United Way of Central Illinois

Education - funded out of the community fund, these programs address our education priorities and strategies which are funded to help children learn, achieve, and succeed while engaging families and communities. Education programs address access to high-quality early childhood education supports, on-time achievement, social emotional development, and supports to help students graduate with a plan for the future.

Financial stability - funded out of the community fund, these programs address our financial stability priorities and strategies which are funded to provide individuals and families with the education, skills, and supports needed to lead financially stable lives. Financial stability programs address safe and affordable housing, increase employment opportunities, and expand financial literacy skills. This work also expands to help seniors maintain independence in their own home.

Basic needs - funded out of the community fund, these programs address our basic needs priorities and strategies which are funded to support a safety net of food and shelter for our community's most vulnerable members. Basic needs programs address access to emergency food and emergency shelter and provisions.

Health - funded out of the community fund, these programs address our health priorities and strategies which are funded to activate and inspire our community to get health and stay healthy. Health programs address access to care issues through increasing knowledge and key relationships while also supporting needed mental health services. Health programs receive $179,295red feather grants are a grant process added to the uw's community investment options in order to fund unique opportunities that allow United Way to advance the work of the issue areas and/or the community through specialized funding consideration when these requests fall out of the typical funding norms (community fund, venture fund, and emergency fund). Red feather grants may pull from a variety of funding pools. Currently, two red feather grants are approved. One for the american red cross of south Central in the amount of $24,000 which is funded out of the emergency fund. The second is for the funding for the homeless management information system staff person which coordinates and maintains data on behalf of 9+ organizations in the amount of $20,000. Total of grants funded $44,000.united Way's venture fund supports projects that make an impact in sangamon county and menard county within United Way of Central Illinois identified funding areas. Grants may be made for one time funding to new projects or for the expansion of an existing project and should not be viewed as on going program support. In 2022 helping hands of springfield received $25,000 to pilot their fuse program that is designed to help the community break the cycle of homelessness and crisis among individuals struggling with complex behavioral health needs.directed contributions- United Way administers directed contributions to non profit agencies.dolly parton imagination library is designed to provide one, free, age appropriate book per month to children from birth to age 5. The goal of the program is to instill the love of reading, provide books for those who may not be able to afford them and better prepare children to enter kindergarten ready to learn. Total expenses for the dolly parton imagination library were $23,169.211 is a toll free information and referral services provided to citizens in sangamon and menard counties. Total expenses for 211 were $35,940.day of action volunteers spend their afternoon completing community service projects at various health and human service agencies in in springfield and surrounding areas. Total expenses for day of action were $1,556.get connected is United Way's volunteer website. The website offers any local nonprofit or community group in need of volunteers to post volunteer opportunities, inkind needs, upcoming events, and even employment needs. Get connected then allows members of our community to respond to those needs, easily share with friends, create volunteer groups, track service hours, and even receive notifications when your favorite nonprofit posts a new need. Get connected has quickly become our region's #1 source for locating and responding to local volunteer needs. Total expenses for get connected were $2,725.