What We’re Learning

Our region’s issues are interconnected
While preparing for our new grantmaking cycle, we thought a lot about our three key focus areas — educational success, financial empowerment and housing security — and how they are interconnected. We know we can’t be singularly focused. Without safe and stable housing, children struggle to focus on their education; without financial stability, families can’t afford quality housing or invest in their children’s learning; without education, better job opportunities remain out of reach. We need to do more than respond to crises; we must address root causes to build lasting well-being for future generations.

So, while you’ll see us piloting eviction-prevention projects and activating place-based solutions in early education, we’ll also be connecting the dots to strengthen wraparound services for families. We’ll be working with schools in targeted communities to identify families in need of housing support to ensure their children succeed in the classroom.

We challenge you to explore how you can address multiple issues through integrated approaches and partner collaborations.

Latest News & Highlights

• Policy Updates
  Please consider taking action through our advocacy campaigns. You can lend your voice to: address hunger in our community, expand funding for early childhood education and support funding for housing programs.
• 2024 Impact Report
  Last year, we invested $37.2 million in the community. Our impact is not measured only in dollars raised but also in lives changed, families supported and opportunities created. Thanks to partners like you, we served more than 330,000 people throughout the region. We are excited to share our 2024 impact report, which explores the three key areas of our work: educational success, financial empowerment and housing security. Read about the impact you helped make possible last year.
• Staff Spotlight – Candace Wang
  Candace Wang joined United Way in April as Vice President for Education. Her work will focus on building and implementing strategies to change outcomes for kids in our region and ensure that every child has the opportunity to access their full potential, which will ultimately build a stronger community and future for us all. Candace brings over 20 years of experience in the education sector. If you have questions about our Educational Success initiatives, please reach out to her at [email protected]. 
• 211 Update
  United Way 211 has officially completed its first full year on the CareSuite platform (July 2024-June 2025), marking a major milestone with over 160,000 referrals made through the system. The number of programs screened or executed in CareSuite continues to grow, expanding our capacity to connect people with the help they need. Partners can now receive direct electronic referrals, improving speed and coordination, and follow-up text surveys to clients are helping close the gap in service delivery and accountability. To learn more or explore partnership opportunities, contact Gavi Begtrup at [email protected].

Collaborative Corner

Funded Partner Announcement
United Way looks forward to collaborating with our latest round of funded partners. We’re investing $15.5 million in 125 partners whose work aligns with our key focus areas: Educational Success, Financial Empowerment and Housing Security. This funding represents only a portion of United Way’s $40.1 million planned investment in program services, community initiatives and partner grants in the next year.

This class of funded partners ranges from community-centered organizations addressing immediate needs to those driving long-term transformational initiatives. They fall into one of three pools — Catalytic Change, Collaborative Impact and Responsive Services — each with varying levels of collaboration and expectations. Partners will have more chances to connect, share ideas and build a shared vision of success. This new approach is the result of a period of collaboration and exploration, and is designed to create meaningful change.

Funding Opportunities

United Way Opportunities

• Community Engagement Grants
  Organizations that need funds to host a specific program or event — such as a food or clothing program or a back-to-school event – may have an opportunity for community engagement funding from United Way. These are typically one-time grants of around $2,500. For information, email [email protected] or Chandra Mathews-Smith at [email protected]. Mini grants are offered to 501(c)(3) grassroots organizations and faith partners for their outreach work.

Additional Opportunities

• Apply by Aug. 1 | Interact for Health’s Advocacy Capacity Building RFP
  This request for proposals focuses on supporting nonprofits in strengthening their organizational capacity for policy and advocacy efforts.
• Apply by July 18 | Governor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (GOFBCI)
  Grants to eligible faith-based and nonprofit organizations serving Ohioans. Funds will be made available on a reimbursement basis. Proposals must meet one of the four Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) criteria and GOFBCI’s funding interests in one of the following categories: children’s initiatives; recovery; reentry; housing; food security; workforce development; or personal development. Applications are open July 14-18.

Upcoming Events

• July 22 | Knowledge Exchange: Policy with a Splash of Coffee – Addressing Food Insecurity in the Region.
  We will explore the impact of food insecurity on our region, discuss the role policy plays in addressing hunger and share ways organizations are supporting policies such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
• Aug. 21 | Funded Community Partner Kickoff Convening
  As we begin this exciting new chapter in our community partnership model, we’re bringing together all funded partners for a kickoff convening.

Tools & Resources

• Media Essentials
  How do you share your story? Episode 1 (Understanding Media Basics) of a three-part series is now available.

• Knowledge Exchange
  All recordings and resources from past webinars and trainings can be found on our website.
• United Knowledge & Insights
  Looking for publicly available data to help you in your work? United Way’s United Knowledge & Insights aligns data, research, impact evaluation and other learnings to improve economic well-being across the region. A variety of publications and learning and capacity-building sessions are available. For a tutorial on how to navigate the economic well-being dashboard, please watch the video below the dashboard.
• Free Tax Prep Summer Locations
  Tax preparation is by appointment only and can be booked online or by calling 211. At the United Way office in Cincinnati, which offers services every Wednesday through September, dedicated volunteers help taxpayers address more difficult problems and unfiled prior-year tax returns. Services are also offered once a month at Boone County Library in Florence. MyFreeTaxes.com is also available for do-it-yourself 2024 tax prep through October. The income limit for all free tax services is $84,000.
• Resources available
  United Way provides partner organizations with goods needed by community members, which might include hygiene items, healthy snack packs, dental kits and cleaning supplies. If your organization receives requests for such resources, please contact Jessica Baker at [email protected].