Most people define charity as helping to buoy someone’s livelihood, not end it. Unfortunately, that’s not how all “charities” operate. United Way is one such philanthropic organization whose functions are sometimes profoundly antithetical to the moral convictions of those who offer financial assistance. Abortion, for example, is loosely but undeniably embedded in United Way’s mission.

The watchdog 2ndVote, which has chronicled United Way’s association with Planned Parenthood for several years now, recently presented new research. The group reports, “Analysis of the most recent IRS Form 990 filings and other documentation found 62 United Way affiliates sent $2,756,799 to Planned Parenthood organizations in tax year 2016. 2ndVote’s latest findings indicate an increase of $168,806 from the $2,590,994 United Way funneled to Planned Parenthood in 2015.”

Executive Director Robert Kuykendall extrapolates the cruel implications: “According to Planned Parenthood, an abortion can cost up to $950. This means United Way dollars essentially paid for the equivalent of at least 2,901 Planned Parenthood abortions over the course of a single year.”

The 62 affiliates that help fill Planned Parenthood’s coffers are spread across 29 states. In a statement, United Way exonerates itself by citing this “small number” along with their autonomy: “United Way Worldwide does not control funding decisions by local United Ways. … Out of 1,129 local United Ways in the United States, only a small number (less than 3 percent) provide direct support to Planned Parenthood. The amount of financial support represents less than one tenth of one percent of total United Way revenue.”

Regardless, the only acceptable amount of money United Way should be sending to Planned Parenthood is zero. This is a policy that corporate headquarters could easily implement but won’t. Furthermore, as 2ndVote responded, “Planned Parenthood donations are used to fund abortions, and each United Way dollar which goes to Planned Parenthood is responsible for the murder of an unborn child. Money is fungible, and any argument to the contrary is simply dishonest.”

Years ago, the Komen Foundation was similarly outed for its multimillion-dollar cash flow to Planned Parenthood. This not only is ironic, but there is absolutely no moral reason that charities should be bankrolling death. It’s also important that the moral-minded know exactly what their benevolence is funding and respond accordingly.