Below are the most frequently asked questions about our programs, contributions and services.
What is the mission of Aloha United Way?
How much of the money I donate stays in Hawaii?
Why give to Aloha United Way when you can give directly to other agencies?
How are donations distributed?
What are Impact Councils?
What did my 2008 donation allow Aloha United Way to achieve in 2009?
Of the monies raised, what percentage goes to management?
Is my Aloha United Way contribution tax deductible?
Why should I give in a tough economy?
My question hasn't been answered. Who can I contact for further questions?
What is the mission of Aloha United Way?
Aloha United Way’s mission is to improve lives, motivate people to help others, increase resources to meet needs and inspire collective solutions to community problems.
How much of the money I donate stays in Hawaii?
One hundred percent (100 %) of your donation goes to support Hawaii non-profits.
Why give to Aloha United Way when you can give directly to other agencies?
Here are 10 reasons to give to Aloha United Way:
- Convenience
Online giving and the payroll deduction option available through most of our employee campaigns makes giving easy and convenient, enabling individuals to make a difference all year long. - Local Impact
Aloha United Way gives you the opportunity to be part of an important collective effort to address community problems. Funds are invested in pressing community issues that polls confirm are the most important health and human services issues in our community. - Accountability
Aloha United Way ensures the contributor that the network of local nonprofit partners we work with are spending donated dollars wisely through thorough financial and program delivery review by community volunteers. - Efficiency
Aloha United Way combines the fundraising needs of many nonprofit organizations into one community-wide effort. We use our network of resources to achieve greater results and reach a greater portion of our community. - Accessibility
Aloha United Way’s 211 Information and Referral Service hotline makes finding needed services easy. - Dependability
Aloha United Way funds agencies in three year increments, allowing agencies to budget and plan their services. The simplified application process allows agencies to focus on providing services and keep their overhead costs low. - Effectiveness
Aloha United Way funds agencies that provide services to those most in need and also to the “gap group” – those earning too much for government assistance and too little to be self-sufficient. - Deductibility
All gifts are tax deductible. - Diversity
Aloha United Way brings local citizens from all walks of life together, in the spirit of giving and through volunteerism, to create a more caring and responsive community. - Keeping It Local
Donations are raised locally and used locally to provide for the needs of citizens in our community.
How are donations distributed?
Funding to agencies comes in two streams.
- Impact Areas: Knowledgeable volunteers -on Impact Councils assess community needs and determine how these dollars are distributed to agencies.
- Donor Choice Designation Process: This year we have 97 partner agencies, 92 community support agencies/programs and 89 Neighbor Island agencies that are eligible for designations through our Donor Choice program. For the list of eligible agencies, please log onto our website at auw.org and click on “DONOR CHOICE DESIGNATION LIST.” Donors may also choose to designate their donations to impact areas, 211 or Volunteer Hawaii.
What are Impact Councils?
Impact Councils are comprised of knowledgeable community volunteers from all sectors who meet and consider our community’s most difficult challenges. They are responsible for the complete management of the funding and advocacy in their impact area
What did my 2008 donation allow Aloha United Way to achieve in 2009?
Thanks to donors like you, your 2008 gift allowed Aloha United Way and its partner agencies to achieve the following in 2009:
- Early Childhood Development
– Screened over 600 children (and target to triple that number in 2010). - Financial Stability and Independence
– Helped 419 potential drop outs complete their high school education or equivalent. - Homelessness
– Provided medical care for over 7,000 homeless or uninsured residents. - Emergency and Crisis Services
– Helped provide over 187,000 meals to those in need.
– Assisted 336 adults and 303 children in their escape from domestic violence situations.
Of the monies raised, what percentage goes to management?
As an organization in the business of community impact we incur costs for fundraising, marketing and common business operations such as accounting, human resources and overall organizational management.
As careful stewards of our investors' contributions to the community, we aim to operate with the utmost efficiency and effectiveness.
Only 8.8% is spent on fundraising and 8.3% on administrative costs, while 82.9% is invested in programs and allocations to agencies that improve lives and deliver results that matter to the community.
Our overhead is well below the national average: The Better Business Bureau and National Charities Information Bureau guidelines suggest fundraising costs should not exceed 35% and total fundraising and administrative costs should not exceed 50% of total income.
Is my Aloha United Way contribution tax deductible?
Yes. Your contribution is tax deductible if you itemize your contributions.
Why should I give in a tough economy?
The needs are increasing for so many individuals and families and that increase is stretching the limits of our local nonprofit community services network. It is critical that those of us who can support the community do so.
My question hasn't been answered. Who can I contact for further questions?
If you need additional information not on our website, please contact Aloha United Way at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
- Campaign (workplace campaigns, forms, packet pick-ups, etc.)
Campaign Department, 543-2239 - Community Building (Agency allocations, designations, impact funding, etc.)
Norm Baker, VP, Community Building, 543-2202 - Finances (tax receipts, deductions, etc.)
Stacie Perreira, AVP, 543-2219 - Marketing and Communications (logo usage, events, public relations, etc.)
Jody Shiroma Perreira, VP, Marketing/Communications, 543-2203