Impact Update | Summer 2026

Communities are strongest when organizations work together to ensure families can access the opportunities, resources and support they need to thrive. Over the past several months, partners across our region explored ways to strengthen resource coordination, elevate community voice and build more responsive systems of support.

In this edition, you’ll find opportunities to engage with United Way of Greater Cincinnati and fellow partners, as well as insights from conversations happening across our network, and updates on programs and resources supporting children, families and communities throughout our region.

Thank you for the important role you play in advancing our shared work.

TAKE ACTION

Explore new ways to connect families to services
Across Northern Kentucky, partners are testing new ways to strengthen connections between organizations and make it easier for families to access support.

Through the Safety Net Alliance of Northern Kentucky, organizations are piloting direct referrals through United Way 211’s platform. Together, they are exploring how technology can help reduce barriers, improve coordination and create a more seamless experience for families navigating multiple services.

Whether you’re interested in strengthening referrals between organizations, learning more about how 211 can support resource navigation for the people you serve, or exploring opportunities to participate in future pilots, we’d love to connect. Interested in learning more? Contact Keeley Shaw-Zuver at [email protected].

Other Ways to Engage

• Public Policy & Advocacy Grant cohort
  Follow along in future editions as partner organizations build advocacy capacity and strengthen community voice in public policy.
• Submit a story
  Share examples of your organization’s impact for consideration in United Way communications. Contact Andy Smith at [email protected].
• Funding opportunities
  Watch for upcoming announcements about United Way community investment opportunities and timelines.

LEARN & CONNECT

What Partners Are Telling Us

1. Moving from input to influence. Organizations have strong mechanisms for gathering community feedback, but many continue to wrestle with how to demonstrate that community voices shape decisions and program design.

   How is your organization putting community voice into action? We’d love to highlight promising practices from partners in an upcoming edition. Send us a note at [email protected].

2. Navigating complex systems. Partners shared challenges families face when accessing services across multiple organizations and systems, highlighting opportunities for stronger coordination and referral practices. We’re sharing tools and resources (see below) that can help organizations think differently about navigating complexity and improving the client experience.
3. Building trust through accurate information. As demand for food and basic needs resources continues to grow, partners emphasized the importance of maintaining current information within United Way 211 to ensure families receive accurate referrals. Interested in learning how to maximize your organization’s use of 211? Contact Keeley Shaw-Zuver at [email protected].

Partner Collaboration Spotlight

• Safety Net Alliance of Northern Kentucky
• Brighton Center
• Erlanger-Elsmere Independent School District
• Faith Community Health Network
• FIESTA NKY
• Gateway Community & Technical College

Meet Your United Way Contact

Azriel Erckenbrack 

If you’ve applied for funding, submitted a report or navigated the Human Services Fund process, you’ve likely worked with Azriel Erckenbrack.

 

As a Community Impact Associate, Azriel serves as a key point of contact for funded partners and helps ensure United Way’s community investments run smoothly. Azriel works at the intersection of operations and relationships, helping partners navigate requirements, answer questions and access support throughout the grantmaking process.

Outside of work, they enjoy painting, hiking and gardening.

Questions about grant processes or community investments? Reach out to them at [email protected].

STAY INFORMED

United Way 211 Updates

• April–June 2026 snapshot
  • Requests: 11,628
  • Referrals: 38,979
  • Top Categories of Need: Housing, Utility Assistance, Income Assistance
• Ohio 211 expands statewide
  As part of the statewide expansion of Ohio 211, UWGC 211 now officially serves Adams County.
• Congressional staff visit 211
  Casey Family Programs recently coordinated a United Way of Greater Cincinnati site visit for congressional staff to learn about Ohio programs supporting children and families. During the visit, staff received an overview of 211 services, including how we proactively screen referrals and close the loop with community partners.
• WorkOhio
  United Way of Greater Cincinnati has played a key role in supporting the regional rollout of WorkOhio through its partnership with the Workforce Innovation Center. Together, the organizations created a coordinated 211 screening and referral process that strengthens communication and collaboration among workforce partners. If your organization works with individuals who may benefit from employment or training opportunities, encourage them to contact United Way 211 for a WorkOhio screening.
• Revive + Thrive Home Repair Loan Program
  Since 2024, UWGC 211 has served as the front door for the Revive + Thrive Home Repair Loan Program, prescreening homeowners for eligibility and connecting qualified applicants with program partners for assistance. The program will close to new applications on June 30, 2026. Interested homeowners should contact 211 before that date to begin the application process.

Additional Funding Opportunities

• Queen City Charities Grants | Application deadline: July 1
  Queen City Charities directs grants exclusively toward programming, projects and initiatives benefiting the Greater Cincinnati LGBTQ+ community. Additional opportunities from Interact for Health are available on their website.
• Healthy Choices Project | Application deadline: Sept. 2
  Supports counties throughout Ohio seeking to expand healthy eating and active living opportunities for SNAP and SNAP eligible populations.

Upcoming Events

• Fall Partner Convening | October 2026
  Join nonprofit and community partners from across the region to connect, learn and explore opportunities for collaboration. Additional details will be shared soon.

Tools & Resources

• 2026 Spring Partner Learning Week
  Recordings from all sessions and links to materials referenced are available on the event page.
• Media Essentials – Episode 3
  Episode 3 (Ethical Storytelling Practices) from A Picture’s Worth shares insights about the power of consent and questions to ask before interviewing clients.
• Economic Well-Being Toolkit
  This FrameWorks toolkit is designed to support the communications goals of advocates who champion sustainable prosperity for all individuals, families, and communities.
• Resources for navigating complex systems
  • Social Care Best Practices
    Social Interventions Research & Evaluation Network details themes that emerge as “must-haves” when implementing and scaling tech-enabled care coordination.
  • The Road Ahead for Client Feedback
    Stanford Social Innovation Review highlights how one organization used client and partner feedback to drive innovation, improve processes and create more responsive programs.