United Way Of Greater Charlotte

UNITED WAY USES COLLECTIVE GIVING TO ADVANCE ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND RACIAL EQUITY, PRIMARILY THROUGH NEIGHBORHOOD-BASED, GRASSROOTS AND RESPONSIVE SOLUTIONS. AT UNITED WAY, WE FIND FRESH SOLUTIONS TO SOLVE ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND RACIAL INEQUITY, WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH NEIGHBORHOODS AND GRASSROOTS NONPROFITS. WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY, WE'VE BROKEN DOWN BARRIERS TO CREATE UNIQUELY IMPACTFUL PROGRAMS THAT HELP LIFT PEOPLE OUT OF POVERTY.

GOVERNMENT GRANTS: UNITED WAY PARTNERS WITH THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE AND THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA TO DISTRIBUTE FUNDS TO ORGANIZATIONS AND COALITIONS THAT, TOGETHER, WORK TO END HOMELESSNESS.ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS: DURING FY21 UNITED WAY BEGAN ADMINISTERING VARIOUS GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS THAT WERE ESTABLISHED LARGELY IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. THESE PROGRAMS WERE FOCUSED ON SUPPORTING NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN COMMUNITIES WE SERVE AS WELL AS VARIOUS PROGRAMS THAT ARE AIMED AT MOVING THOSE EXPERIENCING OR AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS INTO HOUSING. UNITED WAY RECEIVES LITTLE OR NO COMPENSATION FOR PROVIDING SERVICES UNDER THESE ARRANGEMENTS.

CRITICAL NEEDS: UNITED WAY OF GREATER CHARLOTTE UNDERSTANDS THAT MANY PEOPLE ACROSS THE FOUR-COUNTY REGION ARE LIVING IN A CRISIS SITUATION EVERY DAY. UNITED WAY IS COMMITTED TO CHANGING THAT BY PROVIDING FLEXIBLE FUNDING TO MORE THAN 100 NON-PROFITS WORKING YEAR-ROUND TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS.2-1-1: NC 2-1-1 IS A SERVICE PROVIDED BY THE UNITED WAY OF NORTH CAROLINA AND IS NORTH CAROLINA'S RESOURCE FOR FREE INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SERVICES REGARDING HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND RESOURCES. NC 2-1-1 HAS A DATABASE OF OVER 19,000 RESOURCES, INCLUDING FOOD PANTRIES, HOMELESS SHELTERS, UTILITY AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE, HEALTH CLINICS, PRESCRIPTION DRUG ASSISTANCE, COUNSELING AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES, CHILD CARE RESOURCES, SENIOR RESOURCES, RESOURCES FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND MUCH MORE. VOLUNTEERISM: UNITED WAY GREATER CHARLOTTE'S VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS ALIGN WITH THE OVERALL STRATEGIC DIRECTION OF THE ORGANIZATION BY FOCUSING ON GENERATING REAL IMPACT FOR OUR PARTNER NONPROFIT AGENCIES AND RAISING REVENUE TO FURTHER OUR MISSION. SKILL-BASED VOLUNTEERING AND FEE-FOR-SERVICE MANAGED PROJECTS ARE THE PRIMARY AREAS OF EMPHASIS. THROUGH OUR WEBSITE, WE OFFER REFERRALS FOR INDIVIDUALS, GROUPS OR COMPANIES LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS DIRECTLY WITH THOSE AGENCIES LISTED. UNITED WAY ALSO ENGAGES VOLUNTEERS THROUGH BOARD/COMMITTEE AND COMMUNITY INVESTMENT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES.

COMMUNITY INVESTMENT: THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PROCESS FOCUSES ON ECONOMIC MOBILITY ACROSS THE REGION, WHILE ALSO HELPING PROVIDE A SAFETY NET FOR PEOPLE AND FAMILIES IN NEED. ANNUALLY, UNITED WAY OF GREATER CHARLOTTE INVESTS IN MORE THAN 100 LOCAL NONPROFIT AGENCIES AND INITIATIVES THROUGH THE FUNDING PROVIDED BY GENEROUS CORPORATE AND PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS, THE PUBLIC SECTOR, AND INDIVIDUAL DONORS.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) UNITED WAY TAILORS ITS COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PROCESS TO THE ASSETS, STRENGTHS AND NEEDS OF EACH COUNTY IN OUR FOUR-COUNTY FOOTPRINT. IN MECKLENBURG COUNTY, UNITED WAY FUNDS TWO INITIATIVES:1) UNITED NEIGHBORHOODS IS CHANGING THE ODDS IN DISINVESTED COMMUNITIES BY SUPPORTING RESIDENT-DRIVEN NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION EFFORTS THAT IMPROVE ECONOMIC MOBILITY SO THAT A PERSON'S ZIP CODE NO LONGER DETERMINES THEIR FUTURE SUCCESS IN THE CHARLOTTE REGION. UNITED WAY LAUNCHED UNITED NEIGHBORHOODS IN SEPTEMBER 2017 WITH AN INVESTMENT OVER THREE YEARS INTO THE GRIER HEIGHTS AND RENAISSANCE WEST NEIGHBORHOODS IN CHARLOTTE. WE EXPANDED TO THE LAKEVIEW NEIGHBORHOOD IN FY22. IN FY23, UNITED WAY DEEPENED OUR COMMITMENT TO UNITED NEIGHBORHOODS, INVESTING $4.9M IN 50+ HISTORICALLY DISINVESTED NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE, AND IN NORTHERN MECKLENBURG COUNTY.UNITED NEIGHBORHOODS FOCUSES ON PARTNERSHIPS WITH RESIDENTS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, BUSINESSES, AND NON-PROFITS, BACKED BY MULTI-YEAR FUNDING AND STAFF RESOURCES FROM UNITED WAY. FROM FY18 TO FY22, NEARLY 50 COMMUNITY PARTNERS PROVIDED SUPPORT THROUGH THE UNITED NEIGHBORHOODS PROGRAM. IN FY23, 50 NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE GRANT REVIEW PROCESS, SELECTING THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WOULD RECEIVE FUNDING TO PROVIDE SERVICES WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE PROGRAM ASSISTS THE COMMUNITIES WITH HELPING FAMILIES BECOME FINANCIALLY STABLE, FIND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND PREPARE CHILDREN TO ENTER SCHOOL READY TO READ AND LEARN.UNITED NEIGHBORHOODS ALSO SUPPORTS NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE IN THE EARLY STAGES OF COMPREHENSIVE REVITALIZATION WITH "BLOCK BUILDING GRANTS." THESE GRANTS ARE FOCUSED ON BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF "COMMUNITY QUARTERBACK ORGANIZATIONS, FUNDING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES AND COMPLETING RESIDENT-DRIVEN NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING TO IDENTIFY NEEDS AND SOLUTIONS.2) UNITE CHARLOTTE SUPPORTS NEW AND GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH GRANTS AND CAPACITY-BUILDING ACTIVITIES FOCUSED ON IMPROVING RACIAL EQUITY AND ADVANCING ECONOMIC MOBILITY. THROUGH THIS INITIATIVE, UNITED WAY SUPPORTS DOZENS OF SMALL AND GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS, THE MAJORITY AND FOUNDED AND LED BY PEOPLE OF COLOR.UNITE CHARLOTTE WAS FOUNDED AS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WITH OTHER LOCAL FUNDERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS TO ADDRESS ISSUES THAT LED TO THE UNREST IN CHARLOTTE IN THE FALL OF 2016. THROUGH THIS INITIATIVE, DOZENS OF SMALL ORGANIZATIONS, WORKING OUTSIDE THE SPOTLIGHT TO SUPPORT AND EMPOWER DISINVESTED COMMUNITIES, HAVE RECEIVED GRANTS RANGING FROM $5,000 TO $60,000 AS WELL AS CAPACITY-BUILDING TRAINING.UNITED WAY FUNDING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND GUIDANCE HELP STABILIZE AND GROW NON-PROFITS, PREPARING THEM TO SECURE ADDITIONAL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FUNDING. WE ALSO WORK TO STRENGTHEN THE LEADERSHIP CAPABILITIES WITHIN UNITE CHARLOTTE ORGANIZATIONS IN ORDER TO GROW A MORE DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE PIPELINE OF LEADERS FOR CHARLOTTE'S NON-PROFIT SECTOR. IN FY23, 45 DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS PARTICIPATED IN THE GRANT REVIEW PROCESS, EVALUATING AGENCY APPLICATIONS TO IDENTIFY THOSE ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAN GENERATE THE GREATEST IMPACT.IN ANSON COUNTY, UNITED WAY FUNDING SUPPORTS ORGANIZATIONS ADDRESSING RESIDENTS' BASIC NEEDS, INCLUDING FOOD SECURITY, RENT AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE, AND HOUSING. RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF PROVIDING CHILDREN AND YOUTH A PATHWAY OUT OF POVERTY, UNITED WAY ALSO SUPPORTED ORGANIZATIONS FOCUSED ON EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND YOUTH MENTORING. IN FY23, VOLUNTEERS AWARDED FUNDING TO SIX AGENCIES WORKING IN ANSON COUNTY.IN CABARRUS COUNTY, UNITED WAY'S INVESTMENTS SUPPORT A COLLABORATION BETWEEN MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. BROADLY, THE COLLABORATIVE'S GOALS ARE TO REDUCE STIGMA AROUND MENTAL HEALTH, PREPARE INDIVIDUALS TO RESPOND TO MENTAL HEALTH CRISES, AND PROVIDE RESOURCES TO SUPPORT MENTAL WELLNESS. IN FY23, VOLUNTEERS AWARDED FUNDING TO SIX AGENCIES WORKING IN CABARRUS COUNTY.IN UNION COUNTY, UNITED WAY'S FUNDING SUPPORTS ORGANIZATIONS ADDRESSING A RANGE OF CRITICAL NEEDS, INCLUDING EDUCATION ACCESS AND QUALITY, HEALTHCARE ACCESS AND QUALITY, AND ECONOMIC STABILITY, INCLUDING HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, AND FOOD SECURITY. UNITED WAY FUNDING ALSO ADDRESSES A CRITICAL GAP IN SERVICES IN UNION COUNTY BY FUNDING ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTING PROGRAMS THAT OFFER VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND AFTER SCHOOL SUPPORT FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS LIVING WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. IN FY23, VOLUNTEERS AWARDED FUNDING TO 15 AGENCIES WORKING IN UNION COUNTY.ACROSS ALL FOUR COUNTIES, UNITED WAY'S IMPACT STRATEGY ADVANCES RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG OPPORTUNITY TASK FORCE REPORT. UNITED WAY FOCUSES ON IMPROVING ECONOMIC MOBILITY THROUGH EDUCATION, HEALTH AND FINANCIAL STABILITY WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY FOCUSING ON BUILDING STRONGER NEIGHBORHOODS, INCREASING RACIAL EQUITY AND IMPROVING THE SYSTEMS THAT SERVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.RESULTS FROM AGENCY PROGRAMS FUNDED BY UNITED WAY:- 25,041 CHILDREN ENROLLED IN UNITED WAY FUNDED PARTNER PROGRAMS RECEIVED HIGH QUALITY EARLY EDUCATION.- 4,382 STUDENTS ENROLLED IN UNITED WAY FUNDED PARTNER PROGRAMS SUCCEEDED ACADEMICALLY - 11,022 INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATING IN UNITED WAY FUNDED PARTNER PROGRAMS ACCESSED HIGH QUALITY HEALTH OR MENTAL HEALTH CARE- 3,496 INDIVIDUALS ENROLLED IN UNITED WAY FUNDED PARTNER PROGRAMS IMPROVED THEIR JOB READINESS OR JOB SKILLSUNITED WAY'S BOARD APPROVES GRANT AWARDS ANNUALLY. GRANT FUNDING CYCLES GENERALLY BEGIN ON JANUARY 1 AND CONCLUDE ON DECEMBER 31. WE MAXIMIZE THE FUNDS PROVIDED BY DONORS BY DIRECTING THEM TOWARD CRITICAL PROGRAMS THAT ADVANCE ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND RACIAL EQUITY.

DESIGNATIONS TO OTHER UNITED WAYS AND OTHER 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATIONS: DONORS MAY DIRECT THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUT OF AREA UNITED WAYS OR QUALIFIED TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE SERVICES IN THE AREAS OF HEALTH, HOUSING, AND CHILDREN AND YOUTH. THESE FUNDS ARE RAISED AND DISTRIBUTED BY OUR UNITED WAY TO THE ORGANIZATIONS.