Fighting poverty in the USA sounds like a task not too many people would sign up for. With a fierce fight raging between the two parties over issues tied to ideological fault lines, few seem to have the time to deal with it.
But, thankfully, there is one organisation that remains committed to it. The 131-year-old United Way Worldwide — earlier known as United Way of America — continues to wage war on poverty, not just in the USA but around the world.
United Way Worldwide
In its home country, the organisation has a presence in all 50 states and 3 federally-administered territories. While it is a premier non-profit in its own right, it is also a coalition of various charitable organisations committed to raising funds for its cause.
- Founded
- 131 years ago (as United Way of America)
- Headquarters
- Alexandria, Virginia
- Offices
- 1,200 throughout the country
- Reach
- All 50 states + 3 federal territories
01The fundraising campaign in Greater Cleveland
To keep itself going and moving towards success, United Way is constantly in the process of raising funds. In the Cleveland area, the organisation has been able to raise $45.4 million, and is investing $31.2 million of it back into the community.
The United Way of Greater Cleveland had entered upon a three-year plan to achieve three major goals: improving its fund-raising mechanisms, refining the process of distributing money back into communities, and coming up with innovative solutions to help around 400,000 people each year in this region. They are now in the second year of that program, and it is moving forward smoothly.
In three counties of the region, more than 50,000 people donated money to the organisation. United Way diversified its fund-raising strategy and, just as importantly, resolved to improve the way that money is allocated.
How the $31.2 million is being invested
The money is distributed to partner organisations that run programs whose aim is to alleviate the suffering of poor people.
With their assistance, it hopes to make a tangible impact on the ground.
02Future plans for United Way
The officials of United Way are not content with their achievements so far. They wish to take their good work forward — and even improve on it — through a series of changes.
- Bringing in people capable of giving valuable advice — academics, corporate executives and local government officials among them.
- Continuing to lean on the "community hub" model and its network of 87 non-profits.
- And never underestimating the role of the volunteers who make the whole effort possible.
