United Way of St. Joseph County

WHAT WE DO United Way of St. Joseph County is a nonprofit that is dedicated to reducing poverty in the community. In order to assist at every level and work as a whole-community solution, United Way of St. Joseph County focuses on four impact areas: Early Learning, Youth Success, Stable Families, and Critical Needs. Because we believe that reducing poverty requires the efforts of more than one single agency, United Way collaborates with and invests their funds into over 20 local nonprofits. In taking this approach, we have the unique ability to convene, collaborate, and direct resources where they are most needed. United Way conducts community needs assessments, secures critical resources to fund vital social services, provides fiscal oversight and accountability for community partners, and evaluates program results to measure and communicate community impact. We also provide local employers, employees, and other donors a cost-effective system to address community needs while allowing other local agencies and programs to concentrate more on helping and less on fundraising. United Way gives people a trustworthy place to donate funds, knowing that their dollars will go to meet the greatest areas of need in the community and that money raised locally stays in the community. Our United Way has contributed more than $122 million to St. Joseph County individuals and organizations since 1914. OUR MISSION To mobilize the community to collectively reduce poverty. OUR VISION Move people from poverty to possibility. OUR CORE VALUES Integrity | Compassion | Intentionality | Collaboration | Dignity | Excellence HISTORY In 1887, a Denver priest, two ministers, and a rabbi recognized the need for cooperative action to address social welfare problems in their city. They created an organization to serve as an agent to collect funds for local charities, as well as to coordinate relief services, counsel and refer clients to cooperating agencies, and make emergency assistance grants in cases which could not be referred. That year, Denver raised $21,700 and created a movement that would spread throughout the country to become the United Way. The United Way of St. Joseph County was founded locally in 1914 and for the more than a century, has demonstrated the strength and value of our community by inspiring thousands of people to generously Give, Advocate and Volunteer for those in need.