments in 100 organizations and over 200 programs included outreach for isolated families, family support centres, programs that promote positive parenting skills, early learning and care programs, and programs to help immigrant and newcomer children and families adjust to life in Canada.

Children 6-12
United Way invested approximately $5 million in 2010/2011 to support children age 6 to 12 and their families. In total, serving the needs of more than 53,000 school-age children and over 7,000 families in the Lower Mainland. This also included 5,000 volunteers to assist with youth programs and nearly 1,500 mentors and tutors to help children make the right choice. We invested in 71 organizations that used United Way funds to deliver 120 programs and initiatives for children age 6 to 12. These included after-school programs, mentoring and tutoring services, homework clubs, drop-in programs, targeted programs for immigrants and refugees and advocacy initiatives.

Seniors
United Way invested $3.4 million in 2010/11 to support seniors and their caregivers, in total serving the needs of nearly 22,000 seniors across the Lower Mainland. We also provided over 100,000 nutritious meals to vulnerable elderly people, and over 200 homeless or at risk seniors with places to live. We invested in 63 organizations that used United Way funds to deliver 108 programs and initiatives for seniors and their caregivers. These included outreach programs for isolated and immigrant seniors, resource/activity centres for seniors, housing initiatives, transportation programs, non-medical home support services, companionship programs, and caregiver support programs.

Does United Way measure results?
Yes. Regular research projects and outcome reports examine agency effectiveness in order to ensure programs are strong and have a positive impact on individuals and the community.  Regular meetings between United Way and agency Executive Directors help to ensure strong communication links and exchange of information. United Way also provides training and support to agencies to ensure programs are effective, efficient and accessible.

How does United Way know my dollars are used wisely?
United Way monitors the programs it funds to ensure your dollars are being well managed and used effectively. United Way's application process has high standards that each agency must meet prior to receiving funding. We work closely with agencies to understand how your donation is invested and the impact your gift makes in our community. United Way is then committed to communicating that information back to our donors. See our Fact Sheets and United Way dollars at work.

What is United Way’s fundraising and administration cost?
Efficiency matters. United Way of the Lower Mainland’s fundraising and administrative expenditures as a percentage of total revenue, is 10%. A substantial number of volunteers contribute a significant amount of their time and talents to United Way of the Lower Mainland each year. This volunteer support, along with generous corporate and individual sponsorship of materials and community events and prudent fiscal management, all contribute to us operating in an effective and efficient manner.

I would like to donate, how?
If you would like to donate online please donate now.
If you would like to donate by phone please call Bea Togher at 604.294.8929, ext. 2326
If you would like to run a United Way fundraising campaign at your place of work please contact Kameka Clarke today via e-mail or at 604.294.8929.

Is personal information from donors protected?
Yes. United Way of the Lower Mainland is committed to protecting the privacy of our donors, volunteers, employees and other stakeholders. We value the trust of those we deal with and of the public, and we recognize that maintaining this trust requires us to be transparent and accountable in maintaining the confidentiality of the personal information that you choose to share with us. 

United Way of the Lower Mainland embraces the principles of the Personal Information Protection Act to ensure that all personal information is properly collected, used only for the purposes for which it is collected, and is disposed of in a safe and timely manner when no longer required. For more information view our complete privacy policy.

I have a question that is not on here, who can I speak to?
Please click here to see contact details for United Way staff who will be happy to help you.