United Way of Central Indiana falls just short of $40 million goal

By Kathleen McLaughlin, The IBJ

kmclaughlin@ibj.com

United Way of Central Indiana fell short of its $40 million yearly fund-raising goal, but CEO Ellen Annala said she was thankful for the $38.8 million in pledges announced today at the not-for-profit's annual meeting.

The last time the organization didn't meet its annual goal was in 2001. In the wake of 9/11, the campaign fell $900,000 short of its $38.3 million target. As a result, United Way reduced allocations by 3.5 percent that year and trimmed its own budget.

Annala said she knew the latest fund-raising goal announced last fall was ambitious. If the $38.8 million actually arrives, it will represent 99 percent of the $39 million raised last year. Annala said fund-raising could have slipped much farther.

"We're really happy we didn't lose the gains [seen last year]," she said.

Some corporations canceled their gifts. And throughout the campaign, United Way adjusted its tally to account for employee pledges that would no longer come through because of layoffs.

Even the $38.8 million total was in question as of this morning. Annala was informed that one participating (but undisclosed) company would be closing down soon. At the same time, she hoped those pledges would be offset by another company's successful last-minute appeal.

United Way benefited from 140 first-time workplace campaigns. Annala said companies and employees who are surviving the recession were generous this year.

Annala recognized the top 12 fund raisers today, as well as four recipients of a new award, "Spirit United," for overall involvement.

The top five corporate fund raisers were Eli Lilly and Co., Lilly Endowment Inc., Clarian Health, AT&T (with Communication Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) and Anthem Inc