United Way Of Central Ohio Inc

UWCO PROVIDES RESOURCES TO HELP PEOPLE MEET CRITICAL BASIC NEEDS AND ACHIEVE STUDENT SUCCESS.

UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL OHIO'S MISSION IS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF OTHERS BY MOBILIZING THE CARING POWER OF OUR COMMUNITY. BY BRINGING PEOPLE AND SYSTEMS TOGETHER TO ACT, WE'RE HELPING TO CHANGE COMMUNITY CONDITIONS AND CREATE A CENTRAL OHIO IN WHICH EVERYONE HAS THE ASPIRATIONS, RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO REACH THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL.ESTABLISHED IN 1923, UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL OHIO HAS SERVED OUR COMMUNITY FOR NEARLY 100 YEARS. IN THAT TIME, OUR FOCUS HAS SHIFTED FROM BEING STRICTLY A COMMUNITY FUNDRAISER TO A COMMUNITY IMPACT ORGANIZATION THAT BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER TO SOLVE OUR MOST CRITICAL COMMUNITY ISSUES. IN ADDITION TO BEING A MAJOR FUNDER OF CENTRAL OHIO'S NONPROFIT SECTOR, UNITED WAY IS ALSO A STRONG AND VIBRANT CHANGE AGENT IN OUR COMMUNITY. TO FULFILL ITS GOALS AND OBJECTIVES, UNITED WAY RAISES DOLLARS THAT SUPPORT NONPROFIT AGENCIES (FUNDED PARTNERS) ADDRESSING CRITICAL NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY. FOCUSED ON REDUCING POVERTY, UNITED WAY FUNDED 90 NONPROFIT AGENCIES IN 2021-2022. THESE FUNDED PARTNERS WORKED TO ENSURE PEOPLE IN CRISIS RECEIVED FOOD, SHELTER AND ASSISTANCE, AND THAT CHILDREN HAD THE OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES NEEDED TO SUCCEED FROM CRADLE TO CAREER. UNITED WAY MANAGES AN ANNUAL DONOR CAMPAIGN THAT GENERATED APPROXIMATELY $20.5 MILLION IN 2021-2022. UNITED WAY HAS A LONG, SUCCESSFUL HISTORY OF BRINGING GOVERNMENT, BUSINESS AND NONPROFITS TOGETHER TO CREATE LASTING CHANGE. UNITED WAY PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO PROSPER. WE DO THAT BY ACTING AS A CATALYST FOR LASTING IMPROVEMENTS AND BY MOBILIZING OUR COMMUNITY TO GIVE AND VOLUNTEER. WE BRING LEADERS TOGETHER TO IMPROVE THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT DIRECTLY AFFECT THOUSANDS OF LIVES, AND WE DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT INNOVATIVE AND INTEGRATED WAYS TO REDUCE POVERTY.IN ADDITION TO INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITY'S MOST EFFECTIVE NONPROFITS, UNITED WAY ALSO SUPPORTS PROJECTS SUCH AS TAX TIME, STABLE FAMILIES AND PROJECT DIVERSITY PRIDE LEADERSHIP. (SEE NOTE BELOW). AS ONE OF THE LARGEST UNITED WAYS IN THE COUNTRY, UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL OHIO BRINGS TOGETHER MORE THAN 45,000 DONORS AND VOLUNTEERS.FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT WWW.LIVEUNITEDCENTRALOHIO.ORGDIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSIONTHE DEMOGRAPHICS OF UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL OHIO'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND STAFF EXCEED THE RACIAL/ETHNIC DEMOGRAPHICS OF FRANKLIN COUNTY. UNITED WAY EMBRACES INCLUSION, DIVERSITY AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AS CORE VALUES. WE UNDERSTAND THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS STRONGER AND OUR MISSION MORE VIABLE WHEN THE GIFTS OF ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE VALUED, EMBRACED AND MAXIMIZED. AGENCIES RECEIVING FUNDING FROM UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL OHIO ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO REFLECT THESE CORE VALUES IN THEIR MISSIONS, GOALS AND STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS, AS WELL AS AT ALL LEVELS OF ORGANIZATIONAL DECISION-MAKING. IN 2021, UNITED WAY IMPLEMENTED A BOARD DIVERSITY POLICY THAT REQUIRED FUNDED PARTNERS TO SUBMIT BOARD-APPROVED PLANS OUTLINING THEIR APPROACH AND SUPPORT TOWARD GREATER BOARD DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION. THE PLAN MUST BE SIGNED BY THE AGENCY CEO AND ENDORSED BY THE AGENCY'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES.THROUGH A LENS OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION, UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL OHIO ESTABLISHED A 2021-2022 FUNDED PARTNER PORTFOLIO THAT INCLUDED NEW, SMALLER COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS WITH DEMONSTRATED ABILITY TO SERVE TRADITIONALLY HARD-TO-REACH POPULATIONS. UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL OHIO'S 2021 PROGRAM INVESTMENT PROCESS RESULTED IN 90 NONPROFITS RECEIVING FUNDING. THESE 90 NONPROFITS INCLUDED PARTNERSHIPS WITH 48 ORGANIZATIONS LED BY PEOPLE OF COLOR SERVING MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES. UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL OHIO WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE FUNDING DECISIONS USING A RACIAL EQUITY LENS, WHICH INVOLVES PAYING DISCIPLINED ATTENTION TO RACE AND ETHNICITY WHILE ANALYZING PROBLEMS, LOOKING FOR SOLUTIONS AND DEFINING SUCCESS. USING A RACIAL EQUITY LENS TO DETERMINE FUNDING INVESTMENTS HELPS UNITED WAY BETTER IDENTIFY COMMUNITY NEEDS AND ALIGN FUNDING RESOURCES TO ADDRESS THOSE NEEDS. USING A RACIAL EQUITY LENS TO DETERMINE FUNDING INVESTMENTS ALSO POSITIONS UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL OHIO AS A FUNDER THAT IS ACCESSIBLE, COMMITTED TO INCLUSION AND EQUITY, AND AUTHENTICALLY CONNECTED AND ACCOUNTABLE TO OUR COMMUNITY.SUCCESS BY THIRD GRADEREADING PROFICIENCY BY THE END OF THIRD GRADE IS THE GREATEST PREDICTOR OF HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION. RESEARCH CONFIRMS THAT STUDENTS NOT PROFICIENT IN READING BY THE END OF THIRD GRADE ARE FOUR TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DROP OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL. SUCCESS BY THIRD GRADE IS A COMMUNITY-WIDE MOVEMENT FOCUSED ON ENSURING THAT BY 2035 ALL FRANKLIN COUNTY CHILDREN WILL BE READING PROFICIENTLY BY THE END OF THIRD GRADE. UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL OHIO SERVES AS THE BACKBONE ORGANIZATION FOR SUCCESS BY THIRD GRADE. IN THIS ROLE, UNITED WAY MAINTAINS THE OVERALL STRATEGIC COHERENCE AND MANAGES THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS AND IMPLEMENTATION OF WORK AROUND THIRD GRADE READING PROFICIENCY.IN 2021, SUCCESS BY THIRD GRADE INVITED SEVEN FRANKLIN COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN A DESIGN PROCESS THAT WOULD LAUNCH A COMMUNITY-WIDE MOVEMENT TO IMPROVE THIRD GRADE READING PROFICIENCY. THROUGHOUT THE SPRING AND SUMMER OF 2021, UNITED WAY STAFF AND SCHOOL DISTRICT LEADERSHIP CLARIFIED THE COLLECTIVE VISION FOR THIRD GRADE SUCCESS, IDENTIFIED KEY PARTNERS TO SUPPORT THE WORK AND ESTABLISHED A STRUCTURE FOR SHARING IDEAS AND PROGRESS. THROUGHOUT THE FALL OF 2021, TWENTY-ONE FOCUS GROUPS TOOK PLACE WITH PARENTS/CAREGIVERS OF KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THIRD GRADE. IDEAS FROM FOCUS GROUPS CONTINUE TO BE INCORPORATED THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT'S DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION. SUCCESS BY THIRD GRADE MOBILIZES PARENTS/CAREGIVERS, STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, GOVERNMENT, NONPROFITS AND THE CORPORATE COMMUNITY TO WORK TOGETHER TO CHANGE THE EDUCATIONAL TRAJECTORY OF KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THIRD GRADE STUDENTS IN FRANKLIN COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICTS.KINDERGARTEN READINESSEARLY CHILDHOOD IS THE SINGLE MOST PROLIFIC PERIOD OF DEVELOPMENT FOR CHILDREN, WITH 90% OF A CHILD'S BRAIN GROWTH OCCURRING BETWEEN BIRTH AND AGE THREE. FEWER THAN HALF OF ALL FRANKLIN COUNTY CHILDREN ENTER KINDERGARTEN READY TO LEARN. HIGH-QUALITY EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS HELP INCREASE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND GIVE CHILDREN THE SKILLS AND TOOLS NEEDED TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL LEARNERS IN KINDERGARTEN AND BEYOND. IN 2021-2022, UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL OHIO INVESTED $1.6 MILLION IN 20 HIGH-QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS (15 AGENCIES). THESE HIGH-PERFORMING PROGRAMS CAPTURED THE RAPID EARLY BRAIN GROWTH OF VERY YOUNG CHILDREN BY PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES IN A SUPPORTIVE, SAFE AND CARING ENVIRONMENT. THROUGHOUT 2021-2022, EARLY CHILDHOOD PROVIDERS OFFERED PROGRAMS THAT HELPED YOUNG CHILDREN DEVELOP THE SKILLS AND BEHAVIORS NEEDED TO ENTER KINDERGARTEN READY TO LEARN, IDENTIFIED DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS IN YOUNG CHILDREN AND LINKED CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO APPROPRIATE SERVICES. UNITED WAY ALSO FUNDED NONPROFITS THAT PROVIDED EARLY INTERVENTION AND TREATMENT SERVICES FOR DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS.STUDENT SUCCESSAN ESSENTIAL KEY TO ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY IS THE ATTAINMENT OF A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA. FAILURE TO OBTAIN A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA IS INEXTRICABLY CONNECTED TO POVERTY. WITHOUT A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR GED, YOUNG ADULTS FACE EXTREMELY BLEAK ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL PROSPECTS. COMPARED TO HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES, THEY ARE LESS LIKELY TO FIND A JOB AND EARN A LIVING WAGE, AND MORE LIKELY TO SLIP INTO POVERTY AND SUFFER FROM A VARIETY OF ADVERSE HEALTH OUTCOMES. UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL OHIO INVESTED $2.5 MILLION IN 40 YOUTH SERVING AGENCIES. THESE NONPROFITS HELPED STUDENTS DEVELOP THE SKILLS AND BEHAVIORS NEEDED TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL; SUPPORTED THE DEVELOPMENT OF READING AND MATH SKILLS AND ENHANCED SOCIAL COMPETENCIES THAT HELPED DECREASE RISK FACTORS, ABSENTEEISM AND PROBLEM BEHAVIORS. FOR EXAMPLE, 94% OF THE CHILDREN INVOLVED WITH MENTORS PROVIDED BY UNITED WAY FUNDED PARTNERS EXPERIENCED MENTAL HEALTH IMPROVEMENTS AND A DECREASE IN SCHOOL DISCIPLINE INCIDENTS.BASIC NEEDSONE-THIRD OF ALL FRANKLIN COUNTY RESIDENTS CANNOT MEET THEIR BASIC NEEDS. IN 2021-2022, UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL OHIO SUPPORTED 55 HIGH-PERFORMING NONPROFITS THAT HELPED PEOPLE IN CRISIS OBTAIN FOOD, SHELTER AND ACCESS TO OTHER CRITICAL SERVICES. MAINTAINING SUPPORT FOR UNITED WAY'S NETWORK OF BASIC NEEDS PROVIDERS AS OUR COMMUNITY REBOUNDED FROM COVID-19 CRISIS WAS A MAJOR PRIORITY THROUGHOUT 2021-2022. AS WE BEGAN TO EMERGE FROM A CATASTROPHIC HEALTH CRISIS, OUR COMMUNITY FACED MANY OBSTACLES. PART OF THE RECOVERY FROM COVID-19 INCLUDED THE EXPIRATION OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS, STIMULUS FUNDS, EXPANDED UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, EVICTION AND FORECLOSURE MORATORIUMS, AND SUSPENDED UTILITY SHUT-OFFS. UNITED WAY INVESTMENTS HELPED BASIC NEEDS PROVIDERS WEATHER CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH IMPLEMENTING SOCIAL DISTANCING PROTOCOLS, SAFER FOOD HANDLING AND STORAGE, VIRTUAL ACCOMMODATIONS, ORGANIZATIONAL

TAX TIME IS A COALITION OF NONPROFIT, BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDES FREE, HIGH-QUALITY TAX ASSISTANCE AND LINKAGES TO FINANCIAL RESOURCES. THE PROGRAM HELPS HOUSEHOLDS CLAIM VALUABLE TAX DEDUCTIONS AND CREDITS AND ACHIEVE GREATER FINANCIAL STABILITY. LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES 2-1-1 INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SERVICES ACTS AS THE PRIMARY POINT OF CONTACT TO CONNECT TAXPAYERS TO TAX SITES. IN ADDITION, THE LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF COLUMBUS MANAGES A LEGAL HELP LINE TO ASSIST CLIENTS WITH TAX-RELATED LEGAL ISSUES. CLIENTS ALSO RECEIVE INFORMATION ABOUT SAVINGS AND CHECKING ACCOUNTS, UNDERSTANDING AND REPAIRING CREDIT, AND BENEFITS APPLICATION ASSISTANCE. MORE THAN 7,000 PEOPLE RECEIVED FREE TAX PREPARATION ASSISTANCE WITH THEIR 2021 TAX FILINGS, RESULTING IN $9.3 MILLION BEING RETURNED TO CENTRAL OHIO FAMILIES. TAX TIME SERVES LOW- TO MODERATE-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS. ALL CLIENTS SERVED BY TAX TIME'S VITA PROGRAM LIVE IN HOUSEHOLDS EARNING $56,000 OR LESS PER YEAR; HOWEVER, THE AVERAGE CLIENT EARNS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS. TAX TIME FOCUSES ON HOUSEHOLDS ELIGIBLE FOR THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT, WHOSE PRIMARY RECIPIENTS ARE WORKING PARENTS WITH CHILDREN.STABLE FAMILIES IS A COMMUNITYWIDE PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES FAMILIES AT IMMINENT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS WITH A COMBINATION OF IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY FUNDS AND LONGER-TERM HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. THIS EFFECTIVE APPROACH HELPS PREVENT HOMELESSNESS AND REDUCE STUDENT MOBILITY AMONG LOW-INCOME FAMILIES THROUGHOUT FRANKLIN COUNTY. UNPLANNED MOVES, RESULTING IN REPEATED NEW SCHOOLS, HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN. HOMELESS CHILDREN ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO REPEAT A GRADE THAN THOSE WITH STABLE HOUSING. THE STABLE FAMILIES PROGRAM PREVENTS DISRUPTIVE MOVES BY IDENTIFYING FAMILIES AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS AND CONNECTING THEM WITH CASE MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONALS WHO WORK INTENSELY WITH THEM FOR UP TO 18 MONTHS TO CREATE PLANS FOR EACH FAMILY TO STABILIZE AND PROSPER. THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES ARE EVICTED FROM THEIR HOMES DUE TO A SUDDEN LOSS OF INCOME OR AN EMERGENCY EXPENSE. NOT ONLY HAVE THE NEEDS OF FAMILIES INCREASED AND CHANGED, BUT THE NUMBER OF FAMILIES FACING CURRENT AND IMMINENT THREATS OF UNSTABLE HOUSING, UNEMPLOYMENT AND INADEQUATE EDUCATION HAVE INCREASED DUE TO COVID-19. BY PREVENTING EVICTION AND KEEPING FAMILIES SAFELY HOUSED, STABLE FAMILIES SERVICE COORDINATORS HELP FAMILIES NAVIGATE AN UNCERTAIN JOURNEY FROM CRISIS TO RECOVERY. THROUGHOUT 2021-2022, STABLE FAMILIES HELPED MORE THAN 1,000 FAMILIES WITH SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN RECEIVE HELP THAT PREVENTED A HOUSING CRISIS.PROJECT DIVERSITY PRIDE LEADERSHIP

UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL OHIO ALLOWS DONORS TO DESIGNATE GIFTS TO OTHER UNITED WAYS OR SPECIFIC AGENCIES. UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL OHIO PROCESSED DONOR DESIGNATIONS TO 1,791 AGENCIES AND OTHER UNITED WAYS DURING THE 2021 CAMPAIGN. ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVING DONOR DESIGNATED CONTRIBUTIONS THROUGH UNITED WAY UNDERGO SCREENING PRIOR TO DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDING. SUCH SCREENING INCLUDES VERIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE PATRIOT ACT AND VERIFICATION OF CURRENT STATUS AS AN IRS CODE SECTION 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.

UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL OHIO PROCESSED DONOR DESIGNATIONS TO 1,791 AGENCIES AND OTHER UNITED WAYS DURING THE 2021 CAMPAIGN.