FAQs

What's the difference between Good Neighbors Campaign and United Way?
What's USC Neighborhood Outreach?
Where does USC Neighborhood Outreach get its money?
How is the money distributed to the community?
How much money has been given to the community?
I give to the USC Capital Campaign. Why should I give to USC GNC?
I don't live near either USC campus. Why should I give to this campaign?
Why do we have a relationship with United Way?
How can I give to a specific organization funded by USC Neighborhood Outreach?
Are donations to USC Neighborhood Outreach tax deductible?
Can payroll deductions be made for donations to any organization?
Can I stop my payroll deductions, should I need to?
What is the difference between the GNC pledge form and United Way form?
If I want to keep giving to the organization that I designated last year (through United Way), do I need to fill out another pledge form and United Way form?
If I want to volunteer my time to one of the supported organizations, do I contact them directly or is there a USC Neighborhood Outreach leader that I should call?
What types of organizations are 501(c)(3)?
A Few Tips on Answering Difficult Questions

Q: What's the difference between Good Neighbors Campaign and United Way?
A: The USC Good Neighbors Campaign (GNC) is the umbrella organization which raises money for USC Neighborhood Outreach, United Way and other non-profit organizations (using United Way as a processing agent).

Prior to 1994, the university held an annual United Way campaign. The university continues to provide employees with the option of giving to United Way since some employees want to designate their gifts to specific organizations that do not fall under the USC Neighborhood Outreach program.

Q: What's USC Neighborhood Outreach?
A: USC Neighborhood Outreach, created in 1993, provides financial support to partnerships between USC faculty and staff, and community-based organizations that have a visible, positive impact in our neighborhoods.

It helps provide greater coherence and coordination of the university's partnerships with the community. Its priorities are to:

• Provide special educational, cultural and developmental opportunities for children and families living in USC's immediate neighborhoods.
• Work with our neighbors, city and county officials, and the Los Angeles Police Department to provide safe streets in the areas surrounding the university's two campuses.
• Encourage more entrepreneurs, especially minority entrepreneurs, to establish businesses in the immediate vicinity of our campuses.

Q: Where does USC Neighborhood Outreach get its money?
A: The primary source of Neighborhood Outreach funding comes from faculty and staff gifts through the annual Good Neighbors Campaign.

Q: How is the money distributed to the community?
A: A grants committee comprised of USC faculty and staff from both campuses allocates Neighborhood Outreach funds. Each January, the committee requests grant proposals from USC employees, academic units and outreach programs.

Proposals must be submitted in partnership with a community-based organization (with non-profit classification) that operates and has a home base within specific geographic boundaries. After an extensive review and evaluation process, proposals are selected based on community impact, cost-effectiveness, volunteer involvement and measurable progress toward achieving one or more of the university's community objectives.

Awards are announced each June and funds are distributed to the community partner. Unallocated funds are held in an interest-bearing account.

Q: How much money has been given to the community?
A: Since issuing the first request for proposals in January 1995, Neighborhood Outreach has funded 167 proposals totaling over $5 million. Nine proposals were funded in 1995 (totaling $185,000), 12 in 1996 (totaling $251,000), 16 in 1997 (totaling 330,000), 14 in 1998 (totaling $400,000), 21 in 1999 (totaling $550,000), 20 in 2000 (totaling $549,000),19 in 2001 (totaling $590,000), 25 in 2002 (totaling $617,000), 26 in 2003 (totaling $616,485) and 26 in 2004 (totaling $650,000),32 in 2005(totaling $766,670), 35 in 2006(totaling $791,682), 38 in 2007 (totaling $937,267) and 37 in 2008 (totaling $850,000).

Q: I don't live near either USC campus. Why should I give to this campaign? A: No matter how much time we spend in this community (8 hours, 12 hours or 24 hours a day), we have to become accountable to the communities in which we work and live. Our contribution to this campaign shows our commitment to making a difference. As employees of this university, we want USC and its surrounding neighborhoods to remain healthy.

Q: Why do we have a relationship with United Way? A: United Way supports more than 300 non-profit agencies that provide many services to children and families throughout Los Angeles. By maintaining this relationship, the university creates an opportunity for employees who are interested in contributing to United Way or organizations through United Way to participate.

Q: How can I give to a specific organization funded by USC Neighborhood Outreach? A: USC Neighborhood Outreach funds USC-community partnerships that achieve the university's community initiatives. Grant recipients will likely change from year to year. The grants committee, made up of representatives from across USC, makes its decisions based on potential impact and is careful not to spread the funds too thinly across many projects. Also, USC Neighborhood Outreach is not an organization designed to process designations. If employees wish to designate, United Way is prepared to process those gifts.

Q: Are donations to USC Neighborhood Outreach tax deductible? A: Yes! USC Neighborhood Outreach is a non-profit, 501(c)(3); therefore, all gifts to Neighborhood Outreach are tax deductible.

Q: Can payroll deductions be made for donations to any organization? A: No. Our payroll system can only process donations to USC Neighborhood Outreach and United Way. You may, however, designate the organization of your choice through United Way.

Q: Can I stop my payroll deductions, should I need to? A: If necessary, you may discontinue your payroll deduction by sending a written request to USC Good Neighbors Campaign, MC 7740, or email neighbor@usc.edu.

Q: What is the difference between the GNC pledge form and United Way form? A: Everyone making a contribution to the USC Good Neighbors Campaign must complete a pledge form. The GNC pledge form allows the donor to indicate a gift amount and direct his/her gift to USC Neighborhood Outreach. A United Way form is needed only if the donor wishes to give to United Way or to designate his/her gift to another non-profit organization.

Q: If I want to keep giving to the organization that I designated last year (through United Way), do I need to fill out another pledge form and United Way form? A: Yes. A new pledge form and United Way form should be completed if you wish to designate your gift; however, last year's United Way payroll deduction will continue (without designation) unless a new form is completed.

Q: If I want to volunteer my time to one of the supported organizations, do I contact them directly or is there a USC Neighborhood Outreach leader that I should call? A: If you are interested in volunteering, you should contact the organization directly.

Q: What types of organizations are 501(c)(3)? A: Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code provides tax-exempt status for "corporations, and any community chest, fund, or foundation, organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, testing for public safety, literary, or educational purposes, or to foster national and international amateur sports competition, or for the prevention of cruelty to children or animals, no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual, no substantial part of the activities of which is carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to influence legislation, any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office."

A Few Tips on Answering Difficult Questions:
When dealing with difficult questions, doubts and hesitation while soliciting pledges, keep the following in mind:

• Don't take negative attitudes and objections personally. At times, people react negatively based on misinformation.
• Be sympathetic. Listen carefully and reflect the objection without agreeing with it.
• Deflect the objection by pointing out the positives.
• Don't argue. This may turn-off a potential donor.

September 2009