thanks to the generosity of donors like you, united way of the midlands raised more than
$30 million
to invest in our community!
investing in our community
thanks to the generosity of donors like you,
united way of the midlands raised more than
$
0
million
to invest in our community!
providing a circle of support
your gift builds a stronger tomorrow for our community
more than
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local programs
from more than
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local nonprofits
to provide
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services
More Than $30 Million Raised to Support Those in Need Across the Metro
Thanks to the generosity and caring spirit of the Omaha-Council Bluffs metro, United Way of the Midlands is excited to announce it raised $30.1 million through campaigns and programs during the fiscal year that ended on June 30, 2024.
This vital funding allows UWM to invest in more than 130 local programs with more than 80 unique metro-area nonprofits, as well as direct services like 211 and JAG Nebraska – creating a broad circle of supports and a safety net of essential services for our community.
united way campaign
This year’s campaign effort was led by 2023 Campaign Chairs Rob and Stacie Reed and the team at Physicians Mutual.
Thanks to their passionate leadership, UWM surpassed Mr. Warren Buffett’s Tocqueville Society Challenge – reaching 406 members and increasing his generous match of UWM’s campaign.
Additional support was provided thanks to nearly 30,000 donors, 884 corporate partners, family foundations, government partners, the UWM Board of Directors and the Top 100 UWM campaigns for the last fiscal year.
together, we can make an incredible impact
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Strategic Investments and Funding
Together, we strive to cultivate thriving communities and address social and economic disparities.
At United Way of the Midlands, we specialize in strategic investments and community-driven grantmaking. With our broad range of partnerships, we can mobilize diverse funding sources, bring resources into our community and direct dollars where they are needed most. Drawing on our deep understanding of local initiatives and community needs, we prioritize investments aligning with donor interests and proven effectiveness. Through streamlined systems and processes, we optimize the allocation of resources for maximum community benefit — making UWM a trusted collaborator in grant implementation.
directing donations where they are needed most
WITH THIS YEAR’S INVESTMENTS, UWM HAS THE GOAL OF PROVIDING 10 MILLION SERVICES TO ADDRESS SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DISPARITIES ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY – FOCUSED IN FOUR KEY AREAS.
With the recent release of our new three-year Strategic Plan, developed in collaboration with the Executive Board Committee, we reinforced the commitment to making community-driven funding decisions that empower local participation in driving change. The full body of UWM’s work includes traditional investments through the Community Impact Fund (CIF), providing support to local programs serving the needs of our neighbors – as well as direct service work being done with JAG Nebraska, the 211 Contact Center, Court Referral Community Service Program (CRCSP) and Goodfellows.
impact areas
Every investment and direct service we provide aligns with our new strategic plan to create a thriving, resilient community. Explore how we focus our efforts to make a lasting impact across these essential areas.
Healthy Community
Improving health and well-being for all
Food access, shelter and homeless prevention, physical and behavioral health, case management and legal services, Combined Health Agencies Drive (CHAD) and more.
Youth Opportunity
Helping young people realize their full potential
Childcare and early childhood development, after school and summer learning, mentoring, college and career readiness, family engagement, JAG Nebraska and more.
Financial Security
Building financial stability and strength
Education and training, employment and entrepreneurship, financial literacy and asset development, Siemer Institute partnership and more.
Community Resiliency
Addressing urgent needs today to advance a better tomorrow
Referrals to health and human service resources via the 211 Helpline (NE and IA), CRCSP, Goodfellows, Emergency Food & Shelter Program, disaster relief/recovery and more.
explore our impact
our circle of support reaches far and wide
When you invest in UWM, you reach every corner of our community.
Explore our interactive map to see the extensive network of partnerships and direct service programming your funding makes possible.
Updated annually and current as of July 1, 2024.
Quick Links
Investments and Partnerships
community impact fund
The Community Impact Fund (formerly the Community Care Fund) is our traditional process of investing contributions from donors into metro-area community programs. Through the Community Impact Fund (CIF), one donation invests dollars in dozens of organizations at once that they are able to use flexibly where they are essential, making a difference in lives across our community. Teams of community volunteers review program applications and direct dollars where they are needed most – creating a circle of support and strengthening the human services network in our community.
stable family partnerships
Our partnership with the Siemer Institute brings national thought leadership and additional funding to the metro-area in support of local two-generation programs. 2Gen programs support parents and children at the same time. With Siemer Institute and metro area agency partners, UWM invests in local programming to prevent family homelessness and reduce school instability among low-income families.
Emergency Food and Shelter Program and State Set Aside
United Way of the Midlands effectively administers the Emergency Food and Shelter Program and State Set-Aside programs, leveraging financial support from United Way Worldwide to benefit local programs and communities. Through strategic investment and collaboration with regional partners, we ensure that these funds directly address urgent needs, providing crucial assistance to individuals and families in our area.
United Way of the Midlands is proud to partner with the Omaha World-Herald to administer the Goodfellows program that provides help to those in our community who have fallen on hard times. This includes people between jobs, the elderly, those who have experienced abuse and those facing a personal crisis with nowhere else to turn.
Impact Report Coming Soon
Built upon a mutual desire to create a better, stronger and more vibrant community, United Way of the Midlands has had a longstanding partnership with the Omaha Federation of Labor (AFL-CIO). Through this partnership, we host an annual Blue Collar Boxing event that benefits the Nebraska Center for Workforce Development and Education and UWM’s Community Impact Fund. NCWDE is focused on increasing the qualified workforce in Nebraska by creating opportunities for Omaha’s young people to gain exposure to and pursue careers in the trades, while also developing the skills to support the infrastructure of Nebraska.
karnett trust
The Karnett Trust Grant Program is administered by United Way of the Midlands. Karnett Trust Funds are available to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in Douglas, Sarpy and Pottawattamie counties with programs that are focused on the care, education and training of children with intellectual disabilities in the Omaha metropolitan area. Ellen C. Karnett left the trust funds to United Way to administer her wishes to benefit children in our community with intellectual disabilities. The funds are distributed in honor of Ellen’s son, Richard.
Through its partnership with Region 6 Behavioral Healthcare, and thanks to the support of Women United, UWM is expanding access to Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training. This training gives individuals the tools and resources they need to help someone struggling with mental health challenges, while helping to reduce the stigma of and barriers to seeking help. In its first year, more than 1,000 people received MHFA training – and UWM has a goal of increasing this number to 1,500 in 2024.
Raise Me to Read is part of the Omaha metro collective impact model to improve school readiness, out-of-school learning, school attendance, grade-level reading and to disrupt generational poverty. As a member of the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, a community solutions action plan was completed and continues to guide their work.
Through our partnership with the Combined Health Agencies Drive (CHAD), health charities receive funding to conduct innovative research, provide critical client services and offer education and prevention programs to members in our community.
direct services
By both investing in exceptional local partners, and delivering direct services to fill gaps UWM addresses our areas most pressing needs.
Click below for information about Jobs for Americas Gradates (JAG Nebraska), 211, CRCSP and the range of programming UWM offers to help individuals and families.
How we invest
We invest in the community through several funding streams focused on addressing social and economic disparities across the metro area.
UWM prioritizes equity throughout our various funding streams by looking at client and leadership demographics, and how programs are reflective, engaged and responsive to the communities they serve. UWM’s 2024 to 2027 strategic plan shapes our investment approach and priorities to maximize impact and foster thriving communities.
To learn more about our impact areas, partnership opportunities and applying for funding visit our For Nonprofits page.
community voice
At United Way, volunteers have the loudest and strongest voice in determining program investments.
Their insights and dedication shape our strategic funding decisions, ensuring that resources are directed where they can make the greatest impact in addressing community needs. By actively engaging volunteers from diverse backgrounds and experiences, we harness a wealth of perspectives to inform our investment strategies. This collaborative approach not only enhances the effectiveness of our programs but also fosters a sense of ownership and commitment among volunteers, empowering them to drive positive change in the communities we serve.
