This indicator is part of Community engagement.

Indicator description:

This indicator compares the growth in donations to community organizations through the United Way in the Albuquerque area, exclusive of government grants. It also compares the actual reported donations to the total personal income in Bernalillo County. This indicator measures a form of participation in community organizations, i.e., the cash support provided them via the United Way. Comparative information is provided for other peer cities in the Southwest.

Why is this indicator relevant?

Obtaining donations is one of the key means of support needed for community organizations to be effective. Local United Way organizations act as catalysts through which local area participants build stronger and healthier communities, raising resources that are invested in programs that address the respective community's pressing needs. A community’s support of United Way indicates a level of awareness of community needs and residents’ engagement in those needs, as well as the respective United Way organization’s ability to communicate needs to the community.

Data Source:
The Chronicle of Philanthropy, October, 2007 from the United Way. 

What can we tell from the data?

• Albuquerque area residents are active supporters of its United Way, ranking among the highest in the country in growth from 2005 to 2006.
• Albuquerque area residents provide a relatively high proportion of their total incomes to the United Way, ranking highest among the peer Southwestern cities.

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