Accountability

The River Region United Way Board of Directors, staff and other professional volunteers with expertise in financial management and governance have established fiscal controls to ensure the highest level of accountability in our operations.

We believe we have a responsibility, both to our donors and to our community, to ensure that the dollars people entrust to River Region United Way are invested in ways that will produce the greatest measurable impact on lives, enabling our region to thrive. That responsibility is spelled out in our Donors Bill of Rights.

Our investment strategy unites our network of affiliate agencies under a set of shared goals and ties our funding to the achievement of specific measurements, increasing the likelihood of driving substantial change in our region.

River Region United Way rigorously studies, personally inspects and re-qualifies each organization it supports — every year. Our staff and dozens of volunteer experts in our community evaluate and assist funded agencies in delivering services effectively and efficiently — by offering technical assistance and training; fiscal management and operations guidance; volunteer and board member recruitment, and much more.

We take the business of investing and managing your gift very seriously. Our performance exceeds Better Business Bureau guidelines, due to stringent cost controls and the dedication of thousands of volunteers. Our annual administrative and fundraising costs are consistent with the average overhead of United Ways of similar size throughout the country. Our low overhead compares favorably to the suggested Better Business Bureau's recommendation and ensures that the vast majority of your money goes to people in need.

Code of Ethics: River Region United Way has adopted a code of ethics and is committed to operating at the highest ethical standards, including complying with generally accepted accounting principles, providing full and fair disclosure of all relevant information, and spending donor money efficiently, objectively and honestly.

Annual independent audit: River Region United Way annually submits to an independent financial audit and has consistently received an unqualified letter (often referred to as a clean opinion letter). Appropriate accounting safeguards are in place to ensure that no one employee has access to both physical assets and the related accounting records or to all phases of transaction. Internal control procedures are regularly reviewed by United Way auditors and Finance Committee members.

Board of Directors: The River Region United Way Board of Directors meets no less than six times per year and discusses and approves financial statements at every meeting.

Finance Committee: The Finance Committee, comprised of community members with specialized and significant experience in nonprofits, banking, public accounting and investing, review and monitor the day to day fiscal operations of River Region United Way, including reviewing the budget and annual audit. These volunteers meet at least four times a year.

Investment Committee: The Investment Committee, comprised of volunteers with expertise in financial planning and investments, meet at least four times a year to review and monitor all investments of River Region United Way.

Conflict of Interest: All board members annually sign a conflict of interest policy requiring them to disclose if they or someone related to them would benefit from any decisions made by the River Region United Way Board of Directors.

Please review our most recent Financial Reports

2012 River Region United Way Annual Report

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