United Ways understand that fundraising success depends on how much potential donors know and understand the organizations seeking support. Fundraising should always be conducted in a voluntary manner; coercion creates animosity, hinders communication and understanding, and eventually leads to decreased support.

For years United Ways have been concerned about the use of undue pressure in fundraising and are opposed to any type of coercion. Any semblance of pressure - whether real, implied, or perceived - is contradictory to the operating standards of United Way. United Ways continually try to prevent the use of coercion in their campaigns by encouraging peer solicitation, rather than solicitation of employees by managers.

United Way of Central Virginia's policy specifically states:

United Way of Central Virginia opposes any type of coercion used to solicit contributions. Giving is a personal matter involving a decision by the individual to give or not to give. Likewise, tha amount of the gift is a personal decision. In the long run, coercion actually results in fewer and lower contributions because of the negative reactions and the hard feelings it creates. United Way encourages staff and volunteers to ask for contributions after communicating the benefits and value of contributing to the community campaign. However, United Way does not condone tactics that could result in public embarassment or a change - real or perceived - in employment or job status.