Mission

United Way Bay Area takes an innovative, holistic approach to ending the cycle of poverty in the Bay Area through advocacy and programs that support all ages—providing free access to family support, financial stability, job opportunities, and basic needs.

What We Do

Adult Empowerment
United Way supports community defined goals within the Adult Empowerment space that not only supports Bay Area families in their time of need but also connects them with sustainable solutions to improve their life while helping build up the local economy.

We support:
SparkPoint Centers
Earn It! Keep It! Save It!
Advocacy: Earned Income Tax Credit

Youth Development
United Way supports community defined goals within the Youth Development space by supporting Bay Area youth with resources, training, mentoring, and entry-level job opportunities that help them achieve a path to sustainable future. We create pathways for youth to gain early work experiences so they will become financially secure as adults.

We support:
Mayor’s Youth Jobs+ Initiative
Business Pathways and Doorways Partnerships
Advocacy: Minimum Wage

Basic Needs
United Way supports community defined goals that not only supports Bay Area families in their time of need but also delivers sustainable solutions to improving their lives through a set of resources that help them develop a clear path to overcoming life’s biggest challenges.

We support:
Emergency Assistance Network
211 Call Center | 211.org
Advocacy: Housing

Community Development

United Way hosts a wide range of community engagement opportunities that support our community development work. Throughout our eight Bay Area counties, we strategically align with local city government departments, nonprofits, and individual citizens to convene courageous conversations and advocate for the needs of our most vulnerable community members.

Initiatives we support:
Special Projects: Rise Together
Community Conversations in partnership with the Commonwealth Club of California
Advocacy: Community Steering Committees
Workplace campaigns and corporate social responsibility efforts