Give With Confidence: How United Way Protects Every Dollar Part of our process at United Way Wayne and Holmes with grant application management is to verify that all nonprofits or organizations applying for funding are in good standing. And part of that process is doing your research and due diligence. “Good standing” can be subjective, so we have a standard criteria that we follow, for organizations applying for funding. We verify that each organization must be: - “In Compliance” with the Ohio Attorney General - “Active” with the Ohio Secretary of State - Ranked on third party watch sites, Candid and Charity Navigator. Why is this important you ask?? During my first year of managing grants at UWWH, we had a local organization apply for funding. I did my due diligence, looking up their information on each of the above sites. The first red flag: the organization was NOT in compliance with the Ohio Attorney General. We get it, it happens, maybe there is a staffing change and the new manager of this information wasn’t passed the memo. BUT there were additional red flags. The second red flag: the organization name that was applying for funding did NOT match their Employer Identification Number (EIN) that was legally filed. This can happen when an organization changes their name, but they would still have to register as a “DBA” (Doing Business As). It is my job to make sure I’m looking into this. The third red flag and biggest red flag: the organization was applying for funding for transportation... and after digging deeper into the organization, I found out that this organization was breeding dogs and delivering them to people who purchased them as a fundraiser for the “organization.” I know, I know. Sounds crazy, but this is a TRUE STORY. We do not fund puppy delivery. THIS is why it is important for us to trust but verify. THIS is also why we encourage people to donate to United Way. We are verifying and vetting this information, so you can be sure the Wayne and Holmes County organizations we fund are doing the work they say, both efficiently and effectively. And if something doesn’t feel quite right, we check it out. By law (Ohio Charitable Trust Act and the Ohio Charitable Organizations Act), nonprofits must be registered with the Ohio Attorney General . The OAG is responsible for protecting charitable assets and donors. Annual registration State/Annual report must be submitted to keep “In Compliance” with the OAG. The Ohio Secretary of State is responsible for a nonprofit’s legal existence as a corporation, keeping information on the nonprofit’s legal name, statutory agent, & whether the organization is “Active” or dissolved. If a nonprofit becomes inactive or is canceled by the state, it can: - Lose eligibility for grants - Lose tax exemptions - Be unable to enter contracts or operate legally Rankings on third party watch sites provide additional resources that help verify each organization’s information. Candid collects and verifies data on U.S. nonprofits using IRS records (Form 990, 990‑EZ, 990‑PF), Federal and state compliance data, and direct reporting from nonprofits themselves. Candid shows whether a nonprofit: - Is currently recognized by the IRS as tax‑exempt - Has had its status revoked or reinstated - Eligibility to receive tax‑deductible donations Charity Navigator is another resource we use to verify information because it: - Helps as an additional financial screening and identifies governance red flags - Compares charities within the same cause area - Assesses accountability and transparency practices - Has information in one spot that helps makes quick, informed giving decisions Stories like this are exactly why our vetting process matters. It protects donors. It protects the community. And most importantly, it ensures that resources go to organizations in Holmes and Wayne Counties doing the work they promise to do.  When you give to United Way Wayne and Holmes, you can give with confidence. Join us in supporting programs that are accountable, transparent, and changing lives right here at home. Text WEHELP To 44-321 or go to https://secure.givelively.org/donate/united-way-of-wayne-and-holmes-counties-inc

One Flat Tire Away: The Reality for Working Families in Our Community By: Ashley Hershberger Around Holmes and Wayne Counties, people are doing what they’re supposed to do. They’re working. They’re showing up. They’re trying to get ahead. And still, far too many of our friends and neighbors are one flat tire, one home repair, or one unexpected bill away from falling behind . At United Way Wayne and Holmes Counties, we hear this story all the time… from families, employers, school staff, churches, and local businesses. The problem isn’t effort. It’s that when something goes wrong, there’s just not much wiggle room. Who Is ALICE? You might hear our team talk about ALICE . It sounds like data, but it’s really the people we know: coworkers, parents from ball practice, folks sitting next to us at church and our own family members. ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed . In plain terms: people who are working, but still can’t quite afford the basics. That includes things like housing, food, transportation, childcare, and healthcare. Here’s what that looks like in our community: Holmes County 31% of households are ALICE 9% live in poverty Wayne County 26% of households are ALICE 11% live in poverty That means 40% of households in Holmes County and 37% in Wayne County are living at or below the basic cost of living . These families aren’t avoiding work. Many are working full‑time, sometimes multiple jobs, and still making tough choices: Fix the car or pay the electric bill Buy groceries or fill a prescription Pay for childcare or turn down a better job That’s not bad decision‑making. That’s a math problem. What Household Survival Budgets Tell Us United Way uses Household Survival Budgets to understand what it actually costs to live. Not get ahead, not save… just cover the basics. When you add it all up (rent/mortgage, utilities, food, childcare, gas, healthcare, and taxes) a lot of working families simply don’t earn enough to keep up. Wages haven’t kept pace with real life costs, especially in areas like ours where getting to work often means getting in a car that you yourself are responsible for. That’s why so many hardworking people fall into the ALICE category, even while doing everything “right.” (See example budgets below)