About Us

Our mission is to improve the lives of residents in the Coachella Valley by mobilizing the caring power of the community to address health and human care needs. This is accomplished by identifying the greatest human care needs of our residents, defining the programs and services needed to address the needs and achieve results, and conducting campaigns with an army of volunteers to fund these programs and services.

The 25 programs and services that rely heavily upon their funding from United Way are carefully screened. They are reviewed annually by United Way's budget and allocations committee, which makes funding recommendations based on several factors. The criteria includes 13 strict guidelines such as evidence of meeting a community need, maintaining high standards for agency management, showing proper maintenance of financial records, and operating at 20 percent or less for administrative costs. Funding from United Way is a large portion of the programs' total financial support -- in most cases, approximately 50 percent. In essence, these agencies could not afford to keep their doors open without the support of donations through United Way. The donations help the agencies focus on providing their critical programs and spend less time on individual agency fundraising.

Community Impact Agenda
United Way's Community Impact Agenda addresses key local community needs. The Community Impact Agenda is Youth Care: Preparing Youth to Succeed; Family and Emergency Care: Empowering People to Self-Sufficiency, Restoring Stability in Times of Trouble, and Strengthening Families; and Health Care: Providing Healthy Solutions.

Thousands of local families and individuals receive vital services from United Way agencies throughout the year. Some of the programs and services offered by the Community Impact Agenda are emergency rental and utility assistance; hot meals for the hungry; cancer treatment payment assistance; comprehensive youth development; programs to assist frail and homebound seniors; all-day child care; cancer out-patient services; emergency energy assistance; mental health counseling; parenting classes for building stronger families; and many more.

Source of Income/Donations
Donations are distributed as follows: 32 percent to YOUTH CARE, 19 percent to FAMILY AND EMERGENCY CARE, 11 percent to HEALTH CARE, 14 percent to United Way of the Desert managed programs, and 24 percent to DESIGNATIONS, TARGETED GRANTS, and EMERGENCY FUNDING. This reflects the needs of our particular community. All funds are used to support the needs of our local residents.

Contributions, gifts, grants and other income totaled $2 million for last year's 2007-2008 campaign year which ended in June 2008.

Foundation and corporate gifts made up thirteen (13) percent of the funds raised. Twenty-two (22) percent of the funds came through individual gifts and sixty-five (65) percent were raised through employee workplace campaigns (payroll deductions.) United Way of the Desert has an army of hundreds of local volunteers who give their precious time and talent each year to support the community.

Projects and Accomplishments
Through generous contributions and the many volunteers involved in the operation, United Way funded myriad programs that support the basic needs of desert residents. Despite a downtrend in overall fundraising for nonprofits nationwide, United Way has been able to sustain its fundraising capacity to support its Community Impact Agenda for the Coachella Valley.