Get Involved

The United Way of Northern British Columbia is serious about ethical fundraising and professional practice. Follow the link below (PDF file) to see the guidelines that our fundraising programs and professionals abide by.

• Code of Ethical Principles & Standards of Professional Practice

Volunteering is a very personal, hands-on way to improve lives through the United Way.

In Canada, more than 7.5 million volunteers donate their time, energy and services to 175,000 not-for-profit organizations. Volunteers contribute 1.1 billion hours of their time yearly - the equivalent of 578,000 full-time jobs - and their contribution is estimated at $16 billion annually. During the International Year of Volunteers, Canadians have the unprecedented opportunity to recognize the contribution of these volunteers, and to say thank you. The success of United Way relies on hundreds of volunteers who are willing to generously share their time and talents.

Opportunities for individuals:

Become a Campaign Cabinet Member - Campaign Cabinet Members are individuals with an interest in making a difference in the lives of people who face social and health challenges. The Campaign Cabinet encourages individuals and organizations to participate in the annual fundraising campaign through workplace campaigns, corporate and individual giving, and special events. Participating on Campaign Cabinet is a unique and rewarding role in building community capacity. Campaign Cabinets currently exist in Prince George and Fort St. John.

• Role of United Way Campaign Chair / Co-Chairs
• Role of United Way Campaign Division Chair / Co-Chairs

To inquire about becoming a Campaign Cabinet member e-mail Jocelyn Snih, Director, Resource Development.

Become a Community Impact & Investment Committee (CIIC) Member - CIIC members are persons with an interest in making a difference in the lives of people who face social and health challenges. Working with our community partners, the CIIC’s find creative, evidence-based solutions to build organizational capacity towards regional community impact. CIIC’s currently exist in Prince George, Quesnel, Smithers and Fort St. John.St. John.

• Role of United Way CIIC Chair / Vice-Chairs
• Role of United Way CIIC Members

To inquire about becoming a CIIC member e-mail Lesley Anderson, Community Programs and Services Coordinator.

One of our greatest strengths is our ability to connect you with your community, through your workplace, at home, or through a community service organization.

United Way’s donors are dedicated to major social changes. You are passionate about giving back to the community and creating long-term sustainability. With your support we’re able to make a real difference in people’s lives and get right to the heart of the issues. You don’t have to be part of a workplace campaign to add your vision to United Way.

We connect with thousands of individuals through our individual appeal. We will provide you information and updates directly to your home.

Consider taking advantage of our monthly continuous giving option that allows you to plan your giving in advance. By choosing the credit card payment option, or providing post-dated cheques in advance, we automatically administer your donation each month until you notify us to stop.

Would you like us to include you in our individual appeal, or are you retiring or leaving the workplace? Please contact us at (250) 561-1040 or e-mail Jocelyn Snih to update your personal address information and/or e-mail address.

Your donation is a statement that you believe in your community and care about bringing about real, lasting, positive change to the northern BC region.

Be A Leader (donations of $500 or more)

Leaders are individual donors who demonstrate their commitment and social responsibility with contributions of $500 or more to United Way. When you give a Leadership gift you are making a personal investment that reflects your desire and commitment to helping others in need. You are also setting an example to motivate others to give at similar levels. You join a select group of generous donors who are committed to building strong, healthy communities.

Your Leadership gift to United Way goes far by supporting the combined efforts of a network of programs and services. This network provides the most comprehensive support for an individual or family in need, and helps solve a range of community-wide and region-wide problems.

The Benefits of Leadership Giving

Giving is its own reward, but in addition to the good feeling you will get when you know you’ve made an investment in our community and region’s future, a gift of $500 or more each year qualifies you for the following special opportunities:

• Personal invitations to United Way’s Campaign Kick-off and Community Achievement Celebration and Leadership Program events
• Recognition of your gift in one of our annual publications (with your permission)
• Timely acknowledgment of gift (with tax receipt, if applicable), with a leader or community builder pin enclosed.

What your Leadership Gift actually costs

A $500 gift spread over the typical one year payroll deduction period with 26 pays, would cost $19.23 per pay. That amounts to $1.37 per day, which is less than the average cup of coffee. Taking taxes into consideration, the average tax reduction* on a $500 donation amounts to $173.50 per year, reducing the actual cost of the donation to $326.50. In the end, that $500 donation costs you less that $1/day. Further, if your employer has a employee matching program in place, that $500 becomes a $1,000 investment in the community, that only cost you, the donor, $326.50.  *Based on 2008 taxes.

For more information about the Leadership Giving Program, contact Jocelyn Snih via e-mail or call (250) 561-1040.

Hundreds of workplaces in northern BC support United Way each year. In 2008, funds raised by workplace campaigns represented approximately 80% of the 800,000 raised for our region.

Partnering with United Way, organizations give their employees the opportunity to create lasting change in the community. What's more, United Way staff help to make running a workplace campaign a fun and team-building experience.

Contact Jocelyn Snih today via e-mail or at (250) 561-1040 for more information or for a workplace campaign presentation.

Benefits of an employee workplace campaign:

• It energizes a team, and instills pride and satisfaction among employees.
• It offers professional development as campaign team members learn project management, leadership and organizational skills.
• It increases employees’ community awareness as they learn about critical issues facing our community.
• It provides recognition opportunities for the organization and employees. United Way’s Annual Awards and Community Campaign Wrap-up Celebration recognize the exceptional commitment, leadership and creativity shown through participation in the annual campaign.

How your company can get involved:

Most organizations support United Way in one or more of the following ways:

1. Conduct an employee campaign: A campaign allows employees to actively participate in making our communities better places to live.
2. Pledge a corporate gift: Demonstrate your organization’s community leadership and generosity with a corporate gift. Match your employees’ donations for greater impact.
3. Participate in the Loaned & Sponsored Representative Program: Loan an employee to United Way during our fall fundraising campaign. Your employee receives a unique professional development opportunity while doing vital work on behalf of the community. If you can’t send an employee, sponsor a position in your company’s name.
4. Be a part of a United Way Day of Caring: This initiative provides a unique opportunity for your employees to come together and complete a one-day project for a local community agency. Agencies receive much-needed assistance, which in turn allows them to focus their resources on those they serve. Your employees will improve our community while participating in a valuable team-building experience.
5. Marketing opportunities/partnerships: Demonstrate your corporate citizenship and benefit from valuable marketing opportunities by taking advantage of a variety of innovative partnership opportunities with United Way.

Promote your brand, products and services to a targeted market or wider public audience by integrating sponsorship of United Way events and initiatives into your overall marketing plan. If sponsorship does not suit your philanthropic or marketing objectives, United Way will customize a package tailored to your needs or may develop a new and innovative partnership based on your organization or industry sector.

Your organization can help the community while increasing its corporate profile and reputation. Your company will also be immediately recognized for its association with one of the region’s most caring, trusted and respected organizations.

Corporate contributions and sponsorship of United Way can also act as a platform for supporting, promoting and positively influencing a social issue that is meaningful to your employees, shareholders, customers and other audiences.

Your United Way support can be tailored to meet your company’s needs, interests and participation.

Corporate Contribution/Sponsorship Benefits

For Supporters:

• Receive recognition through various channels, including banners, printed materials and speeches
• Build a reputation as a caring organization and an agent of change
• Achieve success with key audiences
• Support forums where ideas and solutions can be shared and exchanged
• Lead and influence positive change on key social issues
• Reduce taxes: sponsorship costs, for example, can be deducted as a business expense
• Respond to employee, consumer and government expectations for community involvement
• Join a growing network of community leaders committed to making our region truly great for everyone.

For the communities and region:

• Make northern BC a better place to live and work
• Make positive changes in the lives of people in need or living in vulnerable situations in our communities and region
• Enable more donor dollars to go towards community programs and initiatives by reducing costs
• Build awareness of community issues.

To learn more about corporate contributions/sponsorship benefits and opportunities, contact United Way at (250) 561-1040 or e-mail Jocelyn Snih.

We are often asked “Why the United Way?” It is true that each of us have many opportunities to volunteer with the hope that we can individually contribute to the greater goal of making our community and region a better place. In addition, there are many ways that we can invest our hard earned incomes whether we invest in our families, our future financial stability or our community, to name just a few options.

The decision of our families to invest in the United Way is because we believe in northern BC and want our individual and collective communities to be the best they can be. The scope of impact of the United Way is broad enough to influence community growth in many important ways and narrow enough to be effective and efficient. United Way makes it easy for us to contribute individually and to really see the difference we make.

Ultimately, the entire community wins when kids are successful, families are empowered, our communities are supportive, seniors remain involved, and citizens are healthy. And we believe there is a role for everyone to play in creating these possibilities.

Our most important partner in achieving our mission is YOU. Together we can make a difference in the lives of thousands every day. United Way depends on your financial support to continue providing services to those in need as well as to continue the work of solving our communities’ and region’s most pressing social issues.

This is your chance to take ownership of the future of your community and shape a legacy you will be proud to inherit and pass on to your own children. Your involvement today will help us all to enjoy a brighter tomorrow.