Program areas at United Way Of Whatcom County
The agency's community impact fund grant awards provide support to a comprehensive network of local nonprofits reaching more than 50,000 residents each year, providing access to basic needs like food, housing, and mental health services, increasing economic mobility through education, job-skills, and training, and breaking the cycle of poverty by removing barriers like violence, abuse, and addiction and providing a variety of supports and services to help families succeed from generation to generation. United Way of Whatcom County's goal is to create a community where everyone has the tools and opportunities they need to achieve financial independence and stability.
Effective march 2, 2022 United Way of Whatcom County became the local funder and affiliate for dolly parton's imagination library (dpil). This program provides one age-appropriate book by mail each month for enrolled Whatcom County children age birth to five at no cost to families. Books are selected by a national committee of early childhood literacy experts with the intent to deliver a variety of inclusive and diverse titles that cover feel good topics. Over 2,500 children were enrolled in the program in the first 5 months. Data shows children throughout Whatcom County have enrolled, including rural and underserved areas of the community. The data confirms the organization is working in the right Way to partner with trusted entities to expand the reach of this program.
United Way of Whatcom County provides additional grants for projects and programs that align with our mission and community goals. Examples include: emergency relief funding, community initiatives, and emerging programs that address specific issues in our community. Some examples include pandemic and flood relief grants, support for alice and other critical research, childcare initiatives, and early learning programs.