United way? (Charlotte, Huntersville: salary, costs, assess)

[Charlotteborn]

Can anyone explain to me how it is acceptable for the president of a non-profit organization to be compensated over 1 million dollars? I used to be a contributor but never again!

[anifani821]

Yeah, quite a story! I work w/ not-for-profits and this was a shocker to me. I would have assumed that here in Charlotte, an appropriate salary for this position would be in the $120-150,000 range (including bennies) and require at least an MBA, doctorate preferred, and a successive track record of not-for-profit Director/CEO/COO positions, with 15 years or more experience at upper management level.

Here is the link to the story:

United Way responds to report on $1.2M pay 5:53 PM | Local News | News for Charlotte, North Carolina | WCNC.com | Local News

[businessperson]

It's unbelievable that anyone who takes contributions from working class employees especially in times like these when people are so overworked and underpaid, would be given that kind of money. I would NEVER contribute ONE DIME to that organization.

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by businessperson

It's unbelievable that anyone who takes contributions from working class employees especially in times like these when people are so overworked and underpaid, would be given that kind of money. I would NEVER contribute ONE DIME to that organization.

The thing is . . .businesses make it a BIG DEAL for their employees to contribute to United Way, going so far as to strong arm employees and make them feel they are going to be assessed in some covert way if they do NOT contribute. They put notices in pay envelopes, hold rallies, put up info about "the company goal," etc. It is very hard to avoid contributing since doing so has become institutionalized . . . Managers are given goals for the group of employees they supervise . . . I have highly resented the tactics since I began working back in the 70s.

I find this outrageous and a topic suitable for an expose on 60 Minutes.

[Metallisteve]

I'm appalled. Completely sickened. As Ani said, the tactics used make you feel like a worthless piece of scum if you don't contribute...as they did at my place of employment. I got suckered into pledging something like $1 per paycheck or something...all with the allure of donated area prizes ($5 to here, diner at there, free tickets to this, etc...). As of tomorrow, I'm requesting my pledge stop being taken from my paycheck. This pisses me off beyond belief...and I'll be sure to tell everyone at work about this.

[businessperson]

I know exactly what you are saying. I've been in those types of jobs. I just think it's time people stand up to their employers and say, "This is my money, I worked for it and I'll spend it my way."

That million dollars could have been spent helping a family that suffered a job loss or serious medical emergency or any host of other tragedies.

[XcapefromNJ]

I stopped giving to United Way a long time ago. (A couple of years ago I made a small contribution at the request of my boss so our department would have 100% participation). Several years ago my wife and I decided to donate most of our charitable contributions (a significant amount) to local charities. We still make token contributions to some of the big national charities and we sponsor a child in Malawi through World Vision, but the larger amounts go to local organizations that have very low overhead and do work in the community.

Now that we are in Huntersville we will be looking for local organizations to support.

[Stripes17]

Sad to say that I wasn't too surprised by this story. It seems most large non-profits have admin costs (including compensation packages) that raise an eyebrow. This one raised the eyebrow a little higher!

I agree that many employers do coerce workers to donate to the United Way. Like the previous posters, I will not give in to that logic. I'll continue to write checks to the groups that I want to support, knowing the money is going directly to them and not to these trumped up compensation packages that the United Way and similar groups embrace.

[cball75]

Originally Posted by anifani821

The thing is . . .businesses make it a BIG DEAL for their employees to contribute to United Way, going so far as to strong arm employees and make them feel they are going to be assessed in some covert way if they do NOT contribute. They put notices in pay envelopes, hold rallies, put up info about "the company goal," etc. It is very hard to avoid contributing since doing so has become institutionalized . . . Managers are given goals for the group of employees they supervise . . . I have highly resented the tactics since I began working back in the 70s.

I find this outrageous and a topic suitable for an expose on 60 Minutes.

Totally agree... it is not always a choice to give. I was floored with this story. It is sickening and I hope this uproar will grow and be heard.

[mullman]

Originally Posted by anifani821

The thing is . . .businesses make it a BIG DEAL for their employees to contribute to United Way,

Y, when I was a trader for one of the large banks uptown (over a decade ago) there was great pressure on us to contribute to United Way (for a match that the bank could advertise )

I never did since my charity of choice was [something else].
Around donation time I could always feel the darts in my back because of my reckless refusal.