L.A. United Way’s Donations Rise for the Second Year, to $58.1 Million

This year’s local United Way campaign raised more than $58 million, continuing a slight upward trend for a charity that suffered a significant drop in donations this decade.

“Not since 1990 has United Way enjoyed two years in a row of increased fund-raising,” said Richard T. Schlosberg III, United Way’s campaign chairman and publisher of the Los Angeles Times. “Last year we said United Way was back. This year, we celebrate the fact that United Way is not only back, but it’s strong, resilient and continuing to build its ability to be the best way to help the most people.”

United Way of Greater Los Angeles collected $58.1 million, $100,000 more than the prior year--but still substantially less than the peak seven years ago, when the organization raised $90 million.

“We’re creeping back up,” said Joe Haggerty, president and chief professional officer of the local United Way. “The campaign was slipping $3 [million] or $4 million a year in the the early ‘90s, and we’ve stopped that. And with some better campaign practices we’re starting to move it up.”

Among those practices is a bid to woo individual wealthy donors, who this year gave nearly $9 million. Additionally, the organization is attempting to build its donor base in the area’s ethnic communities. Contributions from Latino small-business owners, for example, rose from $200,000 to $300,000 this year.

Haggerty said 83% of the money raised will go to charities, both those part of the United Way campaign and others designated by donors.