FAQ

Our mission is to promote a culture of philanthropy and to convene stakeholders to achieve measurable community improvement. That means we bring people together to decide what needs improvement in our community. Using an army of volunteers, we gather people’s time and money to create local solutions to human problems that affect us all. At the same time we make it easy for people to give to the causes and nonprofits that matter to them.

 

Giving is a personal decision. You should give your donations where you feel it will be put to the best use. We would like you to consider a donation to United Way of Southwest New Mexico’s Community Impact Fund.

 

There are compelling reasons why a gift to the Community Impact Fund is the best way to help the most people. Through payroll deduction you can give more throughout the year than you could give at one time.

You want your money to go where it will do the most good. Every human service agency relies on other agencies. No one agency stands completely alone. United Way is the only way to make sure that a network of quality human services exists for the people, right here in southwest New Mexico, who are trying to change their lives for the better. We call it the Community Impact Fund. We believe that if you examine all of the alternatives, you will choose to give some or all of your gift to the Community Impact Fund.

 

Donors decide. Each year dedicated volunteers provide a rigorous, informed, and fair review for programs that seek United Way funding. Programs are examined for need, for efficiency and effectiveness, and for financial accountability. This process, unique to United Way, provides quality assurance on behalf of all donors. Any donor is welcome to participate on the Community Investment Team. You could be one of those volunteers by calling 575.524.7561 for more information.

 

The money raised here stays here. All of the money given to UWSWNM’s Community Impact Fund stays in Dona Ana, Luna, Grant, Sierra and Hidalgo Counties.

 

Payroll deduction makes it easy. Payroll deduction makes it possible for each of us to give a little at a time. By sharing a little bit of each paycheck each one of us can give much more than we could if we had to do it all at once. United Way accepts many forms of payment including credit cards, bill for payment, checks, and cash. 

 

Open funding process: All nonprofit, human service organizations in southwest New Mexico are eligible to apply for funding, given monies are raised in the designated county.

Volunteers decide. Each year dedicated local volunteers review agencies who have applied for United Way funding. Their reports and recommendations are the basis for United Way Community Impact Fund Grants. Any donor is welcome to participate on the Community Investment Team. Call 575.524.7561 for further information.

Call 211 from any phone to access information and referral services in southwest New Mexico. 

We have the utmost respect for your privacy. Our privacy policy is simple and straightforward: Any information you provide to United Way of Southwest New Mexico, through this site or any other means, will remain private and will not be shared with any other company or organization unless you specifically give us permission to do so.

United Way of Southwest New Mexico is, and always has been, a local organization. In fact, all local United Way's across the US are local organizations run by local volunteers. For each of those 1,200 United Ways, United Way Worldwide serves as a trade association. It is similar to a teachers association, plumbers association, or a medical association. United Way Worldwide provides us with training opportunities, research information and national advertising. For these services we pay them a membership fee. United Way Worldwide has no administrative control over United Way of Southwest New Mexico, nor do we control what they do. We are NOT a local chapter of a national organization. We are a local organization.

United Way helps people from all walks of life. Many of us mistakenly believe that charitable giving is designed to help only the poorest people in our community. While poverty makes most problems worse, low income people are not the only people who need help. Domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse, disabilities and illness know no geographic or economic boundaries. The loss of a job or a serious accident or illness could put any one of us at risk. In fact, tens of thousands of southwest New Mexicans are already using services funded by United Way Community Impact Fund. That means even if you haven't used these services, someone you know has. In America, even more so than in other countries, we help our neighbors.

Most problems that people encounter can be addressed by local agencies. People who call us are connected to our in-house Information & Referral Service called "United Way 211." We are the best source of information on where and how to get help. We maintain information on most human services in southwest New Mexico whether or not they receive United Way funding. However, sometimes people ask for services that do not exist here in southwest New Mexico. Often that is because of inadequate funding. When there is a limited amount of money to go around, we need to make sure that core services are funded first. Sometimes that means some needs go unmet. In most situations, help is available.

No. We do not. Our task is to bring people together around the work of helping the vulnerable people who live here. There are many places in our great country for debate on controversial issues. UWSWNM is not one of them. Donors can designate their gifts to any nonprofit of their choice, thereby voting with their dollars. The Community Impact Fund is a shared pool of donations focused on helping local people in harm’s way. Controversy would diminish that pool of funds.

United Way of Southwest New Mexico and agencies receiving UWSWNM Community Impact Fund dollars must adhere to laws which provide equal opportunities to all persons regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability, veteran status, citizenship status or any other protected classification. These laws require equal treatment of employees in recruiting, hiring, training, advancement, compensation, benefits or any other conditions of employment. In addition, the spirit of these laws extends to program services funded by United Way of Southwest New Mexico's Community Impact Fund.

United Way exists to raise awareness and distribute funds to help solve human problems in our community. There are people in this community who are hungry, homeless, disabled, illiterate, battered or neglected. While we regret that there are animals who are also mistreated and environmental issues that need attention that is not our primary mission. As a United Way donor, you can designate your gift to any 501(c) 3 organization.