UNITED WAY OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
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Mission Statement
OUR MISSION To equitably advance the common good throughout the Pacific Northwest by enhancing the individual and collective ability of member United Ways to impact their communities and collaborate on regional and statewide issues. OUR VISION United Ways in the Pacific Northwest will increase their ability both to impact their local communities and collaborate effectively on regional and statewide issues. Working together we will create opportunities for a better life for all. OUR CORE VALUES Community Voices – Individually and collectively, United Ways are a strong unified voice advocating for their communities. Collective Impact – The state association is a leader and facilitator, helping United Ways learn, plan and succeed in local collective impact efforts. Collaboration – It takes whole communities working together to achieve long-term lasting change and advance the common good. Networking and Relationships – Our greatest asset is our ability to build effective networks and relationships, mobilizing people and organizations. Integrity – We are known for our integrity and commitment to improving our communities. With every action we earn the trust of our members and partners. Accountability – We hold ourselves accountable for achieving results with the resources entrusted to us. Inspiring – We work to demonstrate how the very best in people and communities adds up to a force for positive change. Common Ground – We acknowledge that people and communities differ in character, beliefs and values. As local United Ways and as an Association we continuously strive to be a place where people and institutions forge a shared understanding and vision for the common good. OUR VISION FOR EQUITY We recognize structural racism and other forms of oppression have contributed to persistent disparities which United Way seeks to dismantle. Our United Way network strives to engage community members, especially those whose voices have traditionally been marginalized. We work with residents and public and private partners to co-create solutions that ensure everyone has the resources, supports, opportunities and networks they need to thrive. We commit to leveraging all our assets (convening, strategic investments, awareness building, advocacy) to create more equitable communities.
About This Cause
UWPNW United Ways of the Pacific Northwest (UWPNW) is the regional trade association for local United Ways in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. United Ways in the Pacific Northwest are committed to improving lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities to advance the common good in the areas of education, income and health. UWPNW PROJECTS: ALICE (Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed) UNITED WAYS OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST STUDY OF FINANCIAL HARDSHIP - ALICE, United Way acronym which stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, represents the growing number of individuals and families who are working, but are unable to afford the basic necessities of housing, food, child care, health care, and transportation. ALICE may be your relative, friend, colleague, or neighbor, or you might be ALICE. ALICE may also be your health care provider, teacher, retail clerk, sanitation worker, and others. ALICE workers are the backbone of our economy, with the pandemic making it crystal clear just how much we need them. Through a series of standardized measurements, United Way is quantifying the households in each state that are struggling financially, and the reasons why. These measurements provide a broader picture of financial insecurity than traditional federal poverty guidelines. This is the fifth time that we have studied and reported on ALICE in the Pacific Northwest. Visit UnitedforALICE.org to learn more about the national study. WHY ALICE MATTERS United For ALICE is a driver of innovation, shining a light on the challenges ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) households face and finding collaborative solutions. Through a standardized methodology that assesses the cost of living in every county, this project provides a comprehensive measure of financial hardship across the U.S. Equipped with this data, ALICE partners convene, advocate, and innovate in their local communities to highlight the issues faced by ALICE households and to generate solutions that promote financial stability. This grassroots ALICE movement, led by United Way of Northern New Jersey, has spread to 27 states and the District of Columbia and includes United Ways, corporations, nonprofits, and foundations in Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawai‘i, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Washington, D.C., West Virginia and Wisconsin. For more information, visit: UnitedForALICE.org. COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT PROJECT (CRP): In June 2024, United Ways of the Pacific Northwest (UWPNW) received a $2.5 million grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce to lead the Community Reinvestment Plan Asset-Building Project. This project, which runs through June 30, 2025, aims to support Black, Latine, and Tribal communities across Washington State, with a focus on Clark, King, Pierce, Snohomish, Spokane, and Yakima counties. The Washington State Department of Commerce’s Community Reinvestment Project (CRP) was developed to tackle long-standing racial, economic, and social inequities, particularly in communities that have been disproportionately affected by the war on drugs and other harmful policies. The primary goal of CRP is to generate sustainable economic benefits, foster wealth-building opportunities, and create a level playing field for everyone. Key initiatives include job creation in partnership with diverse small businesses, workforce training programs, helping individuals achieve self-sufficient incomes, home and business ownership opportunities, and enhancing neighborhood safety through community-led initiatives. KEY FOCUS AREAS OF THE UWPNW COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT PLAN Through a collaboration between UWPNW and local United Way organizations, the project will focus on three main components to build financial stability in underserved communities: Outreach and Technical Assistance: We will provide technical assistance grants, community engagement, and resource distribution, targeting local advisory teams and by-and-for organizations Asset-Building Initiatives: These initiatives will promote policies and programs that help individuals build, maintain, and preserve financial assets. This includes expanding free tax services, extending support to underserved regions, and developing localized programs that help individuals and families secure essential financial resources. Individual Development Accounts (IDAs): Participants in the project will have access to matched savings accounts of up to $10,000, alongside financial education and personalized coaching to help them achieve their savings goals and build assets for the future. ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF ALICE HOUSEHOLDS IN WASHINGTON According to the latest ALICE (Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed) report from July 2024, 35% of households in Washington earn more than the federal poverty level but still cannot meet basic needs like housing, food, healthcare, and childcare. This financial hardship is more acute among Black, Latine, and Tribal communities due to historical systemic racism, geographic barriers, and limited access to opportunities for economic stability. In 2022, 49% of Black households, 49% of American Indian/Alaska Native households, and 46% of Hispanic households in Washington fell below the ALICE threshold, compared to 33% of white households. Using ALICE data, both the Department of Commerce and United Way are conducting targeted outreach to identify and assist potential participants for asset-building initiatives, ensuring that the program serves those who need it most. SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS AND SMALL BUSINESSES Coaching and mentoring with finances: community-based financial coaching programs funded by the Department of Commerce and the Community Reinvestment Project (CRP) Underemployment and need help earning a living wage: The Economic Security for All (EcSA) Career Accelerator program provides opportunities for under/unemployed folks in Black, Latine and Tribal communities to pursue their dreams and build collective power. If you or your family has been impacted by the war on drugs, you may have access to career training, financial coaching, support payments, and financial incentives of up to $1000. The goal of this program is to help give our communities a fighting chance to make a living wage and achieve their goals. CLICK HERE to connect with the EcSA program through your local workforce development board. To learn more about the Community Reinvestment Project, visit: https://www.uwpnw.org/community_reinvestment_project PACIFIC NORTHWEST WILDFIRE RELIEF & RECOVERY FUND United Ways of the Pacific Northwest (UWPNW) launched the Pacific Northwest Wildfire Relief & Recovery Fund in response to the 2020 wildfires devastating parts of Oregon, Idaho and Washington. Hundreds of thousands of people were forced to evacuate and seek shelter, many with only a few minutes notice. We saw the demand for a regional fund and were successful moving funds to local communities most in need. We now keep this fund open year round so that we are always ready to meet the needs of local communities facing devastating wildfires. UWPNW works in partnership with local United Way organizations in impacted communities across the region. All donations will be used to help provide displaced families with access to food, shelter, childcare, health care and other critical services. This fund will help these families meet their emergent and long-term recovery needs. UWPNW distributes funds to local United Ways in areas impacted by fires, based on a formula developed that includes damage, population and economic/racial equity as components.