News-Record.com

The American Cancer Society can’t be blamed for trying to get its “fair share” of employee payroll deductions. The organization wants Greensboro employers to give workers the chance to donate to it the same way they can donate to the United Way — straight from one’s salary.

The idea’s a good one — for the American Cancer Society. But it’s bad for local United Way agencies, as it could lead to a decline in donations for them. If implemented, it also could become a pain for employers.

There are more than 1,300 United Ways in this country; in 2005-2006 they raised some $3.6 billion. Children to senior citizens benefited from this money, as shown by the United Way of Greater Greensboro, which supports programs ranging from Thriving at Three to services for seniors.

But United Ways do more than dole out dollars: They help ensure that the agencies receiving money are doing what they say they do.

“We are much more than a pass-through” organization, said Keith Barsuhn, the new president of the United Way of Greater Greensboro.

United Ways examine programs to see if they are working. They also routinely check agencies’ balance sheets. In effect, they act as watchdogs on community nonprofits.

They also help communities by helping them set funding priorities.

The United Way also benefits employers. Without it, employers would spend much more time fielding funding inquiries from nonprofits. They also would have to do their own legwork to make sure individual nonprofits they assisted were acting responsibly.

Employers, of course, are free to do as they choose when it comes to helping charities.

Still, the United Way approach seems the most practical way to organize employee giving — and to ensure that employees’ donations benefit the community.

Maybe, instead of competing with the Greensboro United Way, the American Cancer Society should apply to become one of its agencies.