What We Do

Before COVID-19, one-third of all Franklin County residents could not meet basic needs and even more were a crisis away from falling into poverty. Today, we know low-income families are bearing the brunt of the pandemic. Over half of Ohio’s low-income households reported a loss of employment income over the past year. While students in low-income households faced more barriers to remote learning, including lack of broadband access and available equipment. 

United Way of Central Ohio is focused on fighting poverty by investing in the most effective partners that get results. This network of more than 90 local nonprofit partners provide opportunities and resources in two critical areas:

  • Basic Needs

    Ensuring people in crisis get food, shelter and assistance.

  • Student Success

    Helping children succeed from cradle to career.

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Basic Needs

Ensuring people in crisis get food, shelter and assistance.

did you know?

1 in 3 central Ohioans lacks the income to meet basic needs without assistance.

2,000 young adults in central Ohio are homeless.

partners

  • Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio
  • American Red Cross of Greater Columbus
  • Catholic Social Services
  • Charitable Pharmacy of Central Ohio
  • CHOICES for Victims of Domestic Violence
  • Clintonville-Beechwold CRC
  • Columbus Urban League
  • Community Development for All People
  • Community Kitchen
  • Community Shelter Board
  • Equitas
  • Furniture Bank of Central Ohio
  • Gladden Community House
  • HandsOn Central Ohio
  • Homeport
  • Huckleberry House, Inc.
  • Legal Aid Society of Columbus
  • LifeCare Alliance
  • Local Matters
  • Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio
  • Mental Health America of Franklin Ohio
  • Mid-Ohio Foodbank
  • NNEMAP
  • OhioHealth I AM
  • OSU Moms2B
  • The Salvation Army
  • Serving Our Neighbors Ministries
  • Stable Families
  • Star House
  • YMCA of Central Ohio
  • YWCA Columbus

Achieving Results:

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Student Success

Helping children succeed from cradle to career.

did you know?

The poverty rate and the unemployment rate for people who do not have a High School diploma is twice as high as for people who have graduated.

72% of disadvantaged preschoolers in Franklin County struggle to learn the skills needed for kindergarten.

partners

  • Action for Children
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbus
  • Central Community House
  • Childhood League Center
  • City Year
  • Columbus Early Learning Centers
  • Columbus Speech & Hearing Center
  • Columbus Urban League
  • Communities in Schools of Central Ohio
  • Community Development for All People
  • Communities Properties Impact Corporation
  • Directions for Youth & Families
  • Dominican Sisters of Peace
  • Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services
  • Gladden Community House
  • Godman Guild Association
  • Groundwork Ohio
  • Junior Achievement of Central Ohio
  • Kaleidoscope Youth Center
  • South Side Learning & Development Center
  • St. Stephen’s Community House
  • St. Vincent Family Center
  • Stable Families
  • The Center for Healthy Families
  • The Salvation Army
  • YMCA of Central Ohio
  • YWCA Columbus

Achieving Results:

Together, We Fight Poverty.

As a community leader, United Way of Central Ohio goes beyond funding. We take a strategic approach, and we’re collaborating across the entire community to fight poverty at its roots. Here is a sampling of the many organizations and efforts we’re leading, convening or partnering with to identify and address central Ohio’s most pressing issues:

  • Advocates for Ohio’s Future
  • Alliance for the American Dream
  • CelebrateOne
  • Center for Community Solutions
  • Central Ohio Diversity Consortium
  • Children & Families First
  • Children’s Defense Fund – Ohio
  • Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio (COHHIO)
  • Columbus Federation of Settlements
  • Columbus Health Advisory Committees (Near East, South Side, West Side, and Central)
  • Columbus Public Health Chronic Disease Prevention Advisory Board
  • Columbus Region Coalition
  • Continuum of Care for Columbus and Franklin County
  • Financial Capability Network of Central Ohio
  • Franklin County Local Food Council
  • Healthcare Collaborative of Greater Columbus
  • Kirwan Institute’s FORC/FMT project
  • LGBTQ Community Survey
  • Linden Community Planning
  • Mid-Ohio Foodbank’s Integrated Response to Hunger (IHA)
  • New American Advisory Council
  • Ohio Medicaid Coalition
  • Ohio Workforce Coalition
  • Philanthropy Ohio
  • Policy Matters
  • Prevent Family Homelessness Collaborative
  • Rebuilding Lives Funder Collaborative
  • Social Ventures
  • South Side Thrive Collaborative
  • The Business for Good Foundation
  • Thrive Collaborative
  • Weinland Park Collaborative
  • Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio

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