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United Way

Mission: The United Way’s mission is to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities.

Work: In communities across America, 1350 United Ways improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of their communities. More than fundraisers, United Ways are partners in change, working with a broad range of people and organizations to identify and resolve pressing community issues. United Ways have led the nonprofit sector in the call for transparent accountability and measurable results.

To achieve measurable, lasting change, United Ways identify and build on community strengths and assets, help individuals and groups with specific community interests find ways to contribute their time and talents, support direct-service programs and community-change efforts, and advocate for public policy changes.

All of this is done in collaboration with diverse partners. Depending on the issue and how the community chooses to address it, United Ways work with schools, government agencies, businesses, organized labor, financial institutions, community development corporations, voluntary and neighborhood associations, the faith community, and others.

Because of the unique conditions in diverse communities, the issues United Ways address are determined locally. Challenges ranging from addiction and domestic violence to obesity and race relations are on the agenda for various United Ways.

Reach: United Way Success By 6® is the nation’s largest network of early childhood coalitions, focused on improving school readiness through community change. In more than 350 communities or states, Success By 6® (SB6) coalitions are changing the way things work so young children can come to school ready to succeed.

Operating under local United Way organizations, SB6® coalitions are galvanizing business, government and non-profit leaders around early learning. For 16 years, SB6® coalitions have been raising awareness of the importance of early childhood development, increasing access to services, advocating for public policies and improving systems – budgets, laws and supports – to improve young children’s lives.

At the national level, United Way Success By 6® provides a strategic framework and support for local innovation. In the last 5 years, more than 500,000 children have benefited from SB6® early learning, child care, parent education, health, literacy and family resource center programs.


Strengthening Families: Thanks to a $1.9 million grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, United Way of America is now able to extend the work of the national Strengthening Families initiative through Strengthening Families United (SFU). In this initiative, UWA will work with local and state level United Ways around the country to determine how the protective factors can be infused into the fiber of their communities as they work with service providers, policy makers, government, and business leaders to ensure that children grow up without abuse or neglect.

Using a competitive grant process, UWA will provide six local United Ways (LUWs) and/or State Associations (SAs) with grants ranging from $35,000 - $60,000 per year for each of two years.  Applicants must demonstrate how they will thoroughly integrate the protective factors and family strengthening principles into all aspects of their work internally, as well as in the community.

Once sites are selected, UWA will convene and support them as a learning community and provide and/or broker technical and peer assistance as needed through meetings, conference calls, and site visits.  SFU will also work with a national evaluator to document and synthesize the work being done across the country in order to capture lessons learned and to assist in the creation of materials for other United Ways to use in their states and communities.


United Way website