Non-profit United Way reported a 4% dip in its national revenue last year, but it saw pockets of growth in areas where the organization had to respond to local crises.
Overall donations for the organization’s 1,164 affiliates hit $3.7 billion as of the 2015 fiscal year, which is around 4% less than the $3.9 billion posted in the previous year.
Still, chapters responding to local crises posted high revenue growth.
In San Bernardino, California, Arrowhead United Way was able to rally triple the support from the previous year from $1.6 million to $4.6 million in response to a terrorist shooting in December.
Also, Greater Douglas United Way noted an upswing in recent year growing from more than half a million dollars in support in fiscal year 2011 to more than $1 million last year. Fundraising efforts were undertaken to respond to the October 2015 shooting in Umpqua Community College, in which eight victims were killed.
United Way of Genesee County also rose to the occasion during the Flint, Michigan water crisis with support growing by almost 100% from $4.2 million to $8.2 million. United Auto Workers (UAW) and General Motors also made a five year, $3 million pledge to the said chapter.
