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The United Way
of Pierce County Board of Directors approved a non-discrimination
policy that includes sexual orientation as it pertains to
program services receiving funding from United Way.
All
funded programs must be in compliance with the policy.
The
policy states that services funded through United Way’s
Community Investment Process, in which community volunteers
decide which important services receive funds, may target
specific populations based on specific needs. However, they
may not engage in discrimination.
The
board policy defines discrimination as “denying service
to a potential client on the basis of age, sex, race, sexual
orientation, national origin, creed, or presence of a disability,
and when the denial of service is unrelated to the need for
or delivery of the service.”
The
United Way policy does not require organizations to make changes
in the leadership of their staff or boards. We fund only program
services, so our policy extends only to those services.
Our
desire to ensure that all people have access is truly an endorsement
of the importance of those services. We will continue to honor
the practice of the donor’s choice.
Non-Discrimination
Policy Questions & Answers
Why
did United Way develop a non-discrimination policy?
The policy was developed to ensure that all citizens of Pierce
County have access to United Way of Pierce County funded services.
What
is the United Way of Pierce County non-discrimination policy?
Program services receiving funding through the United Way
of Pierce County’s Community Investment Process may target
specific populations but will not engage in discrimination.
Program services are defined as a specific, identified set
of activities carried out within a nonprofit agency to help
or assist clients.
How
does United Way of Pierce County define discrimination?
United Way defines discrimination as denying service to a
potential client or member on the basis of age, sex, race,
sexual orientation, national origin, creed, or presence of
a disability, and when the denial of service is unrelated
to the need for or delivery of the service desired.
When
did the policy begin?
The policy was effective July 1, 2001.
Who
will be affected by the new policy?
All program services currently funded by United Way of Pierce
County must be in compliance with the policy. United Way of
Pierce County staff and volunteers will work with funded programs
to ensure every opportunity for them to meet the requirements.
How
did policy affect the Boy Scouts?
Funding to the Boy Scouts through
the Community Investment Process temporarily ended on June 30, 2003. The
Boy Scouts have continued to receive all funds specifically
designated to them on a pledge form.
Due
to a conflict with national policy, the Boy Scout Pacific
Harbors Council originally did not sign the nondiscrimination agreement
and did not submit a program for funding. After clarification
that the nondiscrimination policy applied to the delivery
of services and was not intended to affect the leadership,
staff or board of funded agencies, the local Scout Council
determined that it could sign the nondiscrimination policy
and have subsequently done so.
United Way of Pierce County currently does fund a program of the Boy Scouts. It’s important that we make the distinction between funding the Boy Scouts and funding a program of the Boy Scouts. Our community investment process is based on identifying programs in the community that meet the priorities set by our volunteer leaders. Then, after a thorough review by our volunteer review teams, the programs that best meet those priorities are recommended to our Board of Directors for community investments. In all, we currently invest donor dollars in over 115 programs from 60 local agencies.
We have non-discrimination agreements on file from every agency in which we have invested funds, including the Boy Scouts. Our non-discrimination policy defines discrimination as “denying service to a potential client on the basis of age, sex, race, sexual orientation, national origin, creed, or presence of a disability, and when the denial of service is unrelated to the need for or delivery of the service.” In signing the agreement the parent agencies of the programs we invest in assure us that services will be delivered to qualified applicants without discrimination.
The United Way of Pierce County’s non-discrimination policy does not require organizations to make changes in the leadership of their staff or boards because we do not fund their agency administrative structures.
Our desire to ensure that all people have access to a particular service is truly an endorsement of the importance of those services.
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