At United Way of King County, nearly 97 cents of every donated dollar goes to meet community need. As compared to other nonprofits, including other United Ways, that's extraordinary effi iency. Most other nonprofit groups have operating costs in the neighborhood of 15 to 20 percent.

How do we do it? By running a lean operation, with only essential staff. By subjecting every purchase to several levels of scrutiny. And by having the benefit of an endowment—begun by Bill and Melinda Gates and generously funded by thousands of people throughout the community—that generates income that offsets many of our core expenses.