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Moving Forward Together to Build a Stronger Chicago Region

The last year proved to be more difficult than we could have ever imagined. However, through it all, our community, business, civic, and philanthropic partners, along with our neighbors and donors, stepped forward to face the unknown with us. Together, we helped to feed and house families, provide financial assistance to pay their bills, connect students to broadband Internet and provide critical health services like COVID-19 testing. We have helped the Chicago region get through some of its darkest days. But the work is not done.

United, we will build a stronger, more equitable Chicago region.

How we help

Service Areas

Regional Recovery

Neighborhood Networks

Partnerships

United Neighborhoods Equity Fund

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Regional Recovery

What we learned over the course of the pandemic has underscored what we learned over the last seven years: holistic, place-based approaches work. Alongside our Neighborhood Network strategies, we will meet the basic needs of individuals and families and improve the systems that serve them to build back a stronger and more equitable region. Learn More

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Neighborhood Networks

United Way has been working for several years on what we believe is the solution to helping neighborhoods transform from the inside out—our Neighborhood Network Initiative. We have known for a while that zip code determines destiny. The key to changing this is to disrupt the effects of racism by creating more equitable opportunities for Black and Brown communities that in turn create better outcomes regardless of neighborhood, race, gender, or any other demographic. Learn More

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Partnerships

At our core, United Way is a connector and convener. We believe that lasting change occurs when we partner together and work toward a common goal. That’s why we’ve teamed up with state, regional and local partners to turn ideas into action. Through these strategic partnerships, we’re able to make tangible progress toward building a stronger, more equitable Chicago region for all our neighbors. Learn More

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United Neighborhoods Equity Fund

United Way of Metro Chicago, with the support of founding sponsor Peoples Gas, launched the United Neighborhoods Equity Fund (UNEF) to support small, Black and brown-led nonprofits predominantly located in the city’s south and west sides and south suburban region, and connect them to new capacity building and investment opportunities. Learn More

Our Network

Donors

Make a lasting impact in the Chicago region.

$81 million

Generously given in fiscal year 2020

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Corporate Partners

Galvanize employees through community investment.

700+

Corporate partners support our work to build back better

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Neighborhood Networks

Work alongside community coalitions

Neighborhood Networks help identify community priorities to transform neighborhoods

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Agency Partners

Meet our neighbors’ basic needs.

132

Agency partners provide the services and support needed across the region

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Volunteers

Serve our neighbors and community partners.

3,000+

Volunteers gave of their time to support those in need in fiscal year 2020.

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Featured Story

A Faith Story: Aspire Center Breaks Ground

05.22.23

Ten years after Emmet Elementary School closed, community leaders and their partners broke ground on the Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation in the school’s parking lot. More than 100 guests gathered in Austin to celebrate the next step in the development of this catalytic investment in their neighborhood.

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