i always felt like it was just short of arm twisting and  punitive action.  plus they use a significant amount of time of the companies go-between rep person between the company  and united way.  that a lot of salary or wages.   one is made to feel it is downright anti-america to not donate.  i am going to try to find a documentary , or entries, of it.  i do know they have lavish fund raising parties...they hire(d) the likes of whitney huston, celine dion, john legend, ,etc to sing for an hour for a ton of money.  it's all about wine and dine.  there was a scandal maybe 10 yrs ago when the ceo was paying his exec. secretary a huge wage.  the secretary was the mistress of the ceo  and was like 20 - 21 yrs old. she was getting  a 3 figure salary with very little skills...