About United Way of Greater New Haven
United Way of Greater New Haven is an independent nonprofit organization, governed by a local Board of Directors, under the umbrella of United Way Worldwide.
UWGNH was founded in 1919 as the United Fund of Greater New Haven to provide grants to core nonprofit "safety net" agencies in the region. We are currently one of nearly 1,800 community-based United Ways in 45 countries and territories.
In the last few years United Way of Greater New Haven has retooled to meet the unique challenges of today. We have transformed from a predominantly grantmaking organization to an "Impact" United Way, focused on change, not charity; on community building through the "glue" work of fostering strategic collaborations with other nonprofit service providers, and leveraging our resources and expertise in our focus areas of Education, Income and Health/Basic Needs to move the needle on some of the thorniest challenges in our communities.
We hope that you will explore this web site to find out more about the work that we are doing. A good place to start is our 2012 Report to the Community, which includes stories about people whose lives have been transformed through our work and collaborations.
We also know that it takes more than smart investments in effective strategies to make a difference. Real change requires people coming together who understand that everyone benefits when we provide economic opportunity, good education and basic needs for all our neighbors. That’s why another key part of our mission is bringing together volunteers to help people in need, whether it’s by tutoring children, collecting diapers or school supplies, or helping low-income families complete their taxes. You can find out about volunteering here.
We’re proud of the work that we are doing, and we are committed to success. We hope you will become part of the change, and Live United.
Mission
United Way advances the common good by creating opportunities for a better life for all. Our focus is on education, income and health – the building blocks for a good quality of life. United Way recruits people and organizations who bring the passion, expertise and resources needed to get things done.
Our Priorities
In 2003, United Way helped lead a process that identified the region's depest challenges through a survey called Community Compass. As a result of that work, affirmed in a 2012 Wellbeing survey (to be released in early 2013), we understood that our region’s greatest challenges are economic and educational disparity. Based on what we learned, we focused our work on three priority areas:
- Education
- * All children enter school developmentally on track.
- * All youth succeed in school and graduate ready for college and work.
- Income
- * All households are ready for work and financial success.
- * All people live in stable, affordable housing.
- Health
- * People are physically and mentally healthy.
- * Families and individuals have shelter and food.
Towns Served
United Way brings together leaders and citizens from every town in our region to improve lives and change conditions.
Bethany Guilford New Haven Orange Branford Hamden North Branford West Haven East Haven Madison North Haven Woodbridge
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