DCUW and our member agencies have been serving the residents of the Victor Valley for over four decades. Our agencies provide services and programs ranging from the most basic of needs such as food and shelter to home health care and prevention services. Last year alone DCUW member agencies reached 247,000 persons in need. That’s over half of the Victor Valley population!

DCUW holds its funded agencies up to very high standards. Each agency is required to measure and report the impact of its programs on clients. These results are used to improve program quality and service. Our funded agencies keep costs for administrative operations below 25 percent of revenue. This is impressive considering the Council of Better Business Bureau standards for charities says it is acceptable for a charity to spend up to 50 percent of its revenue on overhead!

With DCUW, the businesses in our community receive only one “ask” for support. A major advantage of giving through the United Way is that you don’t have to pick just one agency and close your eyes to the others. Your money helps support 27 of the most valued health and human service funded programs in our community. This saves time for businesses and our agencies. It leaves more time for our agencies to provide their services in which they are knowledgeable experts!

Desert Communities United Way (DCUW) participates and cooperates with other agencies (public and private sector) to coordinate health and human services to best meet the needs of our communities in the Victor Valley. We work to increase the public's understanding of these needs. Our most important role is to utilize our resources to ensure quality of life for all of us who live in the high desert, resources such as raising funds for quality health and human services programs and services, marketing research, and technical assistance to our agencies.

Christine Briggs, Executive Director