UNITED WAY’S ROLE IN PUBLIC POLICY
As the largest non-governmental funder of health and human services in communities throughout the United States, United Way stewards billions of dollars and millions of volunteer-hours each year. While our impact collectively as a network is vast, United Way recognizes that government spending in our focus areas of health, education and financial stability far exceeds the capability of the nonprofit sector.
United Way engages in public policy advocacy to leverage the knowledge and experience of our network to help inform policymakers’ decisions regarding governance and funding of critical health and human services.
As a leader in the nonprofit community, United Way seeks to craft practical long-term solutions for people and communities. Through a nonpartisan, non-ideological approach to advocacy, we leverage our convening power to bring together untraditional allies – business, labor, nonprofits, government and advocates – to fight for the health, education and financial stability of every person in every community.
UNITED WAY ENGAGEMENT GUIDE
Developed in consultation with United Way leaders across the U.S. network, national thought leaders and issue experts, United Way’s policy agenda for the 116th Congress reflects our work and strategic direction in the areas of health, education and financial stability. While there are many important public policy issues worth supporting, the issues identified are the most critical to our mission, politically viable, and ones where United Way can most positively impact the national dialogue.
United Way Worldwide will employ a combination of the following engagement strategies to advance these policy issues:
- Assume a leadership role in advocacy, representing the network before Congress, the administration and the human services sector – proactively advocating for, and bringing visibility to, these priority issues.
- Proactively engage United Ways across the United States to advocate with their members of Congress, providing consultation, training, messaging and technical assistance.
- Collaborate with or lead advocacy partnerships and national coalitions of nonprofits and advocacy organizations on United Way’s policy priorities.