Community Impact means making real change where it’s needed most.
United Way works with local partners to support programs and services that help people meet their basic needs, build stronger families, and create more opportunities for success.
Whether it’s helping kids succeed in school, making sure families can put food on the table, or connecting people to resources, we’re focused on creating a better future for everyone in Lucas, Ottawa, and Wood counties.
Questions? Contact communityimpactstaff@unitedwaytoledo.org.
40% of households can’t afford basic needs.
17% live below the federal poverty line.
Another 23% are ALICE.
These are individuals and families who work hard but still struggle to afford essentials like housing, food, child care, and transportation.
ALICE households often earn too much to qualify for traditional social service programs, yet not enough to build stability or weather unexpected expenses.
Many are just one crisis — a medical bill, car repair, or missed paycheck — away from slipping deeper into hardship. And it can happen to anyone.
United Way is committed to tackling these big challenges and helping families build stronger, more stable lives.
Big problems—like poverty and homelessness—can’t be solved by one person or organization alone. That’s why we use a model called Collective Impact, a way of bringing people and organizations together to work toward shared goals.
Collective Impact is what we’re doing. The way we do it is through Results-Based Accountability, a tool that helps everyone stay on track, measure progress, and keep improving.
We use data to help us make smart decisions about where and how to invest in the community. By looking at trends and real-time information, like call patterns to 211, we can spot where help is needed most, find service gaps, and work better with our partners. This helps us focus our efforts, make the biggest impact, and support lasting change.
211 is a key United Way program that connects people to help and shines a light on community needs. When someone calls 211, they’re matched with local services for things like food, housing, or utility support. The information from these calls also helps United Way see where more help is needed and speak up for better support and funding in our community.
We help children succeed from birth to graduation by supporting early learning, school readiness, and afterschool programs.
We support access to physical, mental, and emotional health services so individuals and families can thrive.
We help ensure individuals and families have reliable access to healthy, nutritious food—an essential need that supports overall well-being and stability.
We connect people to jobs, income support, and financial tools so they can meet basic needs and plan for the future.
We work to ensure everyone has access to safe, stable, and affordable housing—one of the building blocks of a strong life.
Learn about the nonprofit organizations working with United Way to help families thrive!
