Public Policy and Advocacy

Policy change can be big or small. It can be petitioning your school board to require healthier cafeteria meals. It can be urging your government to invest more in schools, or make child tax credits permanent, or make more children eligible for health insurance. Or it can be mobilizing your friends to speak out on a critical cause, in person or online.

United Way galvanizes people to speak out for change.  We're amplifying individuals’ voices on important community issues. As the largest privately-funded nonprofit in the world, we provide a platform for people to take meaningful action that makes a difference.

United Way's Public Policy and Advocacy Work

United Way Worldwide’s policy priorities for the 118th Congress - informed by the work of more than one thousand local United Ways around the country - are rooted in advancing racial and economic equity and opportunity, fostering cross-sector collaboration and problem-solving, promoting civic engagement and democracy, and growing our potential for impact. United Way Worldwide and the United Way Network will advocate for these priorities to advance the common good in communities across the country.  

These priorities provide a blueprint for policy work at the national, state, and local levels, and can be utilized by local United Ways to:

• Set policy and advocacy goals 
• Engage with elected officials and Administration officials 
• Create a state or local policy agenda 
• Collaborate with community and corporate partners on shared advocacy campaigns 
• Develop broader strategic policy initiatives and tools for use at the state or local level 
• Expand community impact work in resource development, campaign, and marketing efforts 

Read the Full Policy Agenda Here.

Public Policy and Advocacy Blogs

Voting Creates Stronger, More Equitable Communities Supporting VITA Supports Families In COVID-19 Fulfilling The Promise of Democracy Means Achieving Gender Equity Why I Advocate

See all public policy and advocacy blogs

United Way’s COVID-19 Advocacy Response

United Way Worldwide has been advocating for comprehensive support for the nonprofit sector and the communities across the U.S. in federal coronavirus relief legislation. Thousands of United Way advocates raised their voices through e-mails, calls, and tweets at the end of March in support of nonprofits on the frontlines of the pandemic and children, workers, and families. Congress listened!

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act each included major wins for United Way’s priorities. This legislation supports millions of families and communities through nutrition supports, paid sick leave, health care coverage for necessary COVID-19 testing, expanded unemployment benefits, increased funding for the Emergency Food and Shelter Program, relief to small businesses, incentives to encourage charitable giving to local solutions, and much more. Read our blog for more details.

But the fight is not finished.

United Way Worldwide and individuals across the country are continuing to advocate to shore up programs-- like 211, increased Medicaid funding for states, an expanded Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit, increased monthly Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and much more -- that enable access to services and build financial stability. 

460 United Way CEOs from all 50 states and the District of Columbia sent a letter to Congress urging them to prioritize investments in policies and community supports that help unemployed workers manage financially, provide a safety net for our most vulnerable populations, ease the financial burden of employers, and help families unable to maintain proper childcare as schools shut down. Read the letter here.

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Success Stories

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