About Us United Way
Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative is a proud sponsor of the United Way. Our company and employees donate monies to the many different charitable organizations that reach out into the communities we serve.As the nation’s leading community solutions provider, United Way invests in and activates the resources to make the greatest possible impact in communities across America. The United Way movement includes approximately 1,400 community-based United Way organizations. Each is independent, separately incorporated and governed by local volunteers.
United Way brings communities together to focus on the most important needs in the community -- building partnerships, forging consensus and leveraging resources to make a measurable difference.
In 2004-2005, United Way annual campaigns reached $3.86 billion, making it the nation's single largest private charity.
United Ways ensures that each organization in which they invest is a non-profit, tax-exempt charity governed by volunteers, and that it submits to an annual, independent financial audit; provides services at a reasonable cost; and maintains a policy of non-discrimination.
A vast network of volunteers and the simplicity of corporate payroll deduction keep administrative expenses low -– averaging 13 percent of all funds raised at the largest United Way. This figure compares favorably with the suggested Better Business Bureau guidelines of up to 35 percent.
United Way of America is the national organization dedicated to leading the United Way movement making measurable impact in every community across America. It invests in the programs and services that strengthen the ability of local United Way organization to identify and build a coalition around us of community priorities and measure success based on community impact.
National leadership: United Way of America invests in the programs and services that strengthen the ability of the local United Way to identify and build a coalition around a set of community priorities and measure success based on community impact.
Public policy: United Way of America works with Congress and the Administration to promote policies and programs that activate national resources to address local priorities.
Membership support: United Way of America supports its members with services that include national brand advertising, the NFL partnership, training, public relations, research, and management of relationships with national corporate and philanthropic partners.
Governance and structure: A volunteer board consisting of 45 members governs United Way of America. The national center does not raise or distribute funds. The first national service center was established in 1918.
For more information about United Way, please click here.
