# Den of Thieves- Unite Way Execs caught stealing AGAIN! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 12, 2003, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/den-of-thieves-unite-way-execs-caught-stealing-again/194627 "2003-08-12T13:03:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/den-of-thieves-unite-way-execs-caught-stealing-again/194627/41 "2003-08-15T14:41:52Z")
After three major fraud scandels in the leadership of the United Way how many more chances are we supposed to give these thieving stupid bastards? **Millions** have been stolen- often over decades. This was done with the knowledge of the various board and employees of the United Way. Hard to miss those private jets, posh homes and contracts with related companies. Only after they got caught did anyone inside ever say anything. Many charities seem to do just fine without the United Way, and maybe without their massive overhead and overcompensated executives looting the funds intended for the needy maybe more good will be done for those who need it. United Way’s claims of relevance are at best self-serving and not ever been verified. Also $100,000 is lot of money **in the 80’s** for a regional office of a charity. If you want to make for-profit money, go work at a company. As we saw with the Aramony case, United Way executies had, and continue to receive **plenty** of perks on top of the extravagant salaries they received. Of course, that wasn’t enough- not with all those unsupervised dollars just sitting there. Outside of the fraudulent boiler-room “fire and police” telemarketers, the United Way has been the biggest scam in the charity field for years. They skim plenty off of the top without ever having to show a single positive result themselves. They used charitible money and publicity to buy political influence and lax oversight. Their “executives” recieved for-profit style salary and perks, with the lax non-profit oversight and low personal risks. They used charity money as their personal piggy bank in broad daylight and nobody within these corrupt organizations ever said anything, and all to often tried to over it up too. But unlike Enron, Worldcom, Adelphia and Tyco-- the United Way seems to think they can hide behind the banner of charity to excuse their continued misdeeds and terminal negligence with other organizations charitible donations. And given some of the posts here it seems a few people have actaully bought into that scam. The only reason the United Way has not been shut down is the political and business connections it has (paid for by you, the unsuspecting donor- thought you were helping the homeless- sucker). Still, **you** can vote with \*\*your \*\* wallet-- just say no to these sleazy fuckers. Give to your local charities directly- don’t be fooled again (and again, and again. . . ) :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/den-of-thieves-unite-way-execs-caught-stealing-again/194627/42 "2003-08-15T14:52:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Beadalin \* > \*\*Why is it a bad thing that top execs get $100k? That’s a low-end figure for vice presidents to make, even right here in Minnesota. > > As I said before, YES, UW needs strong financial oversight. YES, it should be held accountable. But to withhold donations and expect others to is unreasonable and punishes the many, many, many charities that benefit from the United Way.\*\* Beadalin, you’re asking us to KNOWINGLY give money to thieves. Ain’t gonna happen. ---
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/den-of-thieves-unite-way-execs-caught-stealing-again/194627/43 "2003-08-15T15:10:43Z")
Here is a timeline of some of the latest malfeasance at the United Way: [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/metro/daily/graphics/unitedway\_081203.html](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/metro/daily/graphics/unitedway_081203.html) Just say no, people. The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) did: [http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A33916-2003Apr15¬Found=true](http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A33916-2003Apr15¬Found=true) > [@](#): > > Yesterday’s announcement, however, crushed the United Way’s hopes that the nation’s largest Combined Federal Campaign would remain in the United Way system. It is also the strongest signal yet that United Way affiliates have lost what had been a virtual lock on most federal fundraising campaigns across the country. In recent years, federal employee panels in Chicago, Boston and Minneapolis have chosen organizations other than United Way affiliates to run their campaigns. Some reasons why: > [@](#): > > That campaign, sources said, raised less than $15 million, compared with more than $40 million in donations in 2001. The donations fell off sharply after revelations that the local United Way exaggerated its fundraising, improperly documented expenses and made misleading statements about overhead. The organization also was criticized for making a $1 million pension payment to a former chief executive nearly two years before he retired. Just say no- like the Who sang, We won’t get fooled again. Even more scandels-- this time with the CEO that followed Suer: [http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A62644-2002Sep24¬Found=true](http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A62644-2002Sep24¬Found=true) [http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A51992-2002Oct6¬Found=true](http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A51992-2002Oct6¬Found=true) > [@](#): > > I’m not going to give another dime to the United Way," one man told Core’s guest, Robert Egger, the new interim director of the United Way of the National Capital Area. A female caller said much the same. > > Core pressed in with questions – about the United Way’s overhead costs and why former chief executive Norman O. Taylor, who resigned his $225,000-a-year job last month, is still being paid. and > [@](#): > > Among the revelations: that the charity’s top officials hid a critical audit from their board of directors; that Taylor overspent the group’s budget last year by $1.1 million; and that his predecessor, Oral Suer, charged televisions and other gifts for employees on his corporate credit card. > > The group has acknowledged withholding money from area charities, inflating its pledge totals and taking more than 50 percent from some contributions to cover its overhead. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/den-of-thieves-unite-way-execs-caught-stealing-again/194627/44 "2003-08-15T15:15:32Z")
> [@](#): > > Beadalin, you’re asking us to KNOWINGLY give money to thieves. Ain’t gonna happen. No, I’m not. I’m asking you to examine how the United Way works _in your area_. The United Way in DC is different than the United Way in Minneapolis, or Seattle, etc. Examine them. See if fraud reports have turned up there. I’m asking you not to confuse the overbearing and invasive collection procedures at your company with what the United Way, itself, is trying to accomplish or desires out of its donors. I’m asking you to give serious thought to the alternatives. In particular, what do you think are the likely outcomes of a massive reduction in donations to the UW? - What happens to the small charities dependent on it for the majority of their funding? - Do you think that worthy charities that operate today because of their relationship to UW will be able to continue to do so? How will they go about getting a similar amount of funding? - Do the current federal and state administrations offer enough avenues of funding to fill in the void should UW crumble? - Are federal, state and local services enough to fill the void in and of themselves? Sadly, this is one of those times where the system itself is not an ideal one, but there simply isn’t anything better out there, not even anything that could immediately fill the void-- or fill the void within a decade. This, to me, argues strongly in favor of again **holding UW accountable and making sure excellent financial oversight is in place**. We’re seeing the same issues on the for-profit side-- HMOs are fucked. Liability insurance is ridicuous… need I go on? There are systems in place in many, many arenas that are far from ideal but continue because the alternatives aren’t better. If you don’t feel comfortable giving, don’t. That’s fine. I hope you will give to charities directly, and that if you’re going to encourage other people to stop their UW donations, you’ll educate them on how to give donations directly to the charities of their choice. From what I have seen, the vast majority of people out there are far too lazy to bother giving money unless someone comes knocking and asks for it. ---
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/den-of-thieves-unite-way-execs-caught-stealing-again/194627/45 "2003-08-15T15:16:07Z")
Read the audit report yourself. [http://unitedwaynca.org/website/downloads/UWNCA.Audit.Report.pdf](http://unitedwaynca.org/website/downloads/UWNCA.Audit.Report.pdf) I recommend not doing so on a full stomach. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/den-of-thieves-unite-way-execs-caught-stealing-again/194627/46 "2003-08-15T15:24:37Z")
elf6c, it seems (at least from here) that you think the United Way is one giant conglomerate, where all offices are connected and responsible for all other offices. That’s not the case. The Capital Area UW is entirely seperate from the Minneapolis UW is entirely different from the Bay Area UW ad infinitum. > [@](#): > > Also $100,000 is lot of money in the 80’s for a regional office of a charity. If you want to make for-profit money, go work at a company. First off, it’s not a regional office. It’s the head office of an independant charity that is “franchised” across the country. Secondly, it’s not about “wanting to make for-profit money”. It’s about proper compensation for your expertise. Altruism is nice, but it doesn’t compensate for 2 or 3 degrees and more education than your average corporate officer. Thirdly, it’s one thing to refuse to donate to an organization that pays its executives $100k and who are involved in fradulent activities. It’s a completely different one to tell people to refuse to donate to an organization that pays its officers $100k who do not engage in fradulent behavior. ---
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/den-of-thieves-unite-way-execs-caught-stealing-again/194627/47 "2003-08-15T15:31:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Beadalin \* > \*\* > I’m asking you to give serious thought to the alternatives. In particular, what do you think are the likely outcomes of a massive reduction in donations to the UW? > > - What happens to the small charities dependent on it for the majority of their funding? > - Do you think that worthy charities that operate today because of their relationship to UW will be able to continue to do so? How will they go about getting a similar amount of funding? > - Do the current federal and state administrations offer enough avenues of funding to fill in the void should UW crumble? > - Are federal, state and local services enough to fill the void in and of themselves? > > \*\* As you can see by the cites provided the CFC and many other organizations have have easily found other organizations to take over for the United Way. The United Way would like people to think they are indispensible, but as the Cites have shown, they are plenty of charitible organizations ready willing and able to step in. Shockingly, they may even actually deliver the funds to charities- not defense counsel and pensions for thieving CEO’s. The United Way is fond of self-serving statements of how important they are for others, but have been easily replaced by the CFC and others has have the United Way run you campaign is seen as a negative. The United Way has way too much negative baggage and a proven history of major ethical laspes. The only way you can get your organization to join with others who have already flushed the United Way is to not give to them and join the CFC in selecting a new organization. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A33916-2003Apr15¬Found=true](http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A33916-2003Apr15¬Found=true) > [@](#): > > But Vince Micone, chairman of the 16-member panel of federal workers that chose Global Impact, said the committee “felt unanimously that Global Impact presented a superior application.” > > The committee, Micone said, was “impressed with the breadth of experience that Global Impact brought to the table and . . . some of the new ideas.” and > [@](#): > > The decision to select a non-United Way organization to run the Washington area CFC cheered organizations that have pushed for years to reduce the United Way’s virtual monopoly in the workplace fundraising business. > > Sloan Wiesen, spokesman for the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, said the decision “hopefully will send a message to managers of other workplace campaigns that competition is important.” There plenty of alternatives join with the CFC in saying NO to the United Way. ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/den-of-thieves-unite-way-execs-caught-stealing-again/194627/48 "2003-08-15T15:32:00Z")
I’m really very surprised at some of the coercion that goes on in the workplace that some of you have described. I mean, my company does the United Way thing, and in my particular area, I was asked to be a “champion” and pass out the envelopes, put up the posters, etc. and I declined to do so with no problem. Yes, they do campaign, but there’s no pressure whatsoever. I guess I’m just confused as to what a company or corporation would gain by forcing (blackmailing, really!) their employees to donate. It smacks (and IANAL nor do I play one on TV so I’m not sure) of being illegal, not to mention unethical. So why would they do it?? Can anyone 'splain this to me? ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/den-of-thieves-unite-way-execs-caught-stealing-again/194627/49 "2003-08-15T15:40:30Z")
Missy, there’s been a couple stabs at that answer in this thread. My guess is that (a) companies feel the need to compare themselves to other companies in the way of corporate giving - the UW is an easy benchmark by which to measure that, and (b) the UW annually recognizes its top supporters by way of top donations and highest percentage of participation - companies like to be at the top of lists like that. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/den-of-thieves-unite-way-execs-caught-stealing-again/194627/50 "2003-08-15T15:45:53Z")
In the early 1970’s United Way denied a grant to a very worthy organization. I decided that my contributions could go elsewhere. But at the school where I taught, I was given the high pressure treatment to have a portion of my salary deducted as a contribution to UW – a “service” that our school board offered teachers. Since these were public schools, I wonder how legal that was. (I didn’t give in.) ---
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/den-of-thieves-unite-way-execs-caught-stealing-again/194627/51 "2003-08-15T15:49:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Munch \* > \*\*elf6c, it seems (at least from here) that you think the United Way is one giant conglomerate, where all offices are connected and responsible for all other offices. That’s not the case. The Capital Area UW is entirely seperate from the Minneapolis UW is entirely different from the Bay Area UW ad infinitum. > > First off, it’s not a regional office. It’s the head office of an independant charity that is “franchised” across the country. Secondly, it’s not about “wanting to make for-profit money”. It’s about proper compensation for your expertise. Altruism is nice, but it doesn’t compensate for 2 or 3 degrees and more education than your average corporate officer. Thirdly, it’s one thing to refuse to donate to an organization that pays its executives $100k and who are involved in fradulent activities. It’s a completely different one to tell people to refuse to donate to an organization that pays its officers $100k who do not engage in fradulent behavior. \*\* 1. The “divisions” are still controlled to a large extent for the national office (even though they tried to play down that connection after the Aramony disasters). Now that D.C. (the biggest office I believe the articles pointed out-- at least until the CFC canned them) has been caught too, the other United Way offices are now trying to play up their “independence” rather then the national organization aspect they played up before. Sorry, its just spin control to me. 2. “Altruism is nice, but it doesn’t compensate for 2 or 3 degrees and more education than your average corporate officer” LOL-- CITE? So the United Way officers are “better” and deserve more compensation? Really? I guess all the MBAs and years of education in the corporate world has nothing on the executive training program at the United Way. Gee with all these super-executives you would think they would have such a fraud problem. The executives at Enron thought they were smarter and more entitled to. 3. You want more compensation, take your risks in the private world. Most to nearly all non-profit positions pay less then the equilivent for-profit position- often by alot. However, the United Way’s sense of entitlement to other charities’ money I guess allowed them to escape that fact. Then again it was the sense of entitlement in the United Way that has lead to decades of fraud in the first place. There were plenty of divisions in Enron, Worldcom and Tyco that individually did nothing wrong too. Doesn’t seem to have helped them much either. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/den-of-thieves-unite-way-execs-caught-stealing-again/194627/52 "2003-08-15T16:06:43Z")
elf6c, you’re completely missing my points. > [@](#): > > “Altruism is nice, but it doesn’t compensate for 2 or 3 degrees and more education than your average corporate officer” LOL-- CITE? So the United Way officers are “better” and deserve more compensation? Really? I guess all the MBAs and years of education in the corporate world has nothing on the executive training program at the United Way. Gee with all these super-executives you would think they would have such a fraud problem. My comment was not United Way specific. Nor did I say that non-profit officers should be compensated as much as corporate officers. Nor did I even mention a UW executive training program. Nor a “super-executive”. > [@](#): > > The executives at Enron thought they were smarter and more entitled to. Entitled to…what? Regardless, this is a non sequitor. > [@](#): > > 1. You want more compensation, take your risks in the private world. More compensation? Huh? Risks? What the hell are you talking about? > [@](#): > > Most to nearly all non-profit positions pay less then the equilivent for-profit position- often by alot. No shit, Sherlock. Direct me to where I said otherwise. > [@](#): > > However, the United Way’s sense of entitlement to other charities’ money I guess allowed them to escape that fact. Then again it was the sense of entitlement in the United Way that has lead to decades of fraud in the first place. Fine. I’ve never said that the United Way is a guaranteed worthwhile target of your donation dollar. My only contention regarding your initial comments are that it is foolish to completely dismiss an organization based _ **solely** _ on their executive salaries. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/den-of-thieves-unite-way-execs-caught-stealing-again/194627/53 "2003-08-15T18:35:47Z")
As has already been pointed out, the people who are talking about the United Ways’ regional offices as being SOOOO independent used to talk about how great it was that a national organization could pool all those resources for charities. Which is it? Is the United Way united or not? It sounds a lot like the stuff we got when Worldcom and Enron got caught. Ken Lay and the whole bunch were being extolled as all-seeing visionaries in the business press prior to the scandal, with a firm grasp on their companies’ activities. Then after the scandal they became ridiculously overpaid, hapless signers of documents they knew nothing about. I’m with the peole woho are hearing the spin doctors at work on the United Way, just like the worked on Enron and Worldcom. Plus, I think when the national headquarters and the largest regional office of the United Way BOTH get caught in ripoffs, a reasonable person might ask of the other offices … are they innocent of these practices, or have they just not been caught at it … yet? BTW, another charitable collection group to watch is the Shriners. A reporter down in Tampa/St. Pete broke the news a few years ago that their charities were getting just a couple of pennies on the dollar for all their collecting activities. Seems the rest of the money was going to purchase those little cars they drive in parades and for low cost loans to … Shriners. I’ve also heard that an awful lot of the money the Girl Scouts make on their cookies goes to the national headquarters, and that some of the facilities the Girl Scouts build get used by corporations a lot more than they get used by Girl Scouts. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/den-of-thieves-unite-way-execs-caught-stealing-again/194627/54 "2003-08-15T18:38:23Z")
OTOH, I understand the money collected by the Salvation Army is used very efficiently and well. I’ve always got a few bucks for Santa when I’m out shopping at Christmastime. ---
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/den-of-thieves-unite-way-execs-caught-stealing-again/194627/55 "2003-08-15T18:55:10Z")
\*\*elf6c, you’re completely missing my points. \*\* 1. No, its that your “points” are not very convincing nor reflective of the actual posts made in the thread. \*\*My comment was not United Way specific. \*\* 1. Mine were, as were everyone else’s in the thread. \*\*Entitled to…what? Regardless, this is a non sequitor \*\* 1. to full market compensation. Oops, typo. \*\*More compensation? Huh? Risks? What the hell are you talking about? [and delightfully], No shit, Sherlock. Direct me to where I said otherwise. \*\* 1. You were stating "Altruism is nice, but it doesn’t compensate for 2 or 3 degrees and more education than your average corporate officer. " And “proper” compensation for your expertise. Remember, I even quoted it for you. I don’t see your issue nor the need for your snippy comment. I thought your quote and my reply were clear enough, and don’t call me “Sherlock”. 2. “My only contention regarding your initial comments are that it is foolish to completely dismiss an organization based solely on their executive salaries.” Well your wrong. _MY_ comments were about the major fraud issues, please go back and read the OP and all of the extensive Cites I provided detailing the serious long term criminal fraud, misrepresentation, and personal spending issues at the United Way. Another poster raised the 100K issue, then **you** responded about “proper” compensation and such. Only then did I post a rebuttal. For me it is foolish to give a cent to a charity which has had such massive and long term problems. Evidently the CFC and many other organizations (along with everyone in this thread but you and one other poster) hardily agrees with me. I have provided extensive Cites to back these points up and to refute some of the “united way is indispensible” points. I am sorry you are tied to this organization, but like Enron the good go down with the bad when the bad run the ship. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/den-of-thieves-unite-way-execs-caught-stealing-again/194627/56 "2003-08-15T19:06:25Z")
elf, it looks like we’ve crossed wires somewhere in this thread. I connected Chimera’s rejection of the UW based solely on the $100k exec. salary to you. Sorry for the confusion. Also, I’m not connected to the UW in any way. ---
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/den-of-thieves-unite-way-execs-caught-stealing-again/194627/57 "2003-08-15T19:12:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Munch \* > \*\*elf, it looks like we’ve crossed wires somewhere in this thread. I connected Chimera’s rejection of the UW based solely on the $100k exec. salary to you. Sorry for the confusion. > > Also, I’m not connected to the UW in any way. \*\* Indeed. Although I made the mistaken impression you were invovled with UW, so I owe you one as well. Have a nice weekend. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/den-of-thieves-unite-way-execs-caught-stealing-again/194627/58 "2003-08-15T19:16:14Z")
No problem. I was mightily confused, given some of my comments regarding the United Way in this thread (namely “I have no idea why people donate money to an organization like the United Way…”). ---
**Author:** ![auntie\_em](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@auntie\_em](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auntie_em)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/den-of-thieves-unite-way-execs-caught-stealing-again/194627/59 "2003-08-15T20:17:57Z")
I, too, am shocked at some of the workplace tactics used to convince people to donate! :eek: Well, we do get the “UW Donation Push” every year (and yes, I have $5 deducted from each paycheck) where I work, but we’re also funded by the UW. So it becomes more of a mutual back-scratching thing. We give them a few hundred bucks, they give us a few thousand. Of course, I realize that as an individual person, whose paycheck should be based only upon the work I was hired to do, I don’t have to give if I don’t want to, but of course the larger implication is that without United Way funding, jobs like mine might not exist. Also, there are only four of us who work here, so it’s not difficult for us to achieve 100% participation, which gets us a prize! Truthfully, the “prize” has gotten kinda lame. It used to be a pizza party with the CEO of our local chapter . . . now it’s cheap ice cream and nasty brownies with whatever UW employee(s) they can scrounge up. But hell, it’s still free grub. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/den-of-thieves-unite-way-execs-caught-stealing-again/194627/60 "2003-08-15T23:43:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Beadalin \* > **Why is it a bad thing that top execs get $100k? That’s a low-end figure for vice presidents to make, even right here in Minnesota. To draw top talent, as United Way and other agencies want and deserve to, they must pay competitive salaries.** Note I said late 80’s, as in roughly 1987, 1988. That was quite a bit more money back then. And why one for each half of a metropolitan area? I always love the above-below the Executive ranks arguments on Salary. At the Executive rank, it is necessary to pay huge wages to draw top talent. Below that, it is necessary to pay the lowest possible “competitive” wage. Hmm… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/den-of-thieves-unite-way-execs-caught-stealing-again/194627.md?page=2)