Community Change Collaboratives bring together people from a variety of sectors — public, private, nonprofit, foundation and education — to generate innovative and real-world solutions to challenges that affect a wide cross-section of our communities. United Way leads these initiatives with the goal of providing the greatest impact with measurable results. We cannot do this alone: our partners represent a multitude of community stakeholders, and we actively seek funding partners to invest along with us to make these collaborations possible. These are our signature community impact initiatives.
Alliance for Access and Assets: Building Financial Power Together
The Financial Inclusion Roundtable was formed in 2022 to strengthen the financial stability and resilience of individuals at the intersection of race, ethnicity, disability and poverty. That work continues today through United Way, in partnership with Neighborhood Allies, with technical support from National Disabilities Institute and financial support from JP Morgan Chase. Together, these partners led the effort to establish the Pittsburgh Coalition at the Intersection of Race, Ethnicity, Disability and Poverty. United Way assumed leadership in June 2024, and the coalition is now called the Alliance for Access and Assets: Building Financial Power Together.
College Emergency Financial Assistance Coalition
First-generation college students are more likely to be low-income and borrow more to pay for college. Nontraditional students also face barriers to enrollment and completion. To help overcome barriers to completing their degrees, the College Emergency Financial Assistance fund provides financial assistance for non-tuition and non-room and board-based costs, such as rent, utilities, child care and transportation including car repairs. United Way works closely with local colleges and universities to distribute these funds to and increase the likelihood of graduation and the well-being that comes with rewarding and well-paying work. Our partners include Butler County Community College, Carlow University. Citizens School of Nursing/AHN, Duquesne University, Penn State University Fayette, The Eberly Campus Slippery Rock University and Westmoreland County Community College.
Community Food Solutions
United Way supports programs that address food security in our area. Community Food Solutions provides mini grants three times a year to local, grassroots organizations and groups that are addressing food insecurity and have expertise in the unique needs of their neighborhoods. A Community Food Solutions Steering Committee, made up of leading organizations in the field, provides grantees with resource connections and technical assistance.
Digital Inclusion
Internet access is now a basic need. By supporting and promoting Digital Inclusion, United Way addresses access to affordable internet service, digital devices and digital skills training through our Digital Navigator Network. We partner with community organizations and connect people through our 211 helpline to the digital resources they need. We are working with local government, the private sector and community organizations to explore and close gaps in broadband infrastructure in our region, and help people overcome barriers to getting online.
Guaranteed Basic Income Pilot Program
Through this pilot program, a small group of single women with children were provided with unrestricted direct cash payments and financial coaching and support. The goal is to provide resources and agency to move to help people move to financial stability so that more costly interventions, such as eviction prevention, aren’t needed. Recipients experienced greater stability, increased physical and mental health, and increased positive family engagement. Based on the success of the pilot, United Way is diligently advocating for expansion of the program at the federal and state level.
Free Tax Prep
Led by the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, the Free Tax Prep Coalition provides free tax preparation services at more than 20 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites and ensures that as many people as possible are keep what they earn through programs such as the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credits. Scheduling is run through the PA 211 Southwest call center and connects taxpayers to other relevant resources and services. Free Tax Prep creates real financial benefit for families in our region working hard for low wages. Since 2009, our 3,545 Free Tax Prep volunteers and our self-serve MyFreeTaxes.org website have completed 120,500 tax returns at no cost to taxpayers. From 2009 to 2024, Free Tax Prep has generated approximately in $198.6 million in refunds and saving $26.9 million in tax prep fees regionally.
Welcome Back Summer
In 2020, when families and schools were reeling from the disruption of COVID-related closures, United Way was acutely aware of the toll that social isolation was exacting on children and youth. With funding from numerous foundation partners, we launched Welcome Back Summer to fund high-quality summer programs that provided in-person learning and joy for students, peace of mind for working parents, and good jobs for youth counselors. Since 2020, with the support of numerous funders and our donors, United Way has invested almost $4.7 million in support of community-based summer programs across our five-county footprint. Though we will not be running a Welcome Back Summer Request For Proposal process in 2025, we continue to fund summer programs at a smaller scale and provide resources and information to support this vital sector.