The United Way of Sampson County is kicking off its 2026 fundraising campaign, for which the targeted goal is over $200,000.
The campaign will run through the end of December, as the nonprofit organization hopes to help local organizations of Sampson County that provide health and human services.
United Way of Sampson County was created in 1991 and has been helping fund nonprofit organizations for more than 34 years. It is the largest non-government agency funding health and human services in the community.
“This is our community,” said Dr. Wesley Johnson, president of the United Way board and also Clinton City Schools superintendent. “With your support, Sampson County can be a place where every man, woman and child has the opportunity to reach their full potential.”
Over the past year, the United Way of Sampson County has allocated $107,200 in grants. The funds were in support of agencies such as: The Department of Aging, The Firefighters Association, Champions School Programs, Friends of Education with Sampson County Schools, Child Advocacy Center, CAFE with Clinton City Schools, The Department of Social Services, Rotary Club of Clinton, and the Clinton Police Club. With these funds, the agencies were able to provide programs such as The Department of Social Services with their Breast and Cervical Cancer Awareness along with 4H and Cooperative Extension programs that teach agriculture and horticulture education.
In addition, there are two different tiers rewarding donors for their efforts. For a range of $250 to $999, donors can join the Friends of UWSC, which allows donors to have their name published in UWSC’s annual campaign brochure if they wish. If they donate $1,000 or more, they are recognized in the Leadership Circle.
Linda Jewell Carr, who has worked at the volunteer organization for over two years, is the current executive director of the United Way. She said that where the money goes for those that donate is very important to her.
“The money that goes to the nonprofit organizations are to organizations that are vetted,” she said. “When you give to United Way, it’s important to make sure for the people that donate that their money is going into a trustworthy place.”
The process to receive funds from the board for agencies works like this. Firstly, an organization has to be designated as a nonprofit for at least three years. Next, when applying for funds, the application has to have the UWSC application checklist completed and be sent to the UWSC office, with the agency’s financial information in compliance with the organization’s audit policy.
Next, comes a funds statement, which defines an agency’s mission and program along with which community need is being addressed. In addition on this statement is the program’s goals and outcomes.
Then, the organization will go before the UWSC board and do a presentation, with a Q&A and a board discussion, explaining what their organization plans to do with the funds they are requesting. This is usually held in January. Then in February, allocation decisions for who receives the funds are made.
This process is important, Carr said.
“The board will ask questions,” she explained. “The organizations need a report of where the funds were being used along with making sure the rest of the documents are submitted in the proper manner, who are they serving, where is the location, what’s their nonprofit status. The board takes their job very seriously, because this ties into the community and the trust they put into non profit organizations when they’re donating.”
Hitting the $200,000 goal would be ideal, she said, but for United Way leaders, what they can do for the community during the 2026 campaign matters the most.
“We would love to see $200,000,” Carr said. “Giving has been a little stagnant over the last decade, around $120,000 to $150,000 around that time. But the most important thing is the community. That’s the ultimate goal. My mission and our goal is to reach more people, reach more citizens in Sampson County and more nonprofit organizations.”