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.

Helping Children and Youth Succeed

• Helping children in selected low-income neighborhoods enter school ready to learn.
• Helping foster youth transitioning out of child welfare system to improve their education, housing, social relationships, and employment.
• Early Childhood Development (birth to age 6) initiatives that address any of the essential supports a young child needs to survive and thrive in life, as well as the supports a family and community need to promote children’s healthy development. This included integrating health, nutrition, and intellectual stimulation, providing the opportunities for exploration and active learning, as well as providing the social and emotional care and nurturing a child needs to grow and thrive.

Strengthening and Supporting Families
This is a very broad issue area. The following are some examples that fall into this category:

• Parenting
• Substance Abuse
• Case Management
• Teen Pregnancy
• Counseling

Improving Access to Health Care

• Health and wellness initiatives promote the general prevention and treatment of disease or illness, whether mental or physical, and the medical rehabilitations of people with disabilities. Common issue areas include health care access, alcohol and substance abuse, counseling and intervention services, and preventative services, increasing access to health care for under- and uninsured population, and working to reduce the incidence of low birth weight babies, who disproportionately suffer developmental delays.

Promoting Independence and Economic Self-Sufficiency

• Economic self-sufficiency initiatives helps individuals or families of limited economic means to become more financially independent and less dependent, over time, on human services. The major components of economic self-sufficiency are: asset development; financial literacy and workforce development.
• Helping people and families shore up and increase the resources available to them, so that they have the resources to be a contributing member of society.
• Connecting working families (including immigrants) to traditional financial services and institutions such as banks and credit unions.
• Helping low-income workers claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and learn basic financial planning and management skills.