Financials and Policies

Thanks to the generosity of our Cornerstone Partners, who cover the large majority of United Way’s administrative and fundraising costs, 96.5 cents of every dollar you give will be directed to the specific fund, program, or agency of your choice. Less than four cents of every dollar is used to help pay for the remainder of United Way’s administrative and processing costs not covered by Cornerstone Partners.

3.5% reserved to cover administrative costs is considerably lower than the average administrative costs assessments by other nonprofits in our community and across the county. There are many articles and studies on the topic, with administrative cost rates on average that range between 10 and 20%. We are grateful to the generous support of our Cornerstone Partners who enable us to keep that percentage on the very low end of the spectrum.

We understand that providing support of administrative costs is not what donors seek to achieve with their donations. We appreciate that donors typically understand that there are costs of doing business, including fund raising, gift processing, communications, and the necessary financial and technical systems to make sure their gifts are managed well. Our initiatives, programs, and other community impact work simply could not happen without a talented, dedicated, and creative staff and the infrastructure to support them.

• Due to a special agreement with the companies, there will be no administrative costs assessed on any Intel, Century Link or Kaiser Permanente employee gifts.
• Due to a special agreement with Combined Federal Campaign, Colorado Combined Campaign, United Way of Weld County, and Foothills United Way, there will be no administrative costs assessed on designations to these organizations.
• Administrative costs are not assessed on sponsorships, program grants, program service fee revenue, and in-kind revenue.

United Way of Larimer County recognizes the generosity of leadership donors in our annual report. The following is our recognition policy:

All requests in the “Annual Report Recognition Listing” section of the pledge form will be honored.

If the donor does not complete the “Annual Report Recognition Listing” section of the pledge form, his or her name will be listed exactly as it appears at the top of this pledge form.

All leadership donors must fill in the “Please list my/our names as follows” lines if they would like their names to appear differently than it appears at the top of the pledge form. This includes all donors who would like the listing to include their spouse’s names. Indicating that a gift is in combination with another donor is not an indication of the donor’s recognition listing.

All leadership donors will be listed unless they check the “Please do not list my name” checkbox in the “Leadership Donor” section of this pledge form.

A request from either donor to have both names listed together will override a request to be listed separately. In other words, if either donor in a combined giver relationship requests to be listed with the other combined giver, both names will be listed together.

Privacy Policy FAQ

We here at United Way of Larimer County recognize the importance of protecting the information we collect.

The following information concerning the gathering and use of data is being provided to enable you to make informed decisions about whether to provide information, and to give you the opportunity to limit the manner in which data is used.

What information do we collect and how do we use it?

United Way of Larimer County collects personal information from donors, volunteers, and event attendees. The information we collect may include: name, address, phone number, email address, donation amount, age, event attendance, and interests.

United Way of Larimer County may use your information for communications to notify you of upcoming events, the impact of your charitable gift or volunteer experience, organization newsletters, and other general information relating to United Way of Larimer County.

For the purposes of executing a donation transaction, we may collect your credit card or bank account information. Protecting this information is a top priority for United Way of Larimer County. As such, United Way of Larimer County utilizes a Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliant processing system, and we regularly review our procedures and systems for compliance with federal regulations and Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards. 

Please see “Can I opt out of communications from United Way of Larimer County?” for further information regarding cancellation of communication and use of your information.

How are third-party processors utilized?

United Way of Larimer County may utilize a third-party service provider to collect donations. These third-party service providers may collect your bank or credit card information to process a transaction, and that information is not passed on to United Way of Larimer County. All third-party processors utilized by United Way of Larimer County conform to security industry standards for online contributions.

Does United Way of Larimer County sell or share donor information and names with other organizations?

United Way of Larimer County takes precautions to keep donor and constituent information disclosed to us secure. We will not disclose, sell, share, trade or rent any personally identifiable data collected. United Way of Larimer County will not send any donor mailings on behalf of other organizations. To prevent unauthorized access, maintain data accuracy, and to ensure the appropriate use of information, we have put in place appropriate physical, electronic, and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect.

United Way of Larimer County will only release personally identifiable data about you when required by law or to comply with valid legal processes such as a search warrant, subpoena, or court order.

Can I opt out of communications from United Way of Larimer County?

Yes, you can! If donors and constituents tell us that they do not wish to have their personal information used as a basis for further contact, we will respect those wishes. If donors or volunteers wish to review or correct their personal information we have collected, or to request removal from our contact list, call United Way of Larimer County’s main office at 970-407-7000 or email office@uwaylc.org.

Any opt-outs from e-newsletters and other mailings will be processed as soon as possible. However, you may receive further communications from us while we process your request. We appreciate your patience and understand.  

Privacy and Website Usage

Using Google Analytics, United Way of Larimer County tracks non-identifying website visitor information, such as the number of visitors, new vs. returning visitors, pages visited, length of page view, etc. This information is used to improve our website, content, and the user experience.

Our website also uses cookies. Cookies are pieces of information stored in your browser, and are used industry-wide. They are not software and cannot alter your computer or files in any way, but are used to improve user experience, and do things like store your passwords for future use. If you do not want to use cookies with our website, you can modify your browsers settings to reject cookies.

All donations made through our website are processed through a secure connection using HTTPS SSL protocol to ensure the confidentiality of donor information. This is the industry standard for receiving donor information in a secure way.

Modification of privacy policy

United Way of Larimer County will maintain and revise this privacy policy at any time, and will post any revisions to this page. Site visitors continued use of our site provides consent to this policy.

How do I contact United Way of Larimer County?

Phone: 970.407.7000
Email: office@uwaylc.org
Mail or Visitation: 424 Pine Street Suite 102, Fort Collins, CO 80524
Fax: 970.407.7099

GENERAL TAX RECEIPTS

• United Way of Larimer County will automatically issue tax receipts to individual donors who contribute verifiable cash equivalent amounts of $250.00 or more and did not receive goods or services
• Tax receipts will be mailed no later than mid February for donor contributions.
• Cash equivalent or payment methods include cash, check, ACH, stock, credit card, and some payroll.  In order for United Way to issue a tax receipt to a donor, payroll payments must be accompanied by employee detail from the employer.
• A donor may contact the Support Department to request a tax receipt, duplicate tax receipt, or address questions at any time in the year regardless of contribution amount.  Payment must be verified prior to issue and 24 hours notice is required.
• A tax receipt cannot be issued for special event or sponsorship contributions.  United Way cannot verify that the donor did not receive any goods or services in return for a contribution.

Alexis de Tocqueville Society

• United Way of Larimer County will automatically issue tax receipts to all Alexis de Tocqueville Society members who contribute all verifiable cash equivalent amounts and did not receive goods or services.
• Tax receipts will be mailed no later than mid February for all donor contributions.
• Cash equivalent or payments methods include cash, check, ACH, stock, credit card, and some payroll.  In order for United Way to issue a tax receipt to a donor, payroll payments must be accompanied by employee detail from the employer.
• A donor may contact the Support Department to request a tax receipt, duplicate tax receipt, or address questions at any time in the year regardless of contribution amount.  Payment must be verified prior to issue and 24 hours notice is required.
• A tax receipt cannot automatically be issued for special event or sponsorship contributions.  United Way cannot verify that the donor did not receive any goods or services in return for a contribution. Upon request by donor for a receipt and verified documentation has been approved, a tax receipt will be issued.  

COLORADO CHILD CARE CONTRIBUTION TAX CREDIT CERTIFICATION

• United Way of Larimer County will automatically issue Child Care Contribution Tax Credit Certifications – DR1317 – to individual donors for verifiable amounts contributed and designated to the following Colorado qualifying child care programs:
  • United Way of Larimer County Child Care Fund
  • Eligible Agencies/Programs of funded agencies of United Way of Larimer County
• Donors who wish to receive a DR1317 for designations to other qualifying programs in Colorado must notify United Way that the program is eligible.  United Way will verify eligibility and must receive evidence from the qualifying program.  Evidence of eligibility includes:
  • A Permanent Child Care License, with current eligibility documentation provided by the Colorado Department of Human Services, or
  • A Colorado Department of Revenue certification letter indicating your program’s eligibility and DOR registration number.
• Certifications will be mailed no later than mid February for all donor contributions.
• In-Kind contributions of property and stock do not qualify for the credit.
• In order for United Way to issue a certification to a payroll donor, payroll payments must be accompanied by employee detail from the employer.
• A donor may contact the Support Department to request a DR1317 or duplicate DR1317 at any time in the year regardless of contribution amount.  Payment and designation to qualifying child care program must be verified prior to issue and 3 days notice is required.

COLORADO ENTERPRISE ZONE TAX CREDIT

• United Way of Larimer County will send donor contribution information to the state for amounts contributed and designated to the following Colorado qualifying Enterprise Zone Projects associated with United Way of Larimer County;
  • United Way of Larimer County 2-1-1
• The state will issue a certification to the donor at time of contribution.
• United Way cannot submit contribution information if the donation comes through United Way to other programs that are also approved Enterprise Zone Projects/Agencies a State Enterprise Zone tax credit.  Those qualified agencies must issue the credit for those donors. 

IRS AND COLORADO STATE INFORMATION

• The IRS does not require charities to issue receipts for contributions, but they do require donors to be able to substantiate all contributions in order to take a deduction.  United Way automatically distributes tax receipts to donors as a service to the donor.
• Documentation to substantiate a contribution must indicate:
  • The name of the qualified organization
  • The calendar year of the contribution
  • The amount of the contribution
• For cash, check, ACH, or credit card donations a bank record or statement, canceled check, or credit card statement is sufficient proof because it contains the three points of information required by the IRS.  Otherwise, a written tax receipt is sufficient documentation.
• For payroll a pay stub, W-2, or other employer furnished document and Pledge Card is sufficient documentation for the donor.  Otherwise, a written tax receipt is sufficient documentation.
• When a donor makes a monetary contribution to a Colorado qualifying child care program, they may claim an income tax credit of 50% of the total contribution.
• When a donor makes a direct monetary contribution to a Colorado qualifying enterprise zone, they may claim an income tax-credit of 25% of the total contribution.