Press Releases

WASHINGTON ­­­­- Following this week's announcement that - for the first time since the 1970s - the United Way will not manage America's largest workplace charity drive among federal employees, the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP) today voiced hope that the landmark development will send a far-reaching message underscoring the value of philanthropic accountability and transparency. The Combined Federal Campaign of the National Capital Area (CFCNCA) on Tuesday announced its decision to award the management of its 2003 annual fundraising drive to Global Impact - declining a bid from the United Way of Central Maryland to manage the campaign in place of the troubled United Way of the National Capital Area chapter.

"We hope this decision by the nation's largest CFC sends a signal highlighting the importance of accountability and transparency throughout the philanthropic and charitable sector," said NCRP Executive Director Rick Cohen. "Like the private and public sectors, the nonprofit sector must embrace greater accountability and transparency, and find the proper role for healthy competition.  Acting on these values will ultimately benefit all kinds of charities and the people they serve, and enhance the philanthropic effectiveness of employees, employers and the entire field of workplace giving - including the United Way itself."

For more than a year, the local Washington-area chapter of the United Way has faced an escalating crisis of public confidence and a dramatic drop in its private-sector workplace fundraising results after news broke of multiple financial improprieties at the chapter, ultimately leading to the departure of its director.  The beleaguered local chapter opted not to bid on the flagship CFC charitable drive that it had managed for a generation.  It instead planned to focus on internal restructuring while the United Way's bid to manage this year's federal campaign would be spearheaded by the organization's Central Maryland chapter. On Tuesday, April 15, the CFCNCA announced that it had declined that United Way bid in favor of the one by Global Impact, formerly known as International Service Agencies.