Greater Mankato Area United Way

Greater Mankato Area United Way's (gmauw) core commitments are to secure resources, convene the community, and connect people and organizations to resourses. Through these actions, gmauw aims to ensure the well-being, stability, and self-sufficiency of individuals of all ages and to build a better tomorrow for all in our region. Gmauw provided funding to 55 programs across 38 nonprofit agencies in 2023. Of these programs, 34 received additional "one-time" funding in 2023. Gmauw secures resources by soliciting individuals and businesses throughout the region during the annual campaign. In 2023, approximately 5,000 individuals donated through workplace campaigns or other personal giving, while approximately 180 companies pledged a corporate gift. Additionally, more than 1,600 volunteers donated over 14,000 hours of volunteer service enabling gmauw to keep overhead low while maximizing impact. In-kind donations, whose value totaled over 803,000 in 2023, are also essential to ensuring gmauw activities have the maximum impact. Community impact - education gmauw helps to stabilize families in need and gives them tools for success by supporting basic needs, education, and health. The focus Area of education is structured to building systems of support for parents and young children to ensure that all children are ready for kindergarten, ensure youth have healthy growth and development opportunities and that youth have access to quality youth development programs that foster positive experiences. These programs served about 21,252 youth in 2023. Examples of other educational initiatives include the United Way fourth grade book project, which served about 1,600 individuals, and the annual reading festival, which served more than 600.

Community impact - basic needs gmauw stabilizes families in need and gives them tools for success. The focus of basic needs supports advancing the common good by providing basic needs like food, clothing, shelter, and emergency services. This focus Area also supports programs to increase self-sufficiency through building systems of support for individuals and families. These programs served about 3,097 people in 2023. In addition, the 2-1-1 help network served about 1,154 individuals, and the week of action connected hundreds of volunteers to needs.

Community impact - health gmauw helps people live healthy, independent lives. The focus of health supports increased independence through building systems of support for older individuals, support for individuals with disabilities to live their lives fully engaged in our communities and supporting vulnerable families and individuals by providing them tools to maintain all aspects of healthy living. These programs serviced about 14,001 people in 2023. In addition, the collaborative project community connect resource event served more than 680.