United Way agencies also participate in the Combined Federal Campaign. Government and postal employees can opt to have a few $$$ deducted from their paychecks. About once a year CFC reps would come to the mail facilities to “pass the hat around”. If I were still working there I would make it clear that until attitudes at the United Way change over this they couldn’t pay me to contribute. I’m even refusing to take our 64 to any car shows put on for any local United Way charities until (as the liberals would say) MEANINGFUL changes occur.
CFC is significantly different. While United Way is one of the groups that can be chosen, you can earmark which charities that you want to receive your money. There were always a few politically incorrect choices available, and then there were some local organizations available. You got to choose where your money went. And if you didn’t want to do the payroll deduction, a check for $10 or $25 would count toward your unit’s participation. And finally, at least at the agencies with which I am familiar, they would pick one of the lower ranking employees to do the shakedown, not the big boss in the corner office.
United Way, on the other hand, was a top down organization. They, not you, picked where your money was going to go, and they used the big boss in the corner office to extort it.