United Way of Garrett County (UWGC) operates under the direction of its own locally-based Executive Committee and utilizes the administrative services of United Way of Potomac Highlands.  The Potomac Highlands organization, based in Cumberland, Maryland, provides administrative services for four (4) independent United Way organizations serving four (4) surrounding counties.  These include Allegany and Garrett Counties in Maryland and  Hampshire, and Mineral Counties in West Virginia.  This arrangement allows each of the United Way organizations to have access to professional services at the lowest possible cost.

United Way of Garrett County was established in 1999 and ran its own contribution campaign in 2000.  The establishment of individual county organizations was done to stimulate local contributions by having money raised in each county go directly to affiliates in that county.  It also permitted a better alignment of funding with affiliates' performance. 

The work of UWGC is made possible by hundreds of contributors and volunteers.  In the year before UWGC was formed, County United Way raised only $6,000 from donors in Garrett County.  The first campaign managed by UWGC was conducted in 2000 and raised over $39,000.  Last year, the campaign raised more than $100,000.  In just six years, the UWGC has increased the money raised for United Way affiliates in Garrett County by nearly three fold. 
 

The UWGC works through (14) local nonprofit organizations to deliver community services to improve the quality of life for many of our neighbors.  Each year, the Executive Committee considers applications from any new organizations that express an interest in becoming a UWGC affiliate.  The allocation of funds to affiliated nonprofit organizations is based upon recommendations from our Community Response Committee, which annually reviews the qualifications and performance of each affiliate requesting an allocation of funds.  A list of our current affiliates can be seen by clicking here.