United Way of Metro Chicago - Building Stronger Neighborhoods

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 works is not done.

United, we will build back a stronger, more equitable future.

How we help

Service Areas

Regional Recovery

Neighborhood Networks

Programs & Partnerships

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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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Programs & Partnerships

From partnerships with the City of Chicago and the Chicago Federation of Labor, to volunteer opportunities and leadership training for youth and adults, our neighborhood investment strategy is made stronger through collaboration. These key initiatives help us go deeper within the communities we serve and are part of a larger movement to bring resources, hope, and solutions to our neighbors across the Chicago region. 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 Event

The Price We All Pay for Racism: A conversation with NY Times Bestselling Author Heather McGhee

06.16.21

In recognition of the Juneteenth holiday, join United Way of Metro Chicago and United Way of Illinois for an important conversation with Heather McGhee, author of The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together.

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