$21.7M in expenses

Objective of program: for nearly 100 years, united way of central maryland (united way) has been a human service leader for the region, encouraging all central marylanders to give, advocate and volunteer. United way is dedicated to helping individuals and families facing poverty to meet their basic needs, stabilize and achieve self-sufficient lives. We do this through grantmaking, collaboration, promoting volunteerism and advocacy, and mobilizing resources as a trusted fundraiser. Additionally, united way addresses local needs and creates impact through targeted direct-service initiatives.united way uses expertise, data, and local knowledge to better understand the issues facing central marylanders and to make informed investment and programmatic decisions. As part of this work, united way convenes local stakeholders and actively works to develop collective impact strategies in partnership with other nonprofit organizations and government agencies. United way has moved beyond fundraising and grantmaking and into creating innovative direct-service initiatives that support family stability in high need communities. United way implements evidence-based best practices and incubates promising ideas in the areas of education, housing, health, and workforce development.united way grantmakingthrough our grantmaking, united way works to sustain and grow the capacity of community-based partners to strengthen families and neighborhoods, underpinning the community safety net and improving the lives of central marylanders who work hard but still cannot make ends meet. We direct funding annually to over 100 nonprofit organizations through grants that target specific community needs, mostly through a competitive allocation process administered by our volunteer region united network advisory boards (run boards). Examples of grants provided by the united way in fy24 include the following: neighborhood grants are available through a competitive grant opportunity that focuses on amplifying the power of residents. Neighborhood grants was launched in fy21 and continued in subsequent years. United way has come to believe that the true path to real, lasting, and systemic change in our neighborhoods is one that is community-led, informed by their in-depth knowledge of their neighborhood's existing assets and needs and inspired by their desire for a healthier, happier community. Nonprofit organizations with annual operating budgets of $500,000 or less are eligible to apply for a neighborhood grant. Funding decisions are informed by our united way's six local region united network (run) boards, serving each of central maryland's jurisdictions: baltimore city, and anne arundel, baltimore, carroll, harford, and howard counties. Funds are allocated among the six jurisdictions based on relative alice population. Run board members evaluate applications and recommend grants of between $2,500 and $10,000 each. In fy24, united way received 154 applications and awarded 83 neighborhood grants totaling $784,754. Changemaker challenge grants are available through an open, competitive grant opportunity that sparks social innovation to address challenges facing our communities. Changemaker challenge is held every other year. In fy24 we received 177 changemaker challenge applications. Fifty-one finalists across central maryland were each provided a $1,500 stipend and support to further develop their ideas and create a two-minute pitch presentation. Five live events were held where applicants presented their ideas and responded to questions from a community panel, and changemaker awards were announced. In total, 31 changemaker awards were made totaling $445,000. For anne arundel, baltimore, harford and howard counties and baltimore city, the changemaker challenge is held every two years, with the next one scheduled for fy26. In fy24 united way continued to partner with the carroll county chamber of commerce to award a $2,000 changemaker grant through their annual biz challenge, to the applicant who demonstrates the best promise for creating positive social impact. Neighbors united grants are disbursed by the united way in conjunction with the neighbors united programmatic team to provide capacity building and community engagement support to local non-profits to respond to neighborhood/community needs. The first cohort of three partners was selected in fy20. In fy24 a new cohort of partners was selected to begin work in three additional central maryland communities. Family stability program grants are awarded to organizations wishing to serve as funded partners in the implementation of a regional homelessness prevention program model with demonstrated success. United way's family stability program (FSP) has worked for 12 years to prevent homelessness for at-risk families. It is based on the siemer institute's evidence-based model used nationwide to prevent homelessness for families. An open, competitive process was held in fy21 to identify implementation partners who would receive funding for up to four years, through a yearly renewal process. Implementation partners' grants were renewed in fy22, fy23 and fy24. Community arts grants were available through a competitive application process in fy24. United way is supporting the mayor's office of recovery programs by administering this grant program to arts and culture organizations serving baltimore city. In total, 28 programmatic and capital grants were awarded, totaling $3.6 million, for a 2-year grant period that runs through march 2026.grant eligibility criteriathe following eligibility requirements apply to organizations/agencies seeking funding from united way, with the few exceptions noted below. Organizations must provide: copy of their IRS determination letter identifying the organization as a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) or other most recent copy (within the last two fiscal years) of one of the following financial documents: o financial audit of their organization (for organizations with total gross charitable income of $750,000 or more)o financial review, conducted by an independent auditor (for organizations with total gross charitable income between $300,000 and $750,000)o two of the following three internal financial statements: form 990, profit/loss statement, organizational budget (for organizations with total gross charitable income of $300,000 or less) good standing certificate of status - from maryland's state department of assessments & taxation (sdat) current roster of their board of directors eligibility exceptions applicants who are not able to meet united way's eligibility requirements may use a fiscal agent. In these cases, the fiscal agent is required to provide the necessary documents. Changemaker challenge in addition to nonprofit organizations, united way's changemaker challenge is open to individuals and groups of individuals.united way's grant allocation processunited way conducts a comprehensive and stringent grant allocation process that utilizes the extensive experience of staff and relies on the knowledge and insight of local professional and community leader volunteers who live or work in each respective jurisdiction and make up united way's region united network advisory boards (run boards). United way utilizes these run boards, one in each of the six central maryland jurisdictions, to address local needs as they relate to the overall impact goals of united way. United way announces and promotes its grant funding opportunities through its website, through social media platforms, through emails to a comprehensive regional list of non-profit agencies, and through a network of community partners, including its run board members. Staff first reviews applications to ensure that applicants meet established eligibility criteria and are then reviewed by teams of community members (run board members and/or others depending on the grant application) who score and rank the applications using established grant review guidelines. These review teams review and discuss application scores and ranking and make funding recommendations to united way staff. United way's executive management team and/or united way's board of directors make final grant award approval.each organization that receives a grant is required to submit the following: executed grant agreement signed by the organization's executive director/president/CEO copy of most recent w-9 form. United way's 2-1-1 maryland information form, when applicable

$2.7M in expenses

Objective of program:211 maryland is accessible, free of charge, 24 hours a day information and referral service for the state of maryland. People seeking information about services such as food assistance, shelter, medical care, substance abuse treatment, protection from domestic violence, and many more, can call this easy-to-use helpline. Available in 150+ languages, 211 connects callers to trained, certified call specialists at one of four nationally accredited call centers in maryland who assess their needs and link them to the right solutions using a comprehensive database of federal, state and local services - both government and non-profit. 211 is part of the national 211 system available in all 50 states, the district of columbia, and puerto rico. 211 systems are instrumental in identifying needs or gaps in services, providing a more accurate picture of local needs and emerging trends. Results of program:during FY 2024, 211 maryland united way helpline received 155,228 calls and answered 115,920 calls. Housing assistance (37%), utility assistance (16%) and food assistance (9%) ranked as the top three needs presented. Requests for health/mental health services (4%) dropped from last year to rank 6th. This may be due to the shift to 988 for crisis calls and a statewide push for people in need of mental health services to call 988. 211 worked with the fuel fund of maryland to provide expedited utility assistance to older adults as well as other bge customers who are at risk of having their utilities turned off and who had applied for energy assistance through ohep. Additionally, 211 worked with constellation home to provide heating systems and repairs for those in need during the winter months. 211 also partnered with the maryland food bank to provide food delivery to callers, increasing access to food. In partnership with the cash campaign of maryland, 211 worked to increase awareness of eitc and free tax preparation sites. 211 managed 6,888 calls for free tax preparation. This was a decrease from the previous year and may be due to fewer appointments being available. However, all available tax appointments were filled. Our follow-up surveys demonstrated that 80% of the people who called 211 received the services that they were seeking. This is up from 73% in fy23. The increase in resources received from fy23 to fy24 may be due to the types of referrals 211 was able to provide directly for assistance. For example, we were able to schedule tax appointments, connect individuals with a statewide food delivery program, complete ohep applications due to the power to the people pilot, and provide LYFT transportation via two grants during FY 24.211 has partnered with civil justice and a2j tech to develop a statewide coordinated intake system for access to counsel in evictions with funding from maryland legal services corporation (MLSC). This system refers people facing eviction to free legal counsel. The system was launched throughout the state of maryland in may 2024.

$2.9M in expenses

United way neighborhood zones: in october 2017, united way of central maryland (UWCM) took over the operations of the ben center in brooklyn, baltimore city, maryland, and integrated the strategy/programs into operations. The original neighborhood zone, the uw neighborhood zone in brooklyn, operates out of benjamin franklin high school in the brooklyn/curtis bay neighborhood of baltimore city. This unique concept has been designed to create a "hub" within the community that provides a safe, nurturing environment for students and community members to not only seek out a vast array of services, but to be active participants in shaping their community to be what will help them fulfill their hopes and dreams for themselves, their family, and the community.neighborhood zones are focused on multi-generational support in the areas of social, economic, and educational advancement. Neighborhood zones emerge from listening to what people want and need to succeed on their terms and are co-created by those who live and work in the designated geographical area. The team builds on assets to fill in gaps and encourages collaboration and coordination. Programs and initiatives include but are not limited to housing and employment assistance, community schools, high school dropout prevention, mental health services, access to healthy food, advocacy, neighborhood led services and resources and the united way family center.UWCM now has three neighborhood zones, in brooklyn and poppleton in baltimore city, and in columbia in howard county. Each zone addresses the unique needs of their respective neighborhoods. The uw family center in each zone provides quality childcare, early childhood education, and family support. The family centers in brooklyn and poppleton also provide intensive parenting support to student parents so that they can stay in school and graduate and break the cycle of teen pregnancy. The family center in columbia provides high quality early childhood support to alice families.the success of these zones led to the creation of the neighbors united initiative, a resident led, community building initiative adapted from ST. Joseph's health system in ca. Neighbors united coaches residents to identify assets and challenges together and work with allies to improve health, security, and economic well-being of their communities. This approach promotes building power structures that put residents in a position of strength and self-determination. Communities progress through neighbors united with the guidance of a lead agency that is embedded in the community and supported by united way of central maryland. Neighbors united sites progress from this initiative to become a neighborhood zone. There are currently five neighbors united sites throughout central maryland.multiple initiatives and programs have blossomed out of neighborhood zones based on what is heard from the community and what the data shows. United for childcare is an initiative recently created to address the national childcare crisis, birthed out of opportunities and challenges experienced with the uw family centers. The focus of united for childcare is to transform the early childhood education ecosystem through a multi-generational strategy that elevates the childcare profession and expands access to quality, affordable early childhood education to close the racial educational and wealth gap. Fiscal year 2024 (fy24) was spent on continued listening, researching, and building a collaborative that will decide how to move the initiative forward.education initiatives are part of the neighborhood zone portfolio. Young men united is an educational initiative that focuses on providing young men of color with the wrap-around support they need to realize the success they see for themselves. Ymu partners with several stakeholders to implement the initiative and is currently operating in two baltimore city public high schools.key outcomes of uw neighborhood zones include: o the family center at benjamin franklin high school has provided intensive parenting support to 144 students and early childhood education to 120 infants and toddlers since inception in 2014. The center provided intensive parenting support to forty-six individuals (24 parents and 22 children) in fy24. 100% of the children were on track developmentally by the end of the year. The cumulative, 5-year cohort graduation rate of family center student parents is 70%.o the social-emotional wellness program at benjamin franklin high school had a staffing vacancy for the duration of the year. In the 2023-24 school year the program served eighty-four students, approximately 10% of the entire student body. Students received individual and group counseling, crisis intervention/mediation, and wellness programming.o the family center at excel academy (in poppleton) has provided intensive parenting support to forty-six students and early childhood education to 43 children, cumulative from 2022 through fy24. 100% of the children in fy24 were on track developmentally by the end of the year. The cumulative, 5-year cohort graduation rate of family center student parents is 83% based on two class cohorts thus far.o the columbia family center has served thirty-three families (60 individuals) since its opening in fy23. 94% of families served in fy24 were living at or below the alice threshold. 79% of the children in fy24 were on track developmentally by the end of the year.o young men united served 45 young men of color during school year 2023-2024 and onboarded 3 key initiative partners. 82% of students were successfully promoted to the 12th grade. 8 students not promoted were offered twilight courses.o neighbors united (nu) is currently operating cohort 2 and engaging 31 core team members. 77% of the cohort live in the designated neighborhoods. 93% of core members surveyed believe they are better off because of being part of nu.o in fy24 UWCM-led community schools served 3,785 students; formed or maintained 180 partnerships; engaged 820 volunteers; and leveraged over $1.3 million through cash and in-kind funds.

$4.1M in expenses

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