A new plan to secure funding for overhead costs of United Way of the Columbia-Willamette was recently unveiled, and its sole Southwest Washington partner has been a key player in its launch.
United Way could not disclose the amount given by each partner, but said that Bank of Clark County tripled its overall giving when it came on board. Michael Worthy, the bank’s president and CEO, is a member of the local United Way board and co-chairman of its Cornerstone Partnership Committee with Diana Daggett, Intel’s Americas region manager of public affairs.
Other local Cornerstone Partners are Bank of America, Freightliner, Northwest Natural, The Oregonian, Providence Health and Services, Regence BlueCross BlueShield, Tektronix, U.S. Bank, Wells Fargo, Comcast, Farwest Fibers, KeyBank and Pacific Power.
The Cornerstone Partners program has helped the local United Way chapter secure its entire $3.4 million overhead budget.
In the midst of its fall workplace contribution campaign, the local United Way is the first in the Northwest to launch this kind of partnership program. It uses corporate gifts to help underwrite overhead costs, leaving 100 percent of individuals’ donations to benefit community programs more directly.
“Many folks in the community are reluctant to give to United Way if part of their contribution goes toward overhead costs,” said Maileen Hamto, senior communications manager at the local chapter.
This program model has helped boost individual giving in similar-sized communities in 14 states including Utah, New Mexico and Colorado.
United Way of the Columbia-Willamette invests donations in health and human services in Clark, Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties.
