Home - United Ways of California

Building Financial Empowerment for Families:

Connect to Cash and Other Income Supports

Find Information and Resources You Need:

Get Help with Food, Health, and Other Basic Needs

The Real Cost Measure in California 2023:

Our New Study on What it Takes to Make Ends Meet in California

Give

Every dollar counts

Advocate

Your voice matters

Volunteer

See the opportunities

We believe everyone deserves an opportunity to live their best life, get an education, and be healthy and financially stable.

Our mission is to mobilize the caring power of communities to improve health, education, and financial results for low-income children and families. In partnership with California’s local United ways, we advance opportunities for low-income Californians by implementing community impact programs and advocating for policies that help them move up.

1 in 3 California households struggle to afford a decent standard of living. We’re here to change that.

We work to break the cycle of poverty and build a better future for all Californians by strengthening:

Education
Outcomes

to start California youth on a path to a bright future.

Financial Empowerment

to help struggling families move up.

Health
Equity

to enable all Californians to live their best lives.

Over 3.7 million households in California struggle financially, roughly 240% more than reflected in federal poverty statistics.

How Much it Costs to Struggle:

The Real Cost Measure in California 2023

A United Ways of California study that examines what it actually costs to live in California by measuring the cost of housing, healthcare, child care, transportation, and other basic needs.

SUCCESS STORY

Community Resources Are a Lifeline 

“Free tax prep became a lifeline during the pandemic, ensuring my family retained our tax refunds, crucial amidst job losses and financial strain. We’ve all been using it ever since, and this year, I transitioned seamlessly to the free self-filing option. I would not have reached my current level of financial empowerment without the transformative power of community resources.” 

– Azra J., a young professional who started using free tax prep through United Way of Central Eastern California as a college student

Stay Connected

Join our mailing list to stay up-to-date on our work

Subscription Form

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.