Corporate Cornerstone

Established in 1998

Corporate Cornerstone members are companies who choose to direct their corporate gifts to pay UWCNM’s administrative expenses. Membership requirements include an annual gift valued at $5,000 or more which covers the administrative cost portion of the United Way budget. The gift can be cash or in-kind. In-kind donations must replace an operating expense. In 2009, 71 companies are represented in this group.

Established in 1998 at the suggestion of then Board Chair, Bob Jung of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., the Corporate Cornerstone Program is a corporate recognition program. Because of these corporate gifts, 100% of the money donated by individuals goes to help people. We do have administrative costs. Because of our extensive use of volunteers, we are proud to report that our administrative cost (12%) is among the lowest of most major charities and is actually less than most agencies in our community. All administrative costs are paid by corporations who choose to participate in the Corporate Cornerstone Recognition Program.

Once the base donation of $5,000 is achieved, Corporate Cornerstone Companies may contribute cash, in-kind products or services and/or invest in co-branding partnership opportunities with Major Gift initiatives at United Way of Central New Mexico. Requests for additional information on co-branding should be directed to Major Gifts’ staff. Corporations are recognized for their total United Way contribution.

See our list of Corporate Cornerstone Members and the different levels of giving.
View the benefits of being a Corporate Cornerstone Member.

Community Building Initiatives: Since 2002, Corporate Cornerstone companies have contributed more than the total administrative budget required each year. The additional funds are used to establish systemic improvement programs. They include:

• The Center for Non Profit Excellence: The Center for Nonprofit Excellence was created in 2005 to help nonprofits improve their skill levels and to foster collaboration and innovation within the nonprofit sector. This service brings together the best trainers and curriculums to assist the nonprofit sector in doing their work more efficiently and effectively. The service is available to all nonprofit organizations in Bernalillo, Sandoval, Torrance and Valencia counties. The center is funded by and housed at United way in collaboration with the Albuquerque Community Foundation.
• Empowering Victims of Violence: United Way began its Initiatve Against Family Violence and convened conversations with service providers, employers and other funders to explore what needed to be done to improve services systematically. Six years later, businesses have been trained to recognize and assist employees who were struggling with abuse; a collaborative ad campaign was designed and deployed to raise community awareness and support; and a new service model called the Albuquerque Family Advocacy Center was opened in partnership with the City of Albuquerque and 13 partner agencies, all housed under one roof to serve domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse victims. The results speak for themselves: over 12,000 adult and child victims of interpersonal violence have been served since the AFAC opened in late October 2007.
• Social Entrepreneurship: The project's mission is to increase the effectiveness and self-sufficiency of the nonprofit sector by helping individual nonprofits think and act in an entrepreneurial manner.  The proposed outcome of the program is to enable nonprofits to meet the growing needs of clients and to achieve financial stability.
  

Priority Focus Area Funding: Any funds which remain from Corporate Cornerstone contributions after the Board approves the administrative and Community Building Initiative budgets are added to the dollars which are allocated to participating organizations through the volunteer review process. These grants are made to programs within local agencies. This year 103 programs, through an open, competitive process, were awarded significant program funding. The funding decisions were made by local volunteers, 350 strong, who visited each agency and reviewed each proposal.

United Way of Central New Mexico is fortunate to be supported by large and small businesses in this community. The UWCNM Corporate Cornerstone Program provides much needed administrative support to the organization; it allows individual donors to keep their donations whole; and it provides an extensive recognition program which distinguishes our great corporate partners to the community.

Corporate Cornerstone Funds