Davis, Salt Lake area United Way offices to merge

The United Way of Davis County, which struggled this year to meet its fund-raising goals, will merge with the United Way of Salt Lake, the two organizations announced Thursday.

The United Way of Salt Lake, which until now has served Salt Lake, Summit and Tooele counties, will take over administrative functions for the Davis County organization, which will maintain its office in Northern Utah.

The streamlined operations, United Way officials said, will increase efficiency and eliminate confusion for customers.

"It just makes sense for our organization, which has a much stronger infrastructure and can absorb many of those things," to handle those functions, "so the Davis County office can concentrate primarily on serving the needs of the people of Davis County," said Deborah Bayle Nielsen, president and chief executive officer of United Way of Salt Lake.

Davis County CEO and President Tim Shultz will become an employee of United Way of Salt Lake, taking the title of regional director for Davis County. Shultz will continue to work out of the Davis County office.

Nielsen said the merger was prompted in part by shrinking donations in Davis County. That organization's 2006 campaign was about $100,000 short of the previous year's total.

"That's part of it," she said. "And, really, there are so many requirements now, accountability, customer service . . . that a small entity like Davis County was just having a very difficult time meeting all the requirements and still being able to serve the people."

No new staff will be hired in Salt Lake to handle the increased workload, Nielsen said. One new staff member, a community investment adviser, has been hired to work in Davis County.

The United Way of Davis County has existed for about 25 years. The United Way of Salt Lake, however, was established in 1904. It began serving Salt Lake County only, but over time added Summit and Tooele counties.

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E-mail: awelling@desnews.com