One Flat Tire Away: The Reality For Working Families in Our Community

Give With Confidence: How United Way Protects Every Dollar Part of our process at United Way Wayne and Holmes with grant application management is to verify that all nonprofits or organizations applying for funding are in good standing. And part of that process is doing your research and due diligence. “Good standing” can be subjective, so we have a standard criteria that we follow, for organizations applying for funding. We verify that each organization must be: - “In Compliance” with the Ohio Attorney General - “Active” with the Ohio Secretary of State - Ranked on third party watch sites, Candid and Charity Navigator. Why is this important you ask?? During my first year of managing grants at UWWH, we had a local organization apply for funding. I did my due diligence, looking up their information on each of the above sites. The first red flag: the organization was NOT in compliance with the Ohio Attorney General. We get it, it happens, maybe there is a staffing change and the new manager of this information wasn’t passed the memo. BUT there were additional red flags. The second red flag: the organization name that was applying for funding did NOT match their Employer Identification Number (EIN) that was legally filed. This can happen when an organization changes their name, but they would still have to register as a “DBA” (Doing Business As). It is my job to make sure I’m looking into this. The third red flag and biggest red flag: the organization was applying for funding for transportation... and after digging deeper into the organization, I found out that this organization was breeding dogs and delivering them to people who purchased them as a fundraiser for the “organization.” I know, I know. Sounds crazy, but this is a TRUE STORY. We do not fund puppy delivery. THIS is why it is important for us to trust but verify. THIS is also why we encourage people to donate to United Way. We are verifying and vetting this information, so you can be sure the Wayne and Holmes County organizations we fund are doing the work they say, both efficiently and effectively. And if something doesn’t feel quite right, we check it out. By law (Ohio Charitable Trust Act and the Ohio Charitable Organizations Act), nonprofits must be registered with the Ohio Attorney General . The OAG is responsible for protecting charitable assets and donors. Annual registration State/Annual report must be submitted to keep “In Compliance” with the OAG. The Ohio Secretary of State is responsible for a nonprofit’s legal existence as a corporation, keeping information on the nonprofit’s legal name, statutory agent, & whether the organization is “Active” or dissolved. If a nonprofit becomes inactive or is canceled by the state, it can: - Lose eligibility for grants - Lose tax exemptions - Be unable to enter contracts or operate legally Rankings on third party watch sites provide additional resources that help verify each organization’s information. Candid collects and verifies data on U.S. nonprofits using IRS records (Form 990, 990‑EZ, 990‑PF), Federal and state compliance data, and direct reporting from nonprofits themselves. Candid shows whether a nonprofit: - Is currently recognized by the IRS as tax‑exempt - Has had its status revoked or reinstated - Eligibility to receive tax‑deductible donations Charity Navigator is another resource we use to verify information because it: - Helps as an additional financial screening and identifies governance red flags - Compares charities within the same cause area - Assesses accountability and transparency practices - Has information in one spot that helps makes quick, informed giving decisions Stories like this are exactly why our vetting process matters. It protects donors. It protects the community. And most importantly, it ensures that resources go to organizations in Holmes and Wayne Counties doing the work they promise to do.  When you give to United Way Wayne and Holmes, you can give with confidence. Join us in supporting programs that are accountable, transparent, and changing lives right here at home. Text WEHELP To 44-321 or go to https://secure.givelively.org/donate/united-way-of-wayne-and-holmes-counties-inc

The Day Off That Opened My Eyes I took the day off to chaperone my son’s Kindergarten field trip: fun, sweet, and honestly pretty exhausting. After dropping him back at school, I ran to the grocery store. At the checkout, the cashier asked how my day was going. I laughed and told her I was a little tired from keeping up with a group of five-year-olds all day at the field trip. She smiled and said she understood. She had recently retired from a local school district, and then she shared something that made me pause. Despite having worked all those years, she couldn’t afford to stay retired. She was still too young for Medicare, and health insurance premiums were simply unaffordable without additional income. Even with Social Security survivor benefits from her late husband, she was struggling to get by. So, she returned to the workforce. And she’s not alone. Far too many older adults are finding themselves in similar positions: forced back into work not because they want to, but because our systems leave them with no choice. Rising healthcare costs, gaps before Medicare eligibility, and limited fixed incomes mean many retirees simply cannot cover their basic needs. This wasn’t just a conversation in a grocery store checkout line. It was a reminder that the people who spent decades serving our communities, teaching, caregiving, supporting essential services, often face their own unseen challenges. We can do better. We have to do better. If this story resonates with you, here are a few meaningful ways you can help create change: 1. Support organizations helping older adults access healthcare and financial stability. United Way Wayne and Holmes partners with dozens of local nonprofits to support seniors who have nowhere else to turn. 2. Advocate for policies that protect affordable healthcare, strengthen Social Security, and support aging with dignity. Your voice truly matters. 3. Check in on retirees in your life. A simple “How are you really doing?” can make all the difference. 4. Get involved. Volunteer, donate, or share this message. Every action counts! Our older adults deserve more than scraping by. They deserve dignity, stability, and the ability to enjoy the retirement they worked for. Let’s work together to make that a reality.  For information about how to donate to help our Older Adults in Wayne and Holmes, go to uwwh.org, email us at info@uwwh.org or call (330) 264-5576.