The Westfield United Fund is Westfield's resource for human care. Since 1957, we have assisted our member agencies that fill a full spectrum of human needs for Westfielders by providing timely support for essential programs and services. Contributing to the Westfield United Fund, like contributing to no other organization, helps strengthen and vitalize the broadest range of people in the Westfield community. The Westfield United Fund is you; and people like you; who are actively engaged in Fund Raising, Budgeting, Public Relations, and Planning the largest volunteer effort in the community. It is local people raising local money to meet local needs, in a continuing effort to develop a teamwork approach for the needed human service in Westfield.
Who decides how much each agency gets? Who sets the goal?
An independent Fund Distribution Committee, made up of citizens representing you, the contributor, carefully studies and reviews the proposed budget for each member agency, and then makes recommendations of allocations to the Board of Trustees. The decision for allocations are based on necessary needs for specific programs and services rather than on an emotional appeal. You can be assured that your dollars are being spent in the most equitable manner possible and helping agencies with the greatest need. We take our responsibility to prudently distribute the contributions entrusted to the Westfield United Fund very seriously.
Who really benefits from the Westfield United Fund?
You do! Every citizen and businessperson in Westfield benefits. The affiliated agencies touch the lives of Westfielders in many ways, not only through direct aid to the individual in need, but by reflecting a constant concern for the development of the community as a whole. Many benefit directly (every 2 out of 3 Westfielders) and everyone benefits indirectly by making Westfield a better place in which to live and work.
You do! Your neighbors - people who know your community and its needs. They not only give their money, but volunteer their time and their services - they set goals, organize campaigns, solicit gifts, budget funds to agencies and provide community planning. A volunteer Board of Trustees manages it. Westfielders working for Westfielders.
The Westfield United Fund saves money wasted in individual campaigns; reduces the annoyance of separate drives; meets the most serious community needs first; conserves the time and talent of its volunteers; offers the opportunity to budget contributions over a year's time; encourages high standards of agency services; frees agency personnel to devote their full time to agency programs; and is the most economical, efficient approach to community fund raising yet devised.
We changed our name from the Westfield United Way to the Westfield United Fund because we left the United Way of America and can no longer use the United Way name.
The United Way of America is moving toward a more National and Global focus and we feel that our local community needs will be overlooked. As a local, independent organization we are able to continue to responsibly fund local agencies and assure our donors that their money is well spent.
How will this change affect your ability to raise and distribute funds?
We believe that our donors want to contribute to their community and that they will continue to donate as generously as they have in the past. As a local, independent organization we can assure them that their money is being allocated to local agencies that are effective at meeting the needs of people in our community.
Weren’t you previously an independent organization called The United Fund of Westfield? What made you join the United Way of America in the first place?
Yes, we were an independent organization from 1937 until 1975 when we joined the United Way of America. We broke ties with UWA in 1990 during a period of financial improprieties on their part. We rejoined them a decade later when those issues were behind them and we found that we were able to save money by utilizing the larger, national organization's computer systems and other resources.
Our mission has not changed! It is still to increase the organized capacity of people to care for one another by taking an active role in building a stronger community. We provide support for the essential programs and services offered by our local member agencies.
How much money has the United Way of Westfield distributed since its inception?
We have distributed over $25 million to the various member agencies since 1937. Because the Westfield United Fund is run almost entirely by volunteers, we are able to maintain very low administrative costs.
How do you know that the money is being spent wisely?
Fund Distribution volunteers complete a rigorous process to ensure that allocations are based on requirements for specific programs and services that support local individuals in need. Every year a committee of WUW Board members and Westfield residents ensures accountability by evaluating each Agency’s effectiveness in reaching objectives based on prior performance and the need for specific programs in the community.
Westfielders do! The Westfield United Fund employs only one full-time and two part-time staff. We have a volunteer Board of Trustees who manages it and we depend on over 300 local volunteers who are actively engaged in fund raising, budgeting, public relations and planning.
Why is the Westfield United Fund so valuable in our community?
We are able to provide a very economical and efficient approach to community fund raising because we combine the efforts of 19 member agencies into one larger drive. This frees agency personnel to devote their time to agency programs, allows the agencies to budget contributions over the year, encourages high standards of agency services, and meets the most serious community needs first.
The Westfield United Fund welcomes people who are interested in volunteering their time and skills. You can contact us at 908-233-2113 or through our website at www.WestfieldUnitedFund.org. Donations can also be made through the website.
