Program areas at United Way of Kentucky
Statewide initiatives: United Way of Kentucky (uwky) is an integral part of United Way service delivery to 100% of Kentucky's population, whether through direct investment in program services, disaster recovery, or through our 211 information and referral hotline, our contractual relationship with the state operated referral platform, kynect resources, or through our statewide fundraising campaigns. Uwky increases and enhances local United Way capacity to improve outcomes in education, financial stability and health in their communities by facilitating opportunities for the network to engage individuals, elected officials and statewide organizations in the work of United Way. Uwky increases the value of the brand by creating new partnerships, strengthening existing relationships, advocating for effective public policy,and developing new services that improve lives and strengthen communities.
Capacity building, training and networking: uwky strengthens the state network of 20 United Way organizations and supports their capacity to meet the needs of their communities. Uwky supports local efforts by providing best practices, trainings, programs and resources related to nonprofit governance, marketing and communications, community investment, resource development, public policy, volunteerism and more for staff, board volunteers and community members.
Funding: uwky administers the Kentucky employees charitable campaign (kecc), which works with desiganted charties that provide direct services to every Kentucky community, partnering with nearly 1000 agencies across the commonwealth. The kecc raised an annual average of approximately $620,000 over the last five years, including over $590,000 pledged in 2022, which impacts thousands of individuals. These dollars fund services such as feeding and sheltering the homless, increasing educational opportunity, working with victims of domestic abuse, preventing child abuse, helping families with premature births, supporting children with special needs, working to find a cure for cancer and other devastating diseases, and disaster recovery efforts, to name a few.