United Way of Galveston partners with local nonprofit organizations that are advancing Health, Education, and Financial Stability across Galveston Island. We raise, steward, and distribute funds through multiple giving pathways. Each pathway operates under different rules, timelines, and levels of local control. This page explains how those pathways work, what is donor-directed versus strategically allocated, and how nonprofit partners can participate with clarity and confidence.

Some funds are directed entirely by donor choice, some are governed by state or federal campaign rules, and some may be allocated strategically when available. In all cases, United Way of Galveston is committed to transparency, respect for donor intent, and responsible stewardship of community resources.

United Way of Galveston Workplace Giving

United Way of Galveston works directly with local employers to make charitable giving easy and accessible through payroll deduction and one-time gifts.

Employees can choose to give to United Way of Galveston or give through United Way of Galveston to an eligible nonprofit organization they care about.

How Nonprofit Designations Work

A donor may designate a gift to one or more eligible nonprofit organizations.

• Each designated organization must be recognized by the IRS as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization.
• A minimum annual designation of $50 per recipient organization is required.
• The recipient organization does not have to be located in Galveston.
• United Way of Galveston does not deduct an administrative fee from designated gifts sent to recipient nonprofits.
• Donors designating gifts to organizations that are not current United Way of Galveston partners should provide the organization’s complete name and address so eligibility and payment information can be verified.

United Way of Galveston records donor instructions, coordinates with participating workplaces, verifies recipient information, and directs eligible gifts according to each donor’s designation.

How Nonprofits Can Participate

Your supporters may already be giving through their workplaces. Help them understand that workplace giving may offer another way to support your organization.

Nonprofits can:

• Share workplace-giving information with staff, board members, volunteers, donors, and supporters
• Encourage supporters to ask whether their employers offer payroll deduction
• Remind eligible donors that they may be able to designate their workplace gift
• Make sure United Way of Galveston has the organization’s current name, mailing address, and contact information
• Share United Way of Galveston’s Workplace Giving: Take Action page

Workplace giving can turn manageable contributions from individual paychecks into meaningful support throughout the year.

Learn More or Take Action

Explore workplace giving, make a pledge, find a participating workplace, or bring workplace giving to your employer.

Questions about nonprofit designations? Contact United Way of Galveston at info@uwgalv.org or (409) 762-4357.

State Employee Charitable Campaign (SECC)

The State Employee Charitable Campaign allows Texas state employees to support nonprofit organizations through payroll deduction. Eligible nonprofit organizations must apply annually to be included in the campaign. Approval, eligibility requirements, and campaign administration are governed by the State of Texas, not United Way of Galveston.

The SECC application period typically occurs in the spring, followed by a campaign period in the fall. Funds are distributed after the campaign concludes. Because this campaign is administered at the state level, United Way of Galveston does not control eligibility decisions or application outcomes. Nonprofit organizations should review official guidance and application materials directly through the State Employee Charitable Campaign.

Learn more and access SECC application materials at https://secc.state.tx.us.

Combined Federal Campaign (CFC)

The Combined Federal Campaign is the workplace giving program for federal employees and retirees. Eligible nonprofit organizations apply annually to be listed in the CFC, which allows federal donors to designate charitable gifts to approved organizations nationwide.

CFC eligibility requirements, application review, and campaign administration are governed at the federal level. United Way of Galveston does not determine which organizations are approved to participate in the CFC and does not manage application decisions.

The CFC application period typically occurs in the spring. The campaign generally runs from September through January, with funds distributed throughout the following year. Because this campaign is federally administered, nonprofit organizations should rely on official CFC guidance for application requirements, deadlines, and compliance expectations.

Learn more about the Combined Federal Campaign and access application resources at https://www.opm.gov/combined-federal-campaign.

Grantmaking and Strategic Allocations

In addition to coordinating donor-directed giving campaigns, United Way of Galveston may grant funds directly to local nonprofit organizations when resources are available. These funds are not tied to state or federal workplace campaigns and are allocated intentionally based on community priorities, available funding, and alignment with our mission areas of Health, Education, and Financial Stability.

Grantmaking and strategic allocations may include distributing excess campaign funds, supporting time-limited initiatives, or identifying and channeling aligned funding opportunities from external sources. All allocations are made with a focus on transparency, fiscal responsibility, and respect for donor intent.

Discretionary funding is limited and not guaranteed each year. When grant opportunities are available, United Way of Galveston communicates clearly about eligibility, timelines, and expectations to ensure a fair and consistent process.

When discretionary funding opportunities are available, application details and submission instructions are shared on this website and communicated directly to nonprofit partners.

Financial Accountability Standards

As part of our responsibility to donors and the community, United Way of Galveston maintains financial accountability standards for nonprofit partners participating in United Way of Galveston–coordinated funding opportunities.

Nonprofit organizations with an annual operating budget of $250,000 or greater are required to submit an independent audit. The audit must cover a fiscal period that ended no more than 18 months prior to the time of submission.

Organizations with annual budgets below $250,000 may be asked to provide alternative financial documentation, which will be communicated clearly when applicable.

Building Long-Term Funding Capacity

Sustainable community impact requires more than one-time funding. United Way of Galveston invests in the long-term strength of the nonprofit sector by equipping organizations with tools, training, and shared learning opportunities that support diversified and resilient funding strategies.

This support includes capacity-building offerings such as GrantFlow, which strengthens grant strategy and writing, and Coffee and Quality, which helps organizations use data to improve outcomes and align with funder expectations. United Way of Galveston also convenes professional development sessions and peer learning opportunities designed to strengthen nonprofit leadership and organizational effectiveness.

By focusing on systems, skills, and data, United Way of Galveston helps nonprofit partners build the internal capacity needed to secure additional funding over time and deliver stronger results for the community.

What United Way of Galveston Controls and What We Do Not

United Way of Galveston is committed to transparency about our role in the funding ecosystem. While we coordinate, steward, and support multiple funding pathways, not all decisions are made locally. The distinctions below clarify what United Way of Galveston administers directly and what is governed by external systems.

United Way of Galveston manages and controls:

• Coordination of the local United Way of Galveston Workplace Giving Campaign
• Stewardship and distribution of donor-designated gifts within that campaign
• Strategic allocation of available discretionary funds
• Capacity-building programs, training, and nonprofit convenings

United Way of Galveston does not control:

• Eligibility, approval, or application decisions for the State Employee Charitable Campaign (SECC)
• Eligibility, approval, or application decisions for the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC)
• Donor designation choices
• State or federal campaign timelines, rules, or compliance requirements

Questions and Next Steps

United Way of Galveston is committed to being a clear, reliable partner to both nonprofit organizations and donors. We are happy to answer questions about local workplace giving, nonprofit partnerships, discretionary funding when available, and capacity-building opportunities offered through United Way of Galveston.

For questions related to the State Employee Charitable Campaign or the Combined Federal Campaign, nonprofit organizations should consult the official campaign websites linked above, where application requirements, deadlines, and technical guidance are maintained by the administering entities.

If your organization serves Galveston Island, Tiki Island, or the Bolivar Peninsula, and is working to advance Health, Education, and/or Financial Stability, we welcome the opportunity to connect and explore how United Way of Galveston can support your work.