Children in a classroom with United Way adults
Global Reach

U.S. and Canada

Map of countries in US and Canada region

Countries In This Region

Overview

United Way's roots are deep in this region with the founding of United Way tracing back to Denver, Colorado in 1887. Community collaboration is at the heart of local United Ways across U.S. and Canada. Collectively, more than 1,000 local United Ways serve millions of families in need.


From strengthening local resilience to advancing health, youth opportunity, and financial security, local United Ways bring people and resources together to tackle each communities' toughest challenges to create a future where every person in every community can reach their full potential.

We unite people, ideas and innovation and bring them together to solve humanity's most complex issues.

- Fahim Haque, Centraide of Greater Montreal

U.S. and Canada Impact

Bringing local ideas, people and resources together to make sure everyone has the opportunity to thrive.  

7.3M

individuals served across Canada each year

900+

local United Ways in communities across the United States

750K+

volunteers across the United States each year

Stories Across U.S. and Canada

Pexels-Taxes
Impact Stories

4 Things to Think About Before Filing Your Taxes

Follow these 4 tips to avoid costly mistakes in filing taxes, and use United Way's free, online tax prep service MyFreeTaxes.com to make it easy when you do file. #MyFreeTaxes #LiveUnited #freetaxprep #freetaxfiling #taxrefund #taxreturn #taxseason
Women in a meeting room
Impact Stories

The Role Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Plays in Combatting Human Trafficking

A movement without experts cannot accomplish meaningful change. The movement to combat human trafficking has historically excluded the expertise of survivors and been dominated by people without lived experience of human trafficking.
groceryworkers
Impact Stories

Thanking America's Grocery Workers

Since the pandemic, grocery workers have become front-line heroes supporting their communities. They help make it easy to get food and household goods, and so contribute in significant ways to their community’s well-being. Last year, Kendall-Jackson and United Way partnered to launch the Grocery Worker’s Relief Fund. designed to recognize grocery workers for all they were doing. Now named the Grocery Worker’s Appreciation Fund, the fund continues to show appreciation by helping grocery workers with life’s unexpected events and urgent needs, like medical expenses and automotive repairs, in the form of $250 cash cards. #LiveUnited
Impact Stories

Partnership Helping Prevent Family Homelessness

Person holding a small plastic bag of pills and tablets
Impact Stories

Opioid Abuse: Fighting the Epidemic of Epidemics

Impact Stories

Sparking Financial Stability through Coaching

Individuals sitting on the ground at a temporary shelter

18M+

referrals through 211 in 2024

Supported by United Way, 211 is a free, confidential service that connects people to locally available programs and resources across the U.S. and Canada. In 2024, the 211 network responded to over 16 million requests for help resulting in more than 18 million hyperlocal referrals for assistance.

How You Can Help

Take the next step to support thriving communities. Your gift now or in the future, or the gift of your time, are valuable contributions to our shared mission.