AMHERST – Dozens of local, national and global nonprofits are receiving more than $400,000 from a workplace-giving program at the University of Massachusetts.
The UMass Amherst Community Campaign, or UMACC, which encourages faculty and staff, along with retirees, to donate to nonprofits, surpassed its $350,000 goal for 2015-16.
“This is one more way to show that UMass cares about the community,” said Jennifer Page, who manages the campaign for the External Relations and Community Events office.
Of the $408,070 raised, nearly two-thirds is going to organizations based in western Massachusetts, including the top three, $21,913 for United Way of Hampshire County, $20,419 for the Amherst Survival Center and $18,985 for the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.
Last year, the campaign raised $299,000, but UMass Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy pushed for the campus to do better.
“The goal was set based on a significant, but achievable increase, over last year,” Page said. “The chancellor was very supportive of making the campaign sustainable and supported in a way the campaign deserved.”
While still not up to the $476,666 donated in 2009, Page said the marketing is improving, with campus emails, social media promotions and ambassadors within departments.
“We have the challenge of making sure everyone who wants to participate can,” said Page, observing that donors increased from 450 to 687, though that is still only a fraction of the 5,000 to 6,000 employees at UMass.
United Way Executive Director James Ayres said he is thrilled with the $30,000, or 54 percent, increase in both direct funding and money for partner agencies coming from UMass employees.
“The university is the largest employer in our area, and to have the university have its workforce support local needs makes a huge difference,” Ayres said.
United Way, which is not only a receiving agency but contracts with UMass to disperse the money, has workplace-giving programs with 85 employers in the region, Ayres said.
Ayres said the rising participation rate at UMass shows there is potential for continued growth.
“Locally, our campaign is important,” said Tony Maroulis, director of external relations at UMass. “Our support now has moved quite a bit higher among institutions that support the United Way.”
The largest individual gift was $15,000, donated to St. Brigid’s Catholic Church in Amherst. But Page said donations of all sizes are appreciated.
“I found the small gifts were just as touching as the large gifts. People give what they can, and the important thing is that they’re participating,” Page said.
Long-time donor Donald Robinson, executive director of Environmental Health and Safety, said he feels privileged to give to organizations such as the Springfield Rescue Mission, Salvation Army, Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Alternatives Pregnancy Center and Friends of the Leverett Library.
“I had a single mom who struggled and recall times when she didn’t have money to buy fuel oil for the house,” Robinson said. “If you experience that kind of situation, it stays with you.”
Unlike other workplace-giving programs, UMass has identified 398 eligible nonprofits and gives employees the opportunity to donate to multiple organizations with one transaction, and payments can be through weekly payroll deductions.
Willie Hill, director off the Fine Arts Center, served as campaign chairman and said he was overwhelmed by the participation, generosity and community spirit.
In a statement, Subbaswamy said he is proud to be part of a campus that gives to those in need.
“Supporting the community where we live and work is an important part of the campaign, as is the effort to improve the lives of others across the globe,” Subbaswamy said.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
