United Way of Northern Arizona drives bold, community-wide efforts to create lasting change.
Youth Opportunity is a major focus of our work. Through our early childhood education initiatives, we ensure that children get the support they need in the first years of their lives. As they grow, we empower them to thrive – physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally – so they can seize opportunities into adulthood.
We promote Healthy Communities by partnering with dozens of organizations to ensure that the basic needs of northern Arizonans are met, including stable housing, food security, and mental health.
We help families achieve Financial Security through financial literacy and workforce development.
And in times of crisis, we bring volunteers and resources together to ensure Community Resiliency.
Our work is guided by clear, community-inspired goals to deliver meaningful results. By bringing together public, private, and nonprofit partners, we address critical challenges with collective strength.
Our mission is simple: to mobilize communities to action so all can thrive.
We lead impactful early education programs like KinderCamp™, the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, and the recently completed Elevate PreK pilot program which provided free, full-day care for four-year-olds in families who lack access to quality preschools and don’t qualify for government assistance.
When our community faces crises such as pandemics, wildfires, or floods, UWNA mobilizes volunteers and resources to provide critical support.
In addition, we allocate donations through our Local Impact, Greatest Need fund to nonprofit partners with programs that align with our mission to support youth and meet basic needs. Each funded program undergoes a rigorous Community Investment (CI) process.
Local needs. Local decisions. Local impact.
United Way of Northern Arizona’s Community Investment process brings together local knowledge, community needs data, and the experience of local volunteers to invest in programs making a difference across northern Arizona.
Each year, local nonprofits apply for funding. Applications are reviewed by teams of community volunteers who consider local needs, program outcomes, community impact, and how proposed services align with identified priorities.
This community-led process helps ensure that funding decisions are informed by both data and the people who know northern Arizona and that your gift stays local.
More Than Funding
Community Investment is about more than distributing dollars. United Way works alongside nonprofit partners to strengthen connections, share resources, build capacity, and identify opportunities for collaboration.
By bringing together nonprofits, businesses, volunteers, donors, and community leaders, we can respond to challenges collectively and help build stronger communities throughout northern Arizona.
