Leading Question

"Unless it's a major disaster like a depression," says executive director Ernie Bretzmann of the United Way of Collier County, "a downturn in the economy or events like Sept. 11 or the hurricanes don't seem to affect us." That's good news for the dozens of area charitable and other not-for-profit organizations that receive United Way funds.

The Collier organization is one of 1,400 nationwide chapters that raised $4 billion in 2002-2003; it hopes to generate $2.5 million in its 2004-2005 campaign. Most donors contribute through payroll deduction, explains Bretzmann, so amounts don't fluctuate with changing circumstances-unless employees leave their jobs.

"Some companies have up to a 50 percent turnover," he says. Lost donations through job loss are a challenge faced by United Way chapters everywhere, says David Albritton, spokesman for the United Way of America, the umbrella organization headquartered in Alexandria,Va.

Even if the United Way pledges survive the recent hurricanes, local groups-including those that receive United Way funding, but still must raise money on their own-could encounter problems. The sluggish economy and hurricane activity mean some local charities and other not-for-profits may get crossed off the list of things to pay.

A case in point: this year's Campaign for Kids, sponsored by the Boys and Girls Club of Lee County. The organization raised $20,000, some 40 percent short of its goal. "The money we normally get from pledges has been reduced," says executive director Bill Gunnin.

Likewise, officials at WGCU, the local public television and radio station, aren't optimistic about post-hurricane collections. After Sept.11, many WGCU donors decided to give to organizations such as the Red Cross to help victims, says Terry Brennen, director of underwriting at WGCU, which is not a United Way member agency.

Already one company that typically contributes to the stations canceled a pledge in order to afford a donation to hurricane relief, and some major donors have warned they won't be able to contribute their usual support.

Because two-thirds of WGCU's funding comes through individual and corporate donations, which total in excess of $2.5 million, the loss of any money pledged hurts, Brennen says. "We're anticipating there will be a drop off." -Phil Borchmann