United Way warns Davidson County commissioners donations and need both rising; cites ALICE report

Christie Heggie, president of United Way of Davidson County, told the Board of Commissioners on June 5 that the county's workplace giving campaign has seen a sharp decline in employee participation and dollar totals while demands for human services continue to grow.

Heggie said participation in the county workplace campaign fell from more than 150 employee donors a decade ago to 88 donors last year, and overall contributions are down more than $60,000 annually compared with earlier years. She said United Way has invested more than $50 million in local health and human services over the past 30 years and that emergent needs frequently top United Way—s 2-1-1 helpline: utilities, housing, shelter and food. Heggie cited the United Way of North Carolina's ALICE report and said that in 2023, 40.1% of Davidson County households (more than 28,000 households) were below the ALICE threshold, meaning they earn above federal poverty but still cannot afford basic necessities.

Heggie asked the county to re-engage employees in the workplace campaign (basket raffles, jean days, department presentations) and to help publicize United Way services and the local workplace campaign so that new county employees learn about the organization. She told commissioners that United Way has received growing funding requests from local nonprofits and could only fulfill about 78% of requests last year.

Commissioners thanked United Way for the briefing and asked county staff to consider ways to support employee engagement in the workplace campaign. No funding action was taken at the meeting.

Ending: United Way asked the board to help reenergize the county workplace campaign and to consider outreach so county employees better understand local nonprofits and the United Way network when the county conducts future employee engagement activities.