Submitted 10/16/09 21:43:46 by Unknown from north meck.

Q In the merger conversation, why don't some of the larger fund raisers merger? We have United Way and Foundation for the Carolinas both raising money with duplicative higher dollar infrastructures? Your thoughts?

Answered 10/30/09 17:04:57 by Rick Thames

A: Good question. First, a bit of trivia. Did you know that Foundation for the Carolinas began in 1958 with a $3,000 grant from United Way? Obviously, the thought then was that a foundation would serve a distinctly different mission. It still holds true. Yes, you often find United Way and the Foundation in the same room, working together for the community's benefit. But United Way's mission is focused largely on immediate needs tied to health and human services, while the Foundation focuses on civic leadership and philanthropy management. In fact, the Foundation presently manages the endowments of both the United Way and the Arts & Science Council (which focuses, obviously, on the community's cultural arts and sciences). That's one example of how these groups do collaborate. Here's another way they are different: their geographic footprints. The Foundation serves 13 counties in North and South Carolina. United Way of Central Carolinas serves Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Union and Anson counties, as well as Mooresville and Lake Norman. The Arts & Science Council serves Mecklenburg County.