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What Sets Us
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Financial
Accountability
Just For Youth
Organizational
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Financial Accountability of United Way of Tompkins County
It is a common misconception that United Ways across the country are local chapters of United Way of America. In fact, United Way of Tompkins County is one of 1,400 United Ways nationwide. Each is independently incorporated and entirely governed by local volunteers. The money raised in each of these communities is for local programs in that area. United Way of America is a trade association. Fourteen hundred local United Ways across the United States, including United Way of Tompkins County, are members of United Way of America. United Way of America provides training and research to its members, however, they have no governing powers of any kind over local United Ways.
We want to share with you some of the many safeguards that are in place at United Way of Tompkins County (UWTC), which insure that contributions safely reach the donors' intended destination.
The UWTC Personnel and Finance Committee is made up of the following volunteers:
- Carl Sgrecci, Ithaca College, Personnel and Finance Committee Chair and Treasurer, UWTC
- Maryanne Banks, Tompkins County Dept. of Social Services
- Jerry Goodenough, AES Cayuga
- John Nozell, Cornell University
- Peter Salmon, International Food Network
- Roger Sibley, Franziska Racker Centers
- Leo Tohill, The CBORD Group, Inc.
Personnel and Finance Committee members review monthly financial activity. As a matter of procedure, all checks require two signatures. Either the Treasurer or Chair of the Board must provide one of the signatures for all checks over $2,500 for payments other than allocations or designations.
The full Board of Directors, who meet ten times a year, receives a financial status report at each of their meetings.
James Brown, President and Sally Lovell, Finance Director, have regular and frequent contact with Personnel and Finance Committee members. UWTC staff is authorized and expected to contact appropriate staff and volunteer leadership should they have concerns regarding UWTC financial transactions. No UWTC staff member is authorized to make policy decisions of any kind, or financial decisions that are outside of the annual budget. The Personnel and Finance Committee and the entire Board of Directors approve the budget each year.
Through volunteer and staff oversight, and the investments of Corporate Cornerstone Companies, over $.90 of every contributed dollar goes to support important programs and services. Every year as part of its administrative expense, UWTC contracts with a reputable local accounting firm to conduct a certified audit. In 2006 the audit is performed by Sciarabba Walker & Company. The Personnel and Finance Committee and the Board of Directors each schedule a presentation of the final audit. A copy of the full audit is available for any donor at the UWTC offices.
We are confident that extensive safeguards currently exist to insure the safety of the generous contributions made to United Way of Tompkins County. We know that trust can never be assumed – it is earned every single day. At United Way of Tompkins County, we are working to earn and to maintain the trust extended to us by our donors.
Roger Sibley , Chair
UWTC Board of Directors |
Carl Sgrecci , Treasurer
UWTC Personnel and
Finance Committee |
James Brown,
President
UWTC |
Note: United Way of Tompkins County changed its fiscal year in 2003 from a calendar year to one that rotates April 1 – March 31.
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