United Way announces $8.7 million in community investment funding over next two years

United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg late last week announced $8.7 million in community investments for 2020-2022, a total of 75 awards to 55 agencies that deliver critical funding in nine program categories including everything from support for families of newborns to ensuring older adults are healthy and connected.

Including the latest grants, United Way will have invested more than $26 million in the community since 2015 and $16 million since the implementation of the organization’s Steps to Success framework.

The funding categories align with United Way’s Steps to Success framework, which identifies nine milestones on the path to prosperity and provides a set of indicators to track the region’s progress in each area. As part of a comprehensive review of each application, all funded programs demonstrated a clear plan for improving the lives of people in the region and tracking the effectiveness of their work using United Way’s Steps to Success indicators.

“The issues we face throughout Greater Richmond and Petersburg are complex and no single organization can make lasting change on its own,” James Taylor, President and CEO of United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg. “This is why United Way is proud to support agencies in our region that are making a profound impact on the communities they serve. Together, we may collectively make our region a place where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.”

United Way is one of the largest nonprofit funding organizations in the region, providing millions of dollars annually to a range of agencies working on the front lines to help everyone succeed and create lasting change in communities.

“United Way is a trusted local leader in the Richmond area, and we are proud to have our family shelter and permanent housing programs included in their 2020-2022 community investments,” said Beth Vann-Turnbull, Executive Director at Housing Families First. “Thanks to United Way, we are able to provide more families with tools to achieve housing stability.”

A team of United Way community volunteers made investment recommendations by assessing the region’s most pressing needs, reviewing applications and identifying programs that most effectively address challenges in the area. The process was led by United Way’s Community Building Committee and its two Action Councils – all of which are staffed by dedicated community volunteers.

“We have a responsibility to make well informed, evidence-based recommendations about the allocation of United Way resources,” said Susan Triggs, Chair of United Way’s Community Building Committee. “We take that responsibility seriously and feel confident that these 75 programs will provide much-needed support for our community and improve the lives of thousands of people in the area.”

United Way invested in as many as 17 programs in each of the nine Steps to Success. The specific breakdown is included below.