CHARITY IN ORANGE COUNTY

Although county residents are supportive of the concept of private giving, recent surveys indicate that they aren’t very generous givers (compared to national figures). The 1987 Orange County Annual Survey found that county households give an average of $262 annually or 0.6% of the median annual household income. The average American household gives 2.4% of its income to charity. Among charities, residents were found to be the mmost favorable toward programs to help the needy; they were split on whetherthey preferred to give to local or national causes. Orange County is fertile territory for illegal charity scams. And the holiday season is their prime time. Part II, Page 1. GIVING TO ORANGE COUNTY ORGANIZATIONS (1984/1985)

Source of revenue Organization General Type Public Foundations Corporations Bequests Benefit to Individual $25,432,000 $4,740,000 $2,979,000 $261,000 Community Interests $56,740,000 $17,371,000 $13,962,000 $0 General Welfare $117,973,000 $11,847,000 $1,587,000 $0 Religious* $61,835,000 $10,001,000 $305,000 $313,000 Formal Education $9,267,000 $64,000 $3,562,000 $1,768,000 Other Educ. Activities $20,305,000 $1,367,000 $2,537,000 $3,000 Non-medical Research $2,260,000 $385,000 $100,846,000 $0 General Health $47,385,000 $671,000 $1,438,000 $0 Specific Diseases $52,066,000 $20,355,000 $7,217,000 $3,504,000 International Activities $26,213,000 $2,857,000 $0 $0

Organization Type TOTAL Benefit to Individual $32,120,000 Community Interests $84,955,000 General Welfare $131,303,000 Religious* $72,454,000 Formal Education $14,662,000 Other Educ. Activities $24,211,000 Non-medical Research $101,830,000 General Health $49,493,000 Specific Diseases $83,141,000 International Activities $29,070,000

* Not all religious organizations are required to file CT-2 forms.

Source: California CT-2 tax forms; compiled by National Center for Charitable Statistics

FAVORABILITY TOWARDS GIVING TO... Programs to help the needy

Very favorable: 46.7%

Somewhat favorable: 43.2%

Somewhat unfavorable: 6.8%

Very unfavorable: 2.9%

Don’t know: 0.4%

Hospitals/medical causes

Very favorable: 35.4%

Somewhat favorable: 37.8%

Somewhat unfavorable: 16.1%

Very unfavorable: 9.5%

Don’t know: 1.2%

United Way/umbrella agencies

Very favorable: 32.8%

Somewhat favorable: 37.8%

Somewhat unfavorable: 16.2%

Very unfavorable: 11.9%

Don’t know: 1.3%

Colleges/universities

Very favorable: 29.9%

Somewhat favorable: 41.5%

Somewhat unfavorable: 19.1%

Very unfavorable: 8.3%

Don’t know: 1.2%

Churches/religious groups

Very favorable: 34.2%

Somewhat favorable: 33.0%

Somewhat unfavorable: 16.5%

Very unfavorable: 15.7%

Don’t know: 0.6%

Museums/arts/culture

Very favorable: 19.5%

Somewhat favorable: 43.0%

Somewhat unfavorable: 24.6

Very unfavorable: 12.3%

Don’t know: 0.5%

MEDIAN AMOUNT GIVEN TO CHARITY (1986) All $262

College graduates $395

35-54 year-olds $414

Favorability to religion $436

Income over $472

PLAN CHARITY GIVING Don’t know 2.6% Disagree 28.1% Agree 69.3% CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME Don’t know 4.1% Disagree 49.5% Agree 46.45 FOCUS: UNITED WAY OF ORANGE COUNTY United Way of Orange County raises money for 122 nonprofit service agencies that offer assistance in areas ranging from adoption to youth development and recreation.

As is the case with many United Way organizations in relatively new communities in the West, local per capita contributions lag behind the national average. But from 1975 to 1985, United Way of Orange County had the greatest percentage gain in dollars raised in the nation, at 455.7%

After that decade of steady growth, United Way of Orange County has suffered through two lean years: in 1985, only $17.5 million of the $18.4 million pledged was collected, and in 1986 only $16.5 million was raised, $2.5 million short of fund raising goals. Member agencies withstood a 10.5% budget cut.

A scandal involving United Way in Los Angeles hurt efforts to raise money in Orange County, even though the two organizations are unconnected, Local United Way officials said. This week, United Way of Orange County officials announced that 1987’s final fund raising tally is $16.7 million. While a goal of $17.4 million had been announced, officials said their main objective was to raise more than last year.

United Way: per capita annual giving

All United Ways** $15.65

Metro I* United Ways** $13.32

Western Region United Ways $11.67

Metro I Western Region United Ways $10.13

United Way of Orange County $7.78 **National averages * Metro I: United Ways with annual budgets of $9 million or more

Where the funds go

Health services for the disabled 23.8% Services to youth 21.2% Overhead expenses* 15.0% Emergency services 14.5% Counseling services 8.5% Community services 8.5% Services to families and children 8.5%

*Overhead expenses include fund-raising, administration, agency relations and communications.

Where the funds come from

Employee contributions 70%

Corporate contributions 27%

Special gifts from individuals 3%

Sources: United Way and 1987 Orange County Annual Survey

Clipboard researched by Rick VanderKnyff / Los Angeles Times