United Ways Join to Cut Costs, Increase Revenue

Eight California United Ways have joined forces in an effort to lower the cost of raising millions of dollars to support local charities.

The collaborative effort is being supported by United Ways in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Fresno, Modesto, Orange County, Sacramento, Santa Cruz and in Butte/Blenn counties.

Also, the United Way of Greater Los Angeles, the United Way in San Francisco and the Fresno United Way have agreed to process charitable donations for corporate accounts under the auspices of a new support center.

That joint effort could reduce costs by more than $1 million and increase revenues by as much as $5 million, said Charles Miller, chairman of the United Way of Greater Los Angeles, which supports 252 charities, including day-care centers, adult education programs, summer camps and homeless shelters.