United Way of Metropolitan Chicago

Impact grantsfor 90 years, United Way of metro Chicago ("United Way") has mobilized caring people to invest in the communities where resources are needed most. What we learned over the past few years has underscored what we have learned since we launched the neighborhood network initiative in 2013: holistic, place-based approaches work. Coalitions in our neighborhood networks and other coordinated partners across the region are amazingly effective at knowing what community residents need and how to reach them with support quickly. As we plan for the future, we are guided by a core commitment to making neighborhoods stronger and more equitable. (continued in schedule o) we can accomplish this by deepening investment in place-based strategies, aligning with existing community priorities, focusing more explicitly on racial equity, building partner capacity, and, where possible, expanding community-driven grantmaking.united Way's long-term focus is on building stronger and more equitable neighborhoods. Still, we know that the ongoing impacts of the pandemic, inflation and economic instability, community violence, and other challenges have resulted in many individuals and families continuing to struggle to meet their basic needs, with food and housing insecurity skyrocketing. With this in mind, we continue to support basic needs services that help to stabilize families across our region and improve the systems that serve them.a dual approach strategy of meeting basic needs and transforming neighborhoods from the inside out will move our communities forward by emphasizing immediate support for those in crisis and a long-term vision to build a stronger, more equitable Chicago region. We will focus our impact grantmaking on high-quality basic needs services, innovative models that can transform systems and service delivery, and coordinated, place-based efforts to achieve our goals. More than $9 million was invested to support the outlined impact grant strategies across the Chicago region from july 1, 2022-june 30, 2023.july 1, 2022-june 30, 2023, investments / outcomesunited Way of metro Chicago ("United Way") awarded impact grants using the three strategies outlined below. -basic needsunited Way invested in direct service programs that stabilize families by providing critical support in areas such as access to healthcare, housing, safety from abuse, and access to food. Partners funded through this strategy may be regional agencies operating across multiple sites and neighborhoods/municipalities or community hubs serving a specific population or community.-systems improvement & innovationunited Way invested in partners working to improve overall systems through advocacy or those advancing direct service delivery through innovative approaches. Systems improvements grants support collaborative partnerships between direct service providers in a single issue, and the coordinating and convening efforts necessary to drive systems change. Innovation grants advance innovative developments in direct service delivery through, for example, case management, technology, or coordinated multi-agency programming. -coordinated servicesunited Way invested in programs that provide high-quality direct services that are connected to broader community efforts in United Way's neighborhood networks or other selected communities. These services must be anchored in one of United Way's priority funding areas (housing, food access, safety from abuse, access to healthcare, tax preparation, legal assistance, early learning, or workforce development) but may include any additional services that will assist the household in achieving its goals. From january 1, 2023, through june 30, 2023, United Way of metro Chicago ("United Way") updated its funding strategies for the 2023 calendar year. It awarded impact grants according to the strategic focus areas outlined below. United Way's 2023-24 funding will support four grant strategies: place-based wraparound services, place-based issue-focused services, regionwide wraparound services, and regionwide issue-focused services. These grant strategies each employ different approaches to achieving United Way's ultimate goals of stabilizing low-income families in crisis and building stronger, more equitable communities.in all United Way impact grants, we are seeking to achieve goals in at least one of our focus areas:basic needs: the focus area includes providing support for individuals and families to have access to healthcare, housing, safety from abuse, food assistance, and legal assistance support. Early learning: providing support so that children and families can build a strong foundation for the start of school.workforce development: preparing individuals for success and long-term living wage employment opportunities.some outcomes for july 1, 2022-june 30, 2023#1 - 4,382 individuals placed in jobs#2 - 40,050 individuals participated in behavioral and mental health sessions#3 - 6,835 children received early childhood screening#4 - 8,317 individuals became job ready#5 - 9,170 individuals accessed permanent, stable living destination

The critical work of United Way requires significant resources. Support is raised through a diversified revenue model. United Way conducts workplace giving campaigns, receives individual and major gifts, and is awarded grants from private foundations and the state and federal government. Strategic efforts are in place to further grow significant revenue from grants and individual giving. Other program service achievements include designations by donors to other 501(c)(3) organizations.

Neighborhood networks neighborhood networks are coalitions of community leaders who live, work, and intimately know their communities' biggest challenges and greatest opportunities. United Way of metro Chicago works alongside our partners to address community priorities and build local infrastructure to respond to their neighborhood's most pressing needs. Then, we help scale that across the region. We also connect donors and organizations that want to invest in the Chicago region with opportunities to make an impact. (continued in schedule o)through the neighborhood network initiative, United Way works with hundreds of community partners in 17 neighborhoods across the Chicago region. The goal is to build more equitable communities through community-based and resident-led programs. In each neighborhood network, United Way delivers funding, resources, technical assistance, and knowledge to bring community-driven goals to life. During fy23, United Way of metro Chicago worked in 17 neighborhoods: auburn gresham, austin, blue island/robbins, brighton park, bronzeville, Chicago heights/ford heights, cicero, elgin, englewood, evanston, far south, garfield park, harvey, little village, park forest/richton park, south Chicago, and west chicago.more than $7 million was invested to support the neighborhood networks july 1, 2022-june 30, 2023.some major developments & outcomes: - the northwest suburb of elgin became United Way's 14th neighborhood network with a leadership gift from nicor gas foundation.- in partnership with the cook county transforming places program and with support from nicor gas foundation, three new neighborhood networks were launched in Chicago heights/ford heights, harvey, and park forest/richton park.- United Way and itw (Illinois tool works) partnered to launch the commit to a neighborhood initiative in the austin neighborhood to create quality, living-wage jobs with good benefits and stimulate economic development.- the auburn gresham neighborhood network opened the healthy lifestyle hub with essential services for residents, including a pharmacy, doctor's office, bank, restaurant, and teaching kitchen.

Other projects (unef, catalytic investments, etc. )more than $9 million was invested to support the organization's special initiatives and investments, including the United neighborhoods equity fund and catalytic investments, during the fy23 period of july 1, 2022-june 30, 2023.united neighborhoods equity fundthe United neighborhoods equity fund (unef) launched in fall 2021 to support small, bipoc-led (black, indigenous, people of color) nonprofits predominantly located on the city of Chicago's south and west sides and in the south suburban region. Unef is designed to connect the grantee nonprofits to new capacity-building and investment opportunities that meet the organization's needs and advance their long-term goals. As a funder, United Way of metro Chicago recognizes that a top-down approach and lack of lived experience have often led to funder-driven decision-making that needs more authentic community expertise and inclusion. Unef is a philanthropic commitment addressing the barriers many bipoc-led nonprofits face in securing sustaining support and creating a more equitable and just Chicago. The cohort-based program incorporates the following components:- funding two-year general operating grant award ($50,000 total) - cohort leaders from 10 community-based organizations (with budgets of <$1m) serving the communities aligned with the United Way neighborhood network initiative- capacity building individual and group capacity-building curriculum aimed to strengthen organizational infrastructure- relationship building cross-sector relationship building through a peer cohort model, corporate spotlight, and networking with potential funders and investors initial program successes: - launched second cohort of 10 small nonprofits in fall of 2022 - urban male network, a grantee organization in the unef second cohort, has added five locations since receiving United neighborhoods equity fund funding. - significant corporate support from people gas, nicor gas, target, and ul - depaul university serves as an academic partner for the program.catalytic investmentsunited Way of metro Chicago created a criteria framework to assess large, catalytic investment opportunities in neighborhood network communities. When making an investment decision, United Way considers a project's alignment with a neighborhood network's overarching goals, how partners and community residents will utilize the space, the ripple effect on the neighborhood, and its long-term sustainability. Catalytic investment decisions consider the project's immediate and long-term impacts on the community, ranging from local hiring during the construction process to permanent jobs and how services can serve as a springboard for family stability.initial catalytic investment impacts: - in auburn gresham, United Way's catalytic investment supported the expansion of the auburn gresham healthy lifestyle hub and campus.- in the austin community, United Way's catalytic investment supported the opening of the build community hub and the groundbreaking for the aspire center for workforce innovation.- in brighton park, a catalytic investment was made in what will become a new community center.