We serve Hancock, Piscataquis, Penobscot, Somerset, Washington, and Waldo counties, making our footprint the largest of any United Way in Maine.  The money we raise here stays here, serving over 30 agencies and sustaining more than 50 programs and initiatives.  Together, we’re improving the lives of over 1 in 4 people right here in our communities. United Way agencies strengthen families, provide access to early childhood education, keep seniors active and involved, provide supports for at-risk youth, help people with disabilities, build safer communities, provide basic needs, prevent violence, and more. 

United Way’s role in the community continues to evolve. While United Way has historically been a solely fundraising entity, United Way has expanded to a truly unique position to recruit, convene, and collaborate with the right people and organizations who bring the passion, expertise, and resources needed to get things done. Few, if any, organizations are able to span private business, nonprofit, government, and school systems the way United Way can to create a network of donors, advocates, and volunteers focused on a specific goal such as ensuring children enter kindergarten ready to learn. 

Heart of Maine United Way is run by volunteers. The Heart of Maine United Way  Board of Directors includes volunteers from all parts of the community who provide the governance of the organization. The Board establishes policy and sets the strategic direction that United Way staff implement and follow. 

Heart of Maine United Way leads initiatives and helps to fund agencies all over our six county region. A list of United Way initatives can be found here. A full list of funded programs is available here.

Our current overhead rate (both administrative and fundraising) is 25%. The Better Business Bureau says it should be 35% for an organization our size. We work hard to keep our overhead as low as possible. 

If you wish to make a financial contribution to the Heart of Maine United Way  you can donate via workplace campaign, our website or individual donation mailed to our office.  We accept one time and re-occuring gifts. Learn more at Ways to Give.

A gift to United Way’s Community Fund is an investment in your community that supports local programs and partnerships that are helping the elderly to stay active, increasing community education resources, assisting people with disabilities to be independent, meeting basic needs of individuals impacted by crisis and providing support to individuals transitioning to self-sufficiency.  Community fundraising costs would more than double if every agency had to raise the funds United Way provides. Please support agencies you know, but also consider a “gift” to United Way for the entire community network of services.  Every three years, United Way volunteers decide where your money can have the greatest impact on our community. We need to make sure these agencies receive the resources they need to do this important work. Your gift provides direct services to over 50,000 individuals in need here in the Heart of Maine. 

Heart of Maine United Way is a federally registered 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation. As such, donations to the United Way are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by an individual’s or corporation’s circumstances. Donors who contribute $100 or more by check to United Way will receive an acknowledgment from United Way. A copy of the cancelled check and the acknowledgement together act as evidence of a donation for purpose of a tax return. Those contributing through payroll deduction in their workplace should keep a copy of their signed pledge card and maintain their last pay stub of the tax year or Form W-2 from their employer that summarizes the amount withheld for the United Way during their tax year. In the event that goods or services of more than a nominal value are received in exchange for a gift (such as buying an auction item), only the donation in excess of the value of the good or service is considered to be tax deductible. Donors are encouraged to consult their own tax professionals to determine the extent to which their donations are tax-deductible in their own circumstances. 

We encourage community members like you to join us in reviewing all funding applications from local agencies and help us decide how to award funds.  These volunteers form panels that rate the ability of each agency to impact community needs.  The results of these assessments, combined with available funding, are used to determine the dollars each program receives.  The United Way Board, which is also made up of local volunteers, is instrumental in guiding strategic decisions governing the investment of staff time and resources.  Community involvement ensures the best possible outcome for programming and initiatives based on our most recent Community Mapping report. 

One area that differentiates United Way is our commitment to accountability and validation of our partner agencies through a rigorous vetting process. Results Based Accountability (RBA) changes the model from funding non-profits that do good work to measuring results of programs and services. Knowledgeable, well-trained volunteers and experts from across our community carefully screen and select the programs funded by your United Way contribution. The recommendations for funding are then reviewed and approved by our volunteer Board of Directors. This citizen review process is United Way’s assurance that contributions are being responsibly managed and monitored. HoMEUW distributes, as part of its annual report, a condensed version of its financials each year and welcomes questions and comments from donors and the general public regarding any aspect of our fund raising, investment process or management. 

99% of money raised in the Heart of Maine stays in the Heart Maine unless you – the donor – request that it be sent to another United Way or nonprofit in another community. The remaining 1% of our campaign revenue is paid to United Way Worldwide (UWW) in the form of dues which provides us with a wealth of knowledge, training and assistance for operating our local United Way.