Public Policy
United Way advocates for sound policies affecting Education, Income, Health and the nonprofit sector’s capacity to Advance the Common Good. Within each of these four areas, based on United Way’s 10-year goals, United Way has established its engagement strategies for each issue. Read the policy agenda.
EDUCATION
The United Way system’s 10-year education goal is to cut the nation’s high school dropout rate in half; by 2018, 87% of high school seniors will graduate on time, up from 74% in 2006.
To accomplish this goal, United Way will focus on the following policy priorities:
- Access to Quality Early Learning Opportunities Beginning at Birth
- Middle and High School Retention and Re-enrollment
- Parent and Community Engagement in Education
INCOME
The United Way system’s 10-year income goal is to cut in half the number of lower-income families who are financially unstable. By 2018, 82% of families with one or two parents working 50 or more weeks (combined) during the previous year and incomes less than 250% of the federal poverty level will spend less than 40%of their income on housing, down from 64% in 2006.
To accomplish this goal, United Way will focus on the following policy priorities:
- Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
- Emergency Food and Shelter Program
- Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
- Affordable Housing
HEALTH
The United Way system’s 10-year health goal is to increase by one-third the number of youth and adults who are healthy and avoid risky behavior. By 2018, 45% of youth and 47% of adults will be healthy and avoid risky behaviors, up from 34% of youth and 35% of adults in 2005.
To accomplish this goal, United Way will focus on the following policy priorities:
- Increasing Children’s Health Coverage
- Preserving Healthy Start Program Funding
- Improving Child and Maternal Nutrition
NONPROFIT STRENGTHENING
United Way will strongly support policy initiatives that seek to strengthen the nonprofit sector through expansion of the 2-1-1 system, tax policy, and policy incentives and regulations that encourage philanthropy and volunteerism.
To accomplish this goal, United Way will focus on the following policy priorities:
- Protecting the Federal Charitable Deduction for All Those Who Donate to Charity
- Preserving the Corporation for National and Community Service and AmeriCorps
- Establishing a 2-1-1 Partnership with the Federal Government
Helpful Resources
- Find Your Representative: Identify your member in the House of Representatives.
- Look Up Current Legislation in Congress: Read about current bills and activities happening in Congress.
- Register to Vote: The United States Election Assistance Commission provides national mail voter registration forms.
- Learn How Laws Are Made: Read a summary of how laws are made here.
- Apply for a Government Grant: Grants.gov is your source to FIND and APPLY for federal grants.
- Find Tools for Community Organizations: The Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services has published capacity building toolkits for community organizations.
