Our Impact
United Ways advance opportunities for people to lead successful lives by focusing on the three key building blocks of a good life: education, income, and health. California’s United Ways are independent public charities, governed by local community leaders, that pursue strategies tailored to local needs, but they all share the same mission, brand, focus areas, and approach.
Inspired by their progress in working together statewide to promote health coverage for all California children, in 2008 California’s United Ways decided to create a staffed organization to devote full-time attention to increasing collaboration and expanding their network impact.
In the years since, United Ways of California and our network of United Ways have expanded our advocacy and programmatic incentives to include economic mobility and education initiatives.
We know we cannot “social service” our way to equitable and just communities. Changing the environment is the highest level of strategic impact United Way – or any philanthropy – could hope to achieve, and advocating for such change, therefore is central to achieving our mission. This is why “Give, Advocate, Volunteer” is our call to action, and why we advocate to change large-scale systems to improve the odds of success for low-income families and communities – and advocacy is a central strategy for achieving community impact.
For us, advancing the common good means repairing systems to help all of us not just survive, but thrive.
Our approach also puts United Ways in the middle of changing policies, implementing the changes and then continuously improving them through further changes. In the best case, it becomes a virtuous cycle, and so “winning the implementation” is a mantra we follow.
Lyft rides dispersed across CA for health, employment, school, family connections, and social service appointments from April 2021-today
Californians screened for low-cost internet programs via website calculator and text flows from September 2020-today
Californians enrolled into low-cost internet programs from September 2020-today
Federal returns submitted through our free tax prep programs
COMMUNITY VOICE
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
COMMUNITY VOICE
Sharing stories makes a difference
“Speaking to an elected official makes me feel like I have power and influence, that my experience and voice matter to help better other people’s experiences.”
– Cody Van Felden, mom who has advocated for tax credits, free tax prep services, and more
COMMUNITY VOICE
Giving Back to the Community
“My favorite part of volunteering is being able to help people. There’s a real need in the community. It’s a way to bring money back into the community.”
– Paul, a long-time free tax prep volunteer in Orange County
COMMUNITY VOICE
Understanding Taxes
“Through VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance), I learned that I qualified for business write-offs I didn’t know about. Now, I volunteer and help others learn about taxes. We really comfort people and put their mind at ease.”
– Alexis O., a young, self-employed professional in Los Angeles who found out through free tax prep that she qualified to lower her tax liability by $2000.
COMMUNITY VOICE
Empowering communities with free tax prep
“This is a chance to learn how to do something different, something I have never done before and that can go back to helping my community.”
– Sandra P., a dedicated VITA client turned volunteer, mother of three adult children, and United Ways of California Ambassador, finds joy in supporting others and maximizing their tax benefits through free tax assistance.
COMMUNITY VOICE
Life changing tax credits
“Once you’re living check by check it’s hard to save – especially when you have four kids and you’re helping out your parents. It all adds up! Having that money there motivates you.”
– Ivonne S., a working mother of five who utilized United Way’s financial mobility programs in Santa Rosa.
COMMUNITY VOICE
Building resilience in uncertain times
“When COVID-19 hit, things got really tight there for a while.… Using United Way of the Wine Country’s EKS free tax filing program was such a blessing. It is no small thing to have a roof over our heads and food in the fridge in times like this.”
– Fanny P., a working mother who accessed $3500 in federal and state tax credits by using United Way’s financial mobility programs in Santa Rosa
