United Way of Lane County

WHO WE ARE Since 1946, United Way of Lane County has served our community by bringing people together to give, advocate, and volunteer. We believe that when we come together and put all of our resources to work, we can solve our most pressing issues and create opportunities for a better life for all. We are one of over 1,800 United Ways around the world. While we benefit from the support of a worldwide network, we focus on the needs of our local community. We are guided by an active, local board of directors. These dedicated community members set our priorities and ensure we are always working to serve our unique community needs. Our work is carried out by a talented, knowledgeable, and passionate staff committed to making sure we get things done. We believe that diversity – both cultural diversity and diversity of thought – strengthens our ability to actualize our mission, vision, philosophy, and values. We are committed to having teams of employees and volunteers that reflect and celebrate all aspects of the diversity in our community. **What We Do** **Our mission is to mobilize communities to action so all can thrive.** ****OUR VISION**** ****We bring people and resources together to move Lane County from surviving to thriving.**** **We focus our efforts on** [**three key areas of impact and investment**](https://www.unitedwaylane.org/outcomes), and have recently updated these areas to become even more accessible to, and inclusive of, local community needs and opportunities. Learn more about our updated areas of impact - improving **healthy community**, advancing **youth opportunity**, and building **community resiliency** - by hovering your mouse over each image below. We improve health and well-being for local children and families by connecting people to the resources they need to lead safe, healthy lives. From access to basic needs like food and health care to building greater financial stability, we work across sectors to ensure that everyone in Lane County can flourish. We create pathways to success for young people to thrive. By investing in childcare, early learning and literacy, parenting education, and family engagement, we ensure that every child in Lane County has the opportunity to reach their full potential. We help Lane County communities prepare for, prevent, and respond to big challenges, from emergency response to disaster relief. In times of crisis, we bring local leaders, neighbors, and resources together to raise funds and take action. And because we know that resilient communities recover from emergencies more quickly and effectively, we help build stronger local connections - before, during, and after disaster - to sustain momentum through long-term recovery. ****Our Values**** - **Community Leadership:** We work to inspire people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to contribute their time and talent to improve the lives of others. We act as catalysts for positive change and a convener of partnerships that unite hearts, minds and resources within our community. - **Compassion:** We care about each other and share a commitment to improving our community. - **Equity & Inclusion:** We respect all members of the community and actively reach out to engage diverse members and points of view for greater understanding. - **Impact:** We work collaboratively and effectively and strategically to create opportunities for a better life for all. We invest in meaningful solutions that make a measurable, recognizable difference. - **Innovation:** We promote creativity, flexibility and encourage ideas to enhance and improve our effectiveness. - **Integrity:** We practice care, compassion and honesty in the stewardship entrusted to us by our community. - **Volunteerism:** We give people the opportunity to connect their passion and live their values. ****Collective Impact**** Collective impact brings people together to achieve social change. Key stakeholders from different sectors work to solve a specific problem while utilizing a unified agenda, shared measurements, and consistent communication so that everyone is working toward a common goal. A strong backbone organization guides the efforts and ensures each piece of the work succeeds.