United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster County

OUR MISSION United Way’s mission is to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of Lincoln and Lancaster County. We all benefit when a child succeeds in school, when someone finds a job that will help them provide for their family, or when more people are able to access quality, affordable health care. By advancing the common good we are strengthening the Lincoln and Lancaster County community. We’re making the place we call home, better. For everyone. And we’re chipping in to help not just because it’s the right thing to do, or that it helps us sleep better at night knowing we’ve made a difference, but because we are good people. And when good people work together, great things happen. OUR HISTORY United Way has a long history of advancing the common good in Lincoln and Lancaster County. 1897: Charity Organization Society: Lincoln citizens set up a committee of concerned citizens to serve as a clearinghouse and referral body for charity work in the community. 1923: Lincoln Community Chest was formed. The main role of the organization is to raise money for private agencies approved by the Council of Social Agencies. 1976: Lincoln Community Chest becomes United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster County and blended three organizations dating back to 1922, with actual origins traceable back to 1891. 1989: United Way and Combined Health Agencies Drive (CHAD) develop a joint fundraising partnership and contract. 2000: United Way implements a fund distribution redesign moving from agency funding allocations to program funding in impact areas. A needs assessment was completed. Today: United Way invests community support in the areas of Education, Health and Income, to support three broad collective impact goals. Investment are in programming, special initiatives and systems that impact outcomes.