U.S. workers are giving more to alternative charities that advocate civil rights, poverty issues and environmental protection, while they are contributing less to the United Way, a new report shows.
The report prepared by the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, a nonprofit watchdog group, shows that non-United Way contributions rose last year by 5.3 percent, or $14 million.But the report, called "Charity in the Workplace 1993," also showed that contributions to the United Way declined by 4.1 percent, or $130 million. The report said it was the first decline in contributions at the United Way since World War II.
There was also a shift in giving in the government workplace. In the charity drive for federal employees, called the Combined Federal Campaign, the contributions to alternative charities increased by 6 percent, or $9 million, while donations to the United Way fell off by 20 percent, or $14 million.
Robert Bothwell, the executive director of the watchdog group and the editor of the report, attributed the decline in United Way contributions to a financial scandal involving the former president of the charity, William Aramony.
"Also, the baby boomer generation is supporting many issues not represented under the United Way umbrella, including civil rights, woman's issues and the environment," Bothwell said.
"Major forces are bringing about this upheaval. Employees and employers want more control over where their contributions go," Bothwell added.