This letter is to express my full confidence in Trident United Way’s funding processes and decisions. As a citizen, current donor and former director (1996-2003) of an agency funded by United Way, I am familiar with their criteria for making decisions and their standards for providing funds to social service agencies.
Like so many of us today, I am careful about my charitable giving and I want to know that my dollars will make a difference and truly have an impact on the causes that I choose to support. I give through Trident United Way because they hold accountable the organizations they fund – accountability for how funds are managed and accountability for the demonstrated impact of the funds expended.
For the nonprofit agency, this means following sound and transparent business practices, establishing clear and measurable benchmarks for success, and communicating these practices and results to donors. I applaud Trident United Way for upholding high standards as a requirement for continued funding and for providing technical assistance and guidance to agencies for putting these practices into place.
The Charleston region is a caring community and it has been a pleasure to see Trident United Way increase its fundraising total each year even in these difficult times. Because of TUW’s requirement for accountability, the real beneficiary is a community that sees increased impact each year on those in need. Results do matter.
Sincerely,
Allen Wutzdorff
1052 Yorktown Drive
James Island