Frequently Asked Questions for Donor Designation Eligible Agencies (Local Campaign)
What is the role of my agency’s donor designation contact? The agency contact is the only agency representative that will receive emails and notifications concerning pledges and payments and will have access to United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes online agency portal. The portal is a secure website for your agency to get information about the campaign and to run donor and payment information reports. Donor reports are available throughout the year on the portal. Please use the donor reports to thank your donors.
A donor told me that he/she designated a gift to our organization but their name is not on the donor list. Why not? Your donor may have requested to be anonymous and therefore does not appear on the listing. It is possible that the pledge has not been entered yet, so it would not appear on the agency portal. If the campaign is run outside our area, they are being designated through another United Way. These designations are paid directly to the agencies from the out-of-the-area United Way.
Will my agency need to re-certify? Yes. Biennially, United Way asks agencies to submit re-certification paperwork. Agencies failing to re-certify will be removed as donor designation agencies. To expedite this process, we initiate re-certification through email. If we do not receive a response via email, the re-certification paperwork will be mailed to your agency. The next re-certification will begin in the Fall of 2025. Also, all agencies are continuously monitored for 501(c)(3) eligibility and will be contacted if their status changes.
When does United Way of Greater Rochester’s campaign run? Our workplace campaigns are on a calendar year basis. The 2025 campaign runs from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025.
Can my organization use the United Way logo in our materials? We encourage you to do so! Access our logo and branding guidelines or email our Marketing & Communications department at marcomm@unitedwayrocflx.org for additional ways to elevate our collective brands. Also, be sure to include your donor designation number in your fundraising materials!
How is my organization paid for the designations made by donors throughout the campaign? Payments for the 2024 campaign will begin on January 10, 2025 and quarterly thereafter. If your total designation is less than $2,000, then a net lump sum payment will be made on 1/10/25.
What fees are associated with participating in donor options? There are two fees associated with participating in the donor designation program at United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes:
- Agencies receiving designated gifts through the campaign agree to pay 8% from the total amount raised to help defer fundraising costs, the cost of soliciting, and processing of the designation.
- There is also a pledge loss fee, which is a reserve for pledges that will not be collected from donors. The amount is based on historical loss including an average of the past three years' actual pledge loss.
Whom should I contact at United Way with questions? Questions should be directed to donorchoice@unitedwayrocflx.org or phone (585) 242-6534