The United Way of Central Iowa has enacted a new policy which is raising questions about one of the groups receiving money from the organization.

Under the new policy, if an organization denies services to a person because they belong to a group that is protected by law, they will not receive funding from the United Way of Iowa.

This raises concerns with the Boys Scouts, who have nationally denied homosexuals the chance to be Scout leaders.

Ely Brewer, Scout executive of the Mid-Iowa Council, said the Mid-Iowa Council does not have any concerns with a conflict of interest between the National Boy Scouts policy toward homosexuals and the new policy initiated by the United Way.

“Our policies are exactly the same as the National Boy Scouts,” Brewer said.

He said the Scouts intend to follow the agreement.

The United Way policy states, “Every United Way program will not exclude any person who seeks services from receiving any service based on their race, creed, color, religion, gender, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, national origin, age or any other characteristic protected by law.”

Martha Willits, president of United Way of Central Iowa, said an annual review will be conducted to make sure all organizations are abiding by the new regulations.

Willits said the change made the Scouts as well as the other 114 organizations adopt the discrimination policy.

“We asked all of our agencies to take board action to adhere to our new policies,” Willits said.

Brewer said the board made the decision to continue its policy with the United Way of Iowa.

“It was considered, but there was no force or reason to turn it down,” he said.

Willits said this is something the United Way of Central Iowa has never done before.

“The policy of issue is that it commits to everyone seeking services. Each program has to follow our discrimination policy,” she said.

Brewer said this agreement is continuing the relationship with the United Way and the Boy Scouts.

“We have been with this relationship for over eighty years and this agreement continues that and there will be no change in our operations,” he said.

Willits said the Boy Scouts of Iowa will receive $124,000 this year.

“The agreement for a group’s funding is contingent on [if they follow the United Way’s policy] and if we find a program that does discriminate, their funding will be cut,” she said.