Our 2024 Together, United for Good
Read time: 6 minutes
As we wrap up 2024, we’re reflecting on the work we’ve done this year, in partnership with amazing California United Ways and other fantastic community-based organizations and partners, to move toward a more equitable California in which all will thrive, including:
- Empowering Californians by connecting community members to tools, resources, and programs to help them live their best lives
- Advocating for policies to dismantle inequitable and unjust systems
- Strengthening the power of our California United Way network
- Continuing our commitment to equity, internally and externally
Here is just a glimpse at some of that work.
Empowering Californians
In 2024, we:
- Put Money Back into Communities. This year, we wrapped up our Food and Farmworker Relief program, which, in partnership with 15 California United Ways and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, provided 60,000 food and farm workers with $600 pandemic relief payments, distributing more than $33 million in total. We also helped connect tens of thousands of California tax filers to billions of dollars in tax credits and saved them millions of dollars through free tax filing options and more.
- Connected Californians to Critical Resources. California United Ways are proud to power 211 in most of the state, providing critical resources and information in times of personal and community need. In 2024, United Ways of California also connected thousands of community members to critical disaster preparedness information, helped community members quickly understand what public benefits they’re eligible for through an online and text-based benefit screening tool, connected community members to low-cost broadband internet options, provided supportive resources to caregivers, delivered programs designed to address the caregiver shortage, and launched a new free financial empowerment tool to help Californians set and work toward their financial goals.
- Enhanced Systems to Keep Community Resources Going Strong. Ensuring that the systems our California United Ways and partners are using are up-to-date and meeting needs is critical to serving communities well. In our role as the 211 contract administrator for 211s operated by four California United Ways across eight counties, we ensured that vendors are the best fit to meet partner needs and to provide fair and equitable service for the communities each 211 serves. We also worked with 211 partners across the state to develop and secure funding for projects designed to use technology to further improve community member experiences, such as our newly announced Enhanced Care Digital Referral Network and a new community-member-centered AI pilot. Additionally, we maintain MyFreeTaxes.org, a comprehensive hub for information about taxes and free tax filing options across the state, and online portals that give our tax partners access to the latest tools and information.
- Committed to Learning and Sharing Best Practices. To end the year, we are finalizing reports on community members’ financial stress as well as the impact of the Food and Farm Worker Relief program, and we are launching a robust study of our kinship navigation work connecting kin caregivers, adopted families, and legal guardians to critical resources and information. These studies and reports will help us deliver the best service to our community members, and we will share best practices with our California United Way network, partners, government entities, and other community organizations.
- Empowered Community Voices. In 2024, we piloted an Ambassador Program to empower community members to lift their voices, speak up about issues Californians are facing, and raise awareness about valuable resources.
Advocating for Californians
Because systems change is necessary to build a California in which all can thrive, we advocate for policies that dismantle barriers and create opportunities for all Californians.
In 2024, we co-sponsored five such bills in the California legislature. This included AB653, which was signed into law and will help more people who receive a federal housing voucher be able to live where they want at a cost they can afford.
Also, despite a difficult budget year, our advocacy, along with that of partners, secured $2 million in additional one-time funding for free tax preparation and tax credit education and outreach programs, bringing the total to $12 million rather than dropping to $10 million for 2025.
To achieve this and to advocate for additional policies that support Californians’ needs, we convene and take part in activities that amplify community and organization voices, including:
- Bringing together representatives from California United Ways across the state to meet with more than 40 legislative offices in a single day during our California Capitol Day
- Co-leading and participating in coalitions, like the CalEITC Coalition
- Joining the United Way network in Federal advocacy by activating our network and participating in United Way’s Advocacy Forum and Capitol Hill Day
Strengthening the California United Way Network
While each California United Way operates independently, we are all working toward a more equitable, resilient California. At United Ways of California, we convene staff from our California United Way members to foster connection, collaboration, and alignment—because we’re stronger when we work together.
In 2024, this came to life by:
- Launching a statewide campaign, United for Good—including Spanish-language Super Bowl ads as well as a voter engagement campaign—to build brand awareness for all California United Ways.
- Bringing California United Way staff together to learn from each other—from the nearly-400-attendee Western Regional Conference to virtual communities of practice based on staff roles (like community impact staff or diversity, equity, and inclusion staff) to a statewide DEI book study to webinars on what local United Ways are doing to build relationships with Indigenous communities in their region or how SparkPoint centers financially empower their communities.
- Convening diverse community members and groups, in collaboration with local United Ways and our partners, to help communities across the state understand the true cost of living in their area and discuss ways they can help move their communities forward.
Deepening Internal Equity Practices
Equity is key in creating a California in which all thrive. Our commitment to equity is woven into all areas of our work: our programs, advocacy, network support, and internal workings. This requires an ongoing commitment to internal learning about diversity, equity, and inclusion—working from the inside out—as well as broader resource sharing.
In addition to continuing to provide opportunities for our staff to regularly engage in focused DEI learning and conversations, new in 2024 were the development of a formal Equity & Inclusion Plan as well as carefully crafted resource guides for cultural and heritage observances to be used internally and shared with partners and our broader community.
United for Our Future
Thank you to all who joined us in this critical work. While 2025 will likely bring with it many significant changes, we will not waver in our commitment to our values and communities. We will continue to provide programs and advocate for opportunities for families to be healthier, learn, and be financially stable. We will continue to bring together people across all sectors to solve key challenges. And we will ground ourselves in equity through all that we do.
We are eager to begin 2025 with a continued drive to build a state in which all Californians can thrive.
Want to fuel even more impact? Join the movement by raising your voice, volunteering your time, or helping fuel programs that empower Californians, or contact us to explore partnership opportunities.
