The merger will bring more services to Johnston County and streamline operations, but the structure of fundraising campaigns will stay the same, United Way officials said.

“The main thing will be the name,” said Johnston United Way executive director Molly Parker, whose new title is vice president for community development for Johnston County.

Parker cited the growth of the area and the increasing connection between Johnston County and the Raleigh-Durham area as one reason for the merger.

Much of the behind-the-scenes fundraising work, such as data entry, will now be done at the Greater Triangle United Way offices in Morrisville.

“It is wonderful to have the strength of the United Way of the Greater Triangle behind all the programs and partner agencies in Johnston County,” said Danny Brown, chairman of the Johnston United Way board.

Parker will keep the Johnston County office running. No one will be laid off, as she is the only paid employee in Johnston. The Greater Triangle United Way will still rely on two committees in Johnston to determine how to dole out money in the county. Four people from Johnston will serve on the Greater Triangle board of directors.

Money raised in the county will continue to stay in the county, Parker said, but donors must specify so on their form.

Johnston County will now be part of the United Way’s 2-1-1 information and referral service, which provides information about health and human service programs 24 hours a day. Parker is working on getting local agencies to join the program.

“It’s a great opportunity,” Parker said. “We did not have a central location that someone can call for any kind of information.” This past year, the United of Johnston County raised $358,000, falling short of its $428,000 goal. In 2007, it raised $360,000 with a goal of $425,000.

Parker said fundraising totals were not the reason for the merger. “Of course, we hope we might raise more money," she said.