Program areas at UWNCA
Nonprofit capacity building: United Way nca's primary source of revenue is generated through employer-sponsored workplace giving campaigns. In addition, United Way nca conducts a variety of fundraising initiatives throughout the year, with a focus on growing and diversifying funding sources to support its community impact work and operations. For nearly 50 years, companies, foundations, public entities and individual donors have recognized United Way nca as the preeminent nonprofit for donating to the causes they care about. the millions of dollars raised by United Way nca each year are invested in the most effective programs and services to tackle the most complex social challenges, critical areas of needs and issues in our region.
Economic opportunity: United Way nca's economic opportunity initiatives provide information, resources, and services to end debt and increase generational wealth in under-resourced communities. Since 2015, United Way nca has operated the region's first group of financial empowerment centers (fecs) to promote economic opportunity. Today, United Way nca's five fecs offer individuals, veterans, and working families no-cost, professional high-quality financial capacity building services, such as personlized financial coaching and housing counseling. Fec programs include financial and workforce training, individual and small group coaching, tax preparation services and wealth building work. In 2022, 8,434 individuals benefited from its volunteer income tax assistance (vita) and the earned income tax credit (eitc) program; 8,753 residents received a variety of financial coaching services ranging from free tax preparation, financial workshops, and housing counseling that are aimed at helping our region's residents get on the pathway to a stronger financial future. Through its free tax preparation services, United Way nca resulted in $12.8 million in tax refunds allowing Area residents to plan, save and get ahead. 892 veterans received services to develop capacity for financial literacy and planning, employment and entreprenurial skills, and improve mental health and wellbeing.
Health and education: United Way nca's thrive United 365 health program provides equitable access to the distribtuion of health resources and improves people's lives by addressing health conditions most affecting its communities. Adopting a community-based public health intervention model, the program supports prevention and care management strategies to create low-barrier health resource access points for communities facing enduring health disparities. This place-based work includes equitable access to covid-19 response programs, diabetes prevention and management, and mental health first aid. In 2021-22, United Way nca and partner organizations hosted 149 covid-19 testing and vaccine events. These efforts resulted in 1,470 covid tests administered, 5,321 covid vaccines administered, 6,217 active engagements with individuals receiving covid-19 education, and 126,993 individuals reached through passive outreach in high-risk communities. the program also built and distributed 2,000 ppe kits and provided $6,071,048 in prescription savings to individuals and families across the region.united Way nca's education initatives provide high-quality resources thorugh the community school model to support students and young adults in realizing their academic and training goals. United Way nca partners with six community schools designated as title i schools. Title is schools receive federal financial assistance with high percentages of children from families with low income and 80% of students are recipients of free and reduced meals (farms). the community schools initiative supports a place-based strategy in which each school partners with community agencies and allocates resources to provide an integrated focus on academics, health and social services, youth and community development, and community engagement. This strategy aims to support community schools located in neighborhoods where structural forces linked to racism and poverty shape the experiences of young people and erect barriers to learning and school success. the six community schools that United Way nca partners with are based in communities where families have few resources to supplement what typical schools provide. Through United Way nca's community schools, 5,195 students were served addressing attendance, behavior and course performance; and 21,959 students were served through United Way nca's character playbook program focused on character development and healthy relationships. In response to the impact of covid-19 on academic achievment, United Way nca continued to support the essential needs that students and families require to attend and suceeed at school. This includes 8,931 kits containing food, school supplies, and warm clothing that were assembled and distributed across the region. United Way nca's thrive United 365 health program provides equitable access to the distribtuion of health resources and improves people's lives by addressing health conditions most affecting its communities. Adopting a community-based public health intervention model, the program supports prevention and care management strategies to create low-barrier health resource access points for communities facing enduring health disparities. This place-based work includes equitable access to covid-19 response programs, diabetes preventionand management, and mental health first aid.