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Reported on Tuesday, November 24, 2009 5:44 AM

• Evaluation Conclusions
• Purpose
• Programs
• Fund Raising Methods
• Financial Summary

• Charity Contact and Profile
• Additional Locations and Phone Numbers
• BBB Standards for Charitable Accountability
• Ten Tips for Better Giving

Tax Status 501(c)(3)

United Way of South Mississippi provides leadership to mobilize resources to advance the quality of life for those who live and work in our community.

United Way of South Mississippi (UWSM) works to advance the common good by concentrating on the most critical needs facing our community.

UWSM focuses all of its resources on three critical priority areas in our community: Child & Youth Development, Mental Health Support & Affordable Housing. Some of the strategies UWSM employs to create change are: the community investment process, community-level initiatives, fund raising, and direct program services like Volunteer Gulf Coast (VGC).

"Volunteer Gulf Coast promotes and supports volunteerism to enhance the Mississippi Gulf Coast community."

* VGC recruits and refers volunteers of all ages.
* Network of over 70 local non-profits and faith-based organizations.
* VGC offers a number of other services that build capacity for our partner organizations.
* VGC serves as a hub for the exchange of industry information, resources and training.

ALTERNATIVE SPRING BREAK

Over 70 students from 26 different states traveled to South Mississippi to take advantage of their spring break this year. United Way's Alternative Spring Break took place in Biloxi during the week of March 16-21. These students worked tirelessly on a number of service projects in our community: a community needs assessment, repaired hurricane damaged homes, built new homes with Habitat for Humanity and moved new furniture and equipment into the Boys & Girls Club in Pass Christian.

Other sites hosting ASB were New Orleans, Houston, Detroit and Terra Haute with volunteers across the country working on service projects designed to improve the lives of those living in each community. As a national sponsor, Deloitte helped make it possible for these young adults to come together for one great cause. That's what it means to LIVE UNITED.

CORPORATE VOLUNTEER COUNCIL

The Business Case for Civic Engagement

Business leaders understand that community involvement is not only a philanthropic way to "give back." It makes business sense as well. When corporations make community involvement a priority, everybody benefits - the company, its employees and the community.
Enhances corporate image and reputation

Benefits to the Corporation:
- Builds brand awareness and affinity
- Strengthens trust and loyalty among consumers
- Creates community involvement
- Increases employee morale, productivity and loyalty
- Great opportunity for teambuilding

Benefits to the Employee:
- Increase job satisfaction
- Promotes leadership and skill development
- Improves communications between employees and their supervisors

Benefits to the Community:
- Improves the level and quality of community services
- Creates quantifiable social impact
- Mobilizes the communities most concerned citizens
- Provides skilled and talented volunteer pool

DAY OF CARING 2009

This unique opportunity brings employees from local companies together for one day to volunteer for many nonprofit organizations. Corporate volunteering is yet another way to LIVE UNITED in South Mississippi!

Day of Caring 2009 will be held on Wednesday, November 4. Mark your calendars now and plan to join the movement. You will find details about the day's projects as well as registration forms for you to download right here. Stay tuned for project updates as Day of Caring 2009 approaches!

DOVIA

What is DOVIA?

DOVIA (Directors of Volunteers in Agencies) is an organization for those individuals who work directly with volunteers. DOVIA meets monthly for a brief program or training session, followed by the opportunity to network and share best practices. A DOVIA membership is open to all staff working with volunteers and is only $25/organization for one year. If you are interested in more information about becoming a member contact Carolyn Riser.

United Way of South Mississippi uses Leadership Giving, Donations, and Campaign Support to help fund the organization.

According to the IRS Form 990 for the Fiscal Year ended 3/31/2008:

P. O. Box 2128, Gulfport, MS 39505, Harrison County
      Google map    Mapquest map    Yahoo map

(228) 896-2298 (FAX)

As a matter of policy, the BBB does not endorse any product, service or business.

BBB Charity Reports are provided solely to assist you in exercising your own best judgment. Information in this BBB Charity Report is believed reliable, but not guaranteed as to accuracy.

BBB Charity Reports generally cover a three-year reporting period. BBB Charity Reports are subject to change at any time.

If you choose to do business with this business, please let the business know that you contacted the BBB for a BBB Charity Report.

ID: 152239981
Report as of: 11/24/2009

© 2009  The Better Business Bureau of Mississippi, Inc.

1. A board of directors that provides adequate oversight of the charity's operations and its staff.
2. A board of directors with a minimum of five voting members.
3. A minimum of three evenly spaced meetings per year of the full governing body with a majority in attendance, with face-to-face participation.
4. Not more than one or 10% (whichever is greater) directly or indirectly compensated person(s) serving as voting member(s) of the board. Compensated members shall not serve as the board's chair or treasurer.
5. No transaction(s) in which any board or staff members have material conflicting interests with the charity resulting from any relationship or business affiliation.
6. Have a board policy of assessing, no less than every two years, the organization's performance and effectiveness and of determining future actions required to achieve its mission.
7. Submit to the organization's governing body, for its approval, a written report that outlines the results of the aforementioned performance and effectiveness assessment and recommendations for future actions.
8. Spend at least 65% of its total expenses on program activities.
9. Spend no more than 35% of related contributions on fund raising. Related contributions include donations, legacies and other gifts received as a result of fund raising efforts.
10. Avoid accumulating funds that could be used for current program activities. To meet this standard, the charity's unrestricted net assets available for use should not be more than three times the size of the past year's expenses or three times the size of the current year's budget, whichever is higher.
11. Make available to all, on request, complete annual financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
12. Include in the financial statements a breakdown of expenses (e.g., salaries, travel, postage, etc.) that shows what portion of these expenses was allocated to program, fund raising, and administrative activities.
13. Accurately report the charity's expenses, including any joint cost allocations, in its financial statements.
14. Have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year, outlining projected expenses for major program activities, fund raising, and administration.
15. Have solicitations and informational materials, distributed by any means, that are accurate, truthful and not misleading, both in whole and in part.
16. Have an annual report available to all, on request, that includes: (a) the organization's mission statement, (b) a summary of the past year's program service accomplishments, (c) a roster of the officers and members of the board of directors, (d) financial information that includes (i) total income in the past fiscal year, (ii) expenses in the same program, fund raising and administrative categories as in the financial statements, and (iii) ending net assets.
17. Include on any charity websites that solicit contributions, the same information that is recommended for annual reports, as well as the mailing address of the charity and electronic access to its most recent IRS Form 990.
18. Address privacy concerns of donors by (a) providing in written appeals, at least annually, a means (e.g., such as a check off box) for both new and continuing donors to inform the charity if they do not want their name and address shared outside the organization, and
    (b) providing a clear, prominent and easily accessible privacy policy on any of its websites that tells visitors (i) what information, if any, is being collected about them by the charity and how this information will be used, (ii) how to contact the charity to review personal information collected and request corrections, (iii) how to inform the charity (e.g., a check off box) that the visitor does not wish his/her personal information to be shared outside the organization, and (iv) what security measures the charity has in place to protect personal information.
19. Clearly disclose how the charity benefits from the sale of products or services (i.e., cause-related marketing) that state or imply that a charity will benefit from a consumer sale or transaction. Such promotions should disclose, at the point of solicitation: (a) the actual or anticipated portion of the purchase price that will benefit the charity (e.g., 5 cents will be contributed to abc charity for every xyz company product sold), (b) the duration of the campaign (e.g., the month of October), (c) any maximum or guaranteed minimum contribution amount (e.g., up to a maximum of $200,000).
20. Respond promptly to and act on complaints brought to its attention by the BBB Wise Giving Alliance and/or local Better Business Bureaus about fund raising practices, privacy policy violations and/or other issues.

Most charities are honest and ethical, but questionable solicitors are counting on the fact that you won't bother to check out the charity before you give. Here is some basic wise giving advice:

1. Watch out for similar names.
   As there are many charities raising funds for similar causes, some charity names sound the same. Be sure to look at the name carefully, because the charity soliciting you may not be the one you have in mind.
2. Do not be pressured to make an immediate gift.
   Be wary of solicitors that demand an 'on the spot' donation. Charities should welcome your gift whenever you want to send it.
3. Question vague appeals.
   Appeals should clearly identify the charity's programs. Watch out for appeals that are strong on identifying a problem, but weak on describing what specifically the charity intends to do about it.
4. Do not give out personal information to phone solicitors.
   Don't give out credit card numbers, checking account numbers or any other personal information to unknown telephone solicitors.
5. Do not give cash.
   Write a check out to the charity's full official name, not to an individual or third party that may be collecting the donation.
6. Keep records of your donations (receipts, canceled checks and bank statements) so you can document your charitable giving at tax time. (Note: The IRS requires donations of $250 or more to be substantiated through a written receipt from the charity.)
7. If you want a deduction, make sure the organization is a charity.
   There are many different types of soliciting nonprofit organizations. Most appeals will indicate if the organization is eligible to receive gifts deductible as charitable contributions. (To be sure, review the list of organizations in IRS Publication 78 or ask the charity for a copy of its tax exempt status determination letter.)
8. Don't hesitate to ask the charity for written information on its programs and finances.
   This tip can be particularly helpful in responding to phone appeals from charities that interest you.
9. To verify if a charity is registered to solicit, contact your state government.
   In most cases, this will be the state's office of the attorney general. Remember that the state registration does not mean 'approval', it means the group has filed the appropriate forms.
10. Report bad practices.
    Contact your Better Business Bureau and your state's Attorney General office about solicitation problems.