The United Way of King County in Seattle raised $100.3-million in the fiscal year that closed on June 30 – a sum that probably allows it to continue to reign as the United Way that takes in the most in its yearly campaigns.

The overall total represents a decline from the $116-million it collected last year. But the King County United Way credits the support of corporations like Boeing, Microsoft, and Costco and the high-profile leadership of Tod Leiweke, the CEO of the Seattle Seahawks– who chaired the 2008-2009 campaign—with allowing the group to hit the $100-million mark for the third year in a row at a time when many other organizations are struggling to raise money.

“It has been a challenging year,” says Jared Erlandson, a spokesman at United Way of King County. “The economy has really pushed people to their limits.”

He says companies and their employees have stepped up their giving in response to an unprecedented increase in need.

In November 2008, the group announced an emergency “Response for Basic Needs” campaign that has so far raised $3.7-million to distribute groceries to food banks, prevent foreclosures and evictions, and help sign up families for food stamps and other government benefits.

The group also recently undertook its first online fund-raising effort as part of a “Climb for the Community” event in which Mr. Leiweke and several local business leaders climbed Mt. Rainier to raise money for the basic needs fund. The climb, which took place earlier this month, raised $380,000 — $30,000 of which came from online donations, said Mr. Erlandson.