What happens when a network of committed partners stays focused on long-term stability — even amid new pressures and evolving needs?

Real progress.

 

Our 2025 Impact

In 2025, because of your partnership, more families found pathways to stable housing. More parents strengthened their financial footing. More children gained access to the support and opportunities they need to thrive. These outcomes didn’t happen by chance — they reflect a community aligned around what works and willing to build on it.

Each of you plays a different and essential role in our region’s system of care. When we stay connected, share what we’re learning and strengthen what already exists, the solutions become more durable — and the impact more lasting.

Our 2025 Impact Report offers a closer look at what we achieved together — and what becomes possible when we move forward with purpose, united in our commitment to families today and for the future.

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Upcoming Events

• April 6-10 | Spring 2026 Partner Learning Week
  Focused sessions designed to strengthen your work and expand your network across our regional partnership.

  • April 6 | Place-Based Strategy to Drive Impact (Virtual): Learn how to design initiatives that generate measurable proof points and build case studies for sustainability.

  • April 7 | Shifting How We Talk About Social Change (Virtual): The way we frame social change shapes how people understand it and how willing they are to be part of it.

  • April 9 | Strategic Connections (In-Person): Meet partners you need to know but haven’t connected with yet. Two identical sessions available; choose one that fits your schedule.
    Morning Session (9-11:30 a.m.)
    Afternoon Session (1:30-3:30 p.m.)

  • April 10 | From Community Voice to Policy Change (Virtual): Learn how your organization can engage in advocacy that strengthens systems and expands opportunity across our region.

• April 8 | Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Giveback Night
  5-8 p.m. at Little Miami Brewing Company

• April 11 | Advanced Manufacturing Day
  Help spread the word about this hands-on workshop and design challenge open to all high school students.

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Latest News & Highlights

• United Way 211 Updates

  • January-March 2026 Snapshot:
    Requests: 13,508
    Referrals: 44,181
    Top Categories: Housing, Utility Assistance, Income Support

  • 211 Listing Update
    Search for your organization online at uwgc211.org to view or suggest changes to your organization’s 211 listing. Contact [email protected] with any questions.

  • Program Screenings
    In addition to connecting callers with more than 4,700 resources from our database, United Way 211 is now screening for an increasing number of partner programs. This means we can perform preliminary eligibility checks and refer pre-screened clients directly to your services. If your organization is interested in learning more about partnering with 211, contact [email protected].

• Policy Updates
  The first quarter of the year is the busiest for the state legislatures of Kentucky and Indiana, and United Way has been active for families in both state capitals. Local advocates brought their voices to statehouses on Live United Days. Community leaders from Dearborn and Ohio counties advocated for housing security during Indiana’s Live United Day, while Kentucky’s saw two dozen local advocates meet with key legislators about early childhood programs.

  Consider reaching out to your elected officials to express support for United Way’s policy priorities, or complete our advocacy interest form to be the first to know about future advocacy opportunities.

• Will and Estate Planning
  United Way partnered with Legal Aid of Greater Cincinnati and Legal Aid of the Bluegrass to make sure neighbors can protect their homes and other assets through will and estate planning.

  Legal Aid of Greater Cincinnati is hosting two-day sessions throughout Spring and Summer 2026. Day 1 is an informational session, and Day 2 is an appointment with an attorney to complete and finalize documents. No registration is required!

  Working in Neighborhoods, 1814 Dreman Avenue, Cincinnati, OH
  • Day 1 – April 21: 5-7:30 p.m.
  • Day 2 – May 5: 3:30-7:30 p.m.

  Urban League, 3458 Reading Road, Cincinnati, OH
  • Day 1 – July 7: 5-7:30 p.m.
  • Day 2 – July 21: 3:30-7:30 p.m.

• Free Tax Prep
  The 2026 tax season is underway and United Way’s Free Tax Prep program is serving clients across Greater Cincinnati. Free income tax return preparation is provided to community members earning $84,000 or less annually. To date, more than 3,000 taxpayers have already had their tax returns filed through the program at no cost.

  As partners, you can play a key role spreading the word. Join us in encouraging taxpayers to file in-person with our IRS-certified volunteers or online at MyFreeTaxes.com. Together, we can empower neighbors to make informed choices and keep more of the money they’ve earned.

• Revive + Thrive
  The Revive + Thrive Home Repair Loan Program, powered by LISC Greater Cincinnati, helps Hamilton County homeowners make essential home repairs. The program provides affordable loans at a low 2% interest rate, ranging from $5,000-$25,000, to cover the costs of necessary repairs. Trusted local partners like United Way of Greater Cincinnati 211, Working in Neighborhoods (WIN) and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cincinnati assist with the application process and oversee the construction and repairs, ensuring the work meets high standards. Call the 211 Helpline to determine eligibility for the program or visit LISC’s Revive+Thrive page to learn more.

• Economic Well-Being Toolkit
  This FrameWorks toolkit was designed to support the communications goals of advocates who champion sustainable prosperity for all individuals, families, and communities.

  Developed with local advocates, the toolkit helps partners lead solutions-focused conversations grounded in shared prosperity, fairness across places and collective action. You’ll find practical tools, ready-to-use language and storytelling guidance to keep discussions focused on root causes — and what we can redesign together.

  You can also explore our Reframing Housing and Reframing Early Childhood toolkits. Visit our website to access all three resources and help advance a stronger, future-focused dialogue for our region.

• Student PSA Contest – Help Spread the Word!
  United Way is partnering with Interact for Health and Fox 19 to sponsor Breaking the Silence, a public service announcement (PSA) contest for high school students. Please join us in encouraging young people to create a 30-second video sharing what they want adults to understand about youth mental health. The winning PSA will air during the World Cup Final on Fox 19. Visit fox19.com/bts for contest details.
  

• Staff Spotlight – Rayshawn Eastman
  Rayshawn Eastman serves as the Senior Manager of Workforce and Education Pathways, where he leads efforts focused on strengthening secondary-to-workforce pathways. He brings more than 15 years of experience in youth development and student success, with recent leadership roles in higher education. Outside of his professional responsibilities, Rayshawn volunteers as a youth track coach, supporting the development and growth of youth in the community. Rayshawn can be reached at [email protected].

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Collaborative Corner

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Funding Announcements

United Way Opportunities

• Ongoing | Mini-Grants for Small Grassroot & Faith-Based Organizations

  United Way is committed to supporting small grassroots and faith-based nonprofits working every day to strengthen our community. Partners may be eligible to apply for mini-grants of $2,500 to support outreach programs and events.

Additional Opportunities

• Apply by April 10 | City of Cincinnati Leveraged Support
  The City of Cincinnati provides financial support for specific programs or for the general operations of organizations that perform a service benefiting Cincinnati residents.

• Apply by April 30 | Mary Kay Ash Foundation Domestic Violence Shelter Grant
  The Mary Kay Ash Foundation awards $20,000 grants to U.S. emergency domestic violence shelters providing life-saving services to women and children fleeing abuse. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits operating for more than five years.

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Tools & Resources

• Children’s College Savings Accounts
  United Way, the City of Cincinnati and Fifth Third Bank are helping families start saving for their children’s future education. Eligible Cincinnati families with preschoolers enrolled through the program will receive $153 to start their accounts, plus up to $400 in incentives. Please share this amazing opportunity with your families. Interested families can also call 211 to enroll.

• Widening the Lens
  Interested in learning how to connect communities, capture youth voice and support youth across our region? Learn how FamiliesFORWARD has been able to do this with students at Withrow High School and Taft High School.

• Clearing Legal Hurdles to Employment
  The Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati’s Clearing Legal Hurdles to Employment program helps low-income job seekers overcome legal barriers — especially by addressing and working to expunge issues that can block employment, such as prior criminal records and driver’s license suspensions. If your clients face legal obstacles to work, refer them to Legal Aid for support.

• Fathers’ UpLift Legal Forum
  Join Fathers’ UpLift bi-weekly Legal Forum to better understand family and domestic legal matters like child support, custody, visitation, and court processes. Meetings take place on the first and third Wednesday of the month at 2 p.m. at 1640 Race St., Cincinnati, OH. For more information, please contact the team at 513-996-1900.

• Submit a Story
  Help us highlight the impact and influence of United Way and our partners. If you have a story you’d like us to share on our communication platforms, please email United Way’s Content Manager Andy Smith at [email protected].

• Marketing Standards for Funded Partners
  United Way asks our partners to promote United Way and how we help support your impact. Best practices include:

  • Use the United Way Funded Partner logo and/or text reading “A United Way Funded Partner” on key communication documents, such as program flyers, presentations, newsletters, event invitations and programs.

  • Identify United Way partnership with our logo on your website homepage and provide a link to uwgc.org.

  • Reference in your social media page description that you are a United Way Funded Partner.

More tips can be found in your partnership agreement.