Who We Are

More than 80 years ago, concerned and compassionate citizens created United Way of Central Ohio to help people in need and, ultimately, make our community a better place to live and work. Today, United Way represents the hopes and ambitions of thousands of central Ohioans and hundreds of area employers who want to make a real impact by improving people's lives and building a stronger central Ohio. It takes the whole community working together to reach our mutual goals.

Why We Are Different.

United Way of Central Ohio no longer simply raises and distributes money to non-profits. Our history of leadership enables us to spearhead comprehensive change by bringing people together to determine the root causes of problems. United, we have the ability to do whatever it takes to achieve permanent solutions, not just quick fixes.

What We Do Together.

United Way believes in the power of collaboration. We bring experts together to ask the tough questions and partner with contributors and recipients to determine the issues that matter most in central Ohio. Then, we research the problems, craft smarter solutions, invest funds, deploy resources and evaluate the results. By leveraging partnerships, government funding, grant support and people, we maximize our impact and find the best, most cost-effective ways to respond to problems. At United Way of Central Ohio, we measure our success by the lives we change, not the number of services we fund.

Why It Works.

Without you, there would be no United Way. That's why we work hard to earn your trust every day, not just during our annual campaigns. We use benchmark measurements and proven practices to ensure that we are making a difference. We set performance standards for the programs we fund and measure the impact of each dollar contributed. Bottom line: together, we deliver results that change lives and build stronger communities, because we know that's what matters.