Montana's United Ways are reflecting a trend noticed nationwide by the charity - the stumbling economy is making it harder to raise money. While United Way agencies in Missoula, Yellowstone and Silver Bow counties met or exceeded their goals, those in Gallatin, Cascade, Flathead and Lewis and Clark counties are coming up short.
And that has some of the local agencies worried.
"What we're finding because of the soft economy is that furniture stores aren't selling furniture and restaurants don't have as many customers," said Carol Townsend, executive director of United Way of Gallatin County. "We see a higher demand from the community. Our campaign is down but the needs are up."
The Bozeman-based Gallatin County United Way, she said, was a little slow getting its fund-raising drive started after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. So far, the agency has brought in just 75 percent of its $547,000 goal, the least of any Montana United Way. Townsend expects the agency to bring in at least 90 percent of its goal as the campaign continues.
Two businesses closed in Gallatin County last year, putting a dent in donations. An Internet-related business laid off 250 of its 350 employees, and that business' workers had donated $30,000 two years ago. Now, Townsend said, it's giving just $13,000. The second business, ILX Lightware Corp., is down to 110 or so employees from about 250 workers.
"We lost $21,000 from there this year alone," she said.
"Most of the other (United Ways) are not dealing with that kind of setback. They are the highest-paying jobs in the community often. They were very highpaying here," she said.
"We still have a lot of work to do," Townsend said.
United Way agencies in Lewis and Clark, Flathead and Cascade counties have brought in 95 percent to 97 percent of their goals, outcomes that pleased their executive directors.
With a goal of $550,000 this year, the agency in Helena has brought in $530,000, or 97 percent, said Tim McCauley, the executive director.
Helena, like Bozeman, also lost some businesses. The ASARCO plant, where employees donated $10,000 each year, closed.
"If we don't make it, we'll be fairly close," he said. "Overall, our board is fairly pleased with what we've raised. We're hanging in there."
Great Falls, again the home of two closing businesses, had brought in about $745,000 of its $786,000 goal.
Added to the impact of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, "there is only so much people can give," reported Crissy Laubach , the group's marketing campaign coordinator.
She expects more demands on the agencies financed by United Way, especially if the statewide drought continue.
In Kalispell, the United Way agency has claimed 95 percent of its goal, $760,414, about $11,000 more than it raised last year.
"We're very, very grateful to the community for its generosity, said Sherry Stevens Wulf, the executive director. "It's been a tough year with the Sept. 11 (attacks), the change in the economy and the interest rates."
For Butte, Billings and Missoula, all of which met or exceeded their goals, the push this year has been for home support.
"It's a mystery ... just the plain generosity of the folks around here," said Karen Shipley, Butte's executive director. "Their community is important. They kept (donations) at home and did what they could do at home."
After not meeting its goal since 1998, this year Butte is 2 percent over its $245,000 goal.
"We've come close but we haven't exactly reached our goal since 1998," Shipley said.
The same can be said of Yellowstone County, where the Billings United Way also expects to meet its goal of $1.5 million for the first time in several years.
Executive Director Carol Burton wouldn't say how much the agency has brought in, reserving that for the agency's Feb. 15 annual meeting, but she did say she expects to meet this year's goal.
"Here in Billings," she said, "what is happening is that everybody's aware of a strong community and how you have to build it with local funds. Probably people are more aware of how suddenly that can change. It's fresh in our minds."
The economy in Billings is good thanks to a new processing service center Wells Fargo built to expand its business.
"I think people are more aware of giving and their ability (to give)," Burton said. "We had a pretty much across-the-board increase in all areas of the community."
Judy Wing, Missoula County's United Way executive director, credits "the best campaign we've had in our history" for topping the agency's goal of $1.1 million.
"We might be $7,000 over," Wing said. "I think this year we'll settle in somewhere around $1.157 million when we were shooting for $1.1 million."
A plea to support local needs had an impact on the fundraising, she said.
"We had excellent media support in addressing (local) needs," Wing said. Articles encouraging people to give locally made a significant difference.
"I don't know," she said, "Frankly, we had the best campaign we've had in our history. We had wonderful representation in the workplace."
"We had substantial giving in the workplace," she added.
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