A United Way and its Agencies Face Gaps in Funding and Trust

The Sioux Empire United Way (SEUW) has been uncommonly successful in raising funds to benefit the programs it supports. Based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, it has tripled its campaign in the past two decades while the aggregate national fundraising totals for all United Way chapters have stagnated. Winding up its 2018 campaign and awaiting one more corporate commitment to make 100 percent of its $10.3 million goal, SEUW anticipates distributing almost $8 million of those funds in 2018 to about 60 agencies providing services through about 90 supported programs. “We fund the gap,” said Jay Powell, Sioux Empire United Way’s president. Assuming leadership in 1999, he said that his organization sees itself as the funder of last resort for agencies unable to balance their program budgets while serving people in need. Many donors and non-profits would find this characterization surprising. The Sioux Falls chapter was founded in 1929 and remains emblematic of the United Way brand’s reputation for attracting the local business elite to coordinate corporate and employee giving and target it to address charitable needs identified by its 869 volunteers and 11 staff (2016 figures). Such longevity and resources would typically imply a less “immediate need”–focused philosophy of support.