United Ways Merge in Chicago Area

United Way in Chicago and United Way of Suburban Chicago, a federation of 52 United Ways, have agreed to merge into a new organization by the end of December.

Under the agreement — aimed at streamlining operations in the region, which has the greatest number of United Ways in the country — the new organization will handle all on-the-job drives and administrative matters, according to Janet Froetscher, president of United Way in Chicago. The 52 suburban groups will be restructured into no more than 17, and they will continue to raise money from local residents and businesses and allocate the donations in their cities and towns.

“We have recognized the importance of making United Way more efficient while maintaining the local involvement of volunteers in determining needs and appropriate funding,” said James Blue, chair of the United Way of Suburban Chicago Board of Directors.

A committee made up mostly of Chicago-area United Way board members will appoint a president for the new group, to be called the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago, and will assemble a new board comprising 25 members.

United Ways around the country are considering ways to eliminate duplication, streamline operations, and reduce overhead as part of an effort to raise standards, according to a spokesman for United Way of America.