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:
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Basic Needs
Ensuring people in crisis get food, shelter and assistance.
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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:
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.
Organization Description:
1DivineLine2Health serves pregnant womxn, transwomxn, and runaway youth, children, and caregivers impacted by human and drug trafficking. On the Hilltop we opened the first full-time Drop-In Center, a haven for Human Trafficking in 2021. We quickly outgrew the site. In 2024 we completed the addition, a multipurpose room, thanks to a city grant. At the center the street sisters shower, eat a warm meal, rest, pick up some Narcan, have their wounds cleaned, get linked to services and receive medical care. In addition, we have two safe houses and a community garden. We have two red commercial vehicles that make up the Love Bug Street Outreach program. The Love Bugs travel to the hot zones providing nonperishable food, first aid, clothes, shoes, hygiene kits, and condoms. We transport people to hospitals and recovery sites when needed. Our mission is to end human suffering locally and globally through the power of Love.
Address:
PO Box 247561, Columbus, Ohio 43224
Phone:
614.928.3006
Website:
Organization Description:
There are just 2,000 days between a child's birth and the day they enter Kindergarten--and those days are among the most important to a child's development. When parents, caregivers and teachers are prepared and supported, these moments enrich a child's life, promote healthy development, and ensure that he or she feels safe, loved, and prepared for a bright future. Since 1972, Action for Children (AFC) has worked to transform the lives of children during those first 2,000 days by supporting, empowering and advocating for the adults who make the biggest impact on children’s lives—their parents, caregivers and teachers. When children are nurtured by strong families and vibrant communities and when they have access to quality early learning experiences, they are better prepared for success in school and in life. To support this vital vision, and as the local child care resource and referral agency, Action for Children's services include: free child care referrals and access to community resources for parents and families; parenting education classes, seminars, home-visiting programs and workshops; professional development, coaching, and technical assistance for early childhood programs and practitioners; and child care resources and data for workforce development, public awareness and advocacy. AFC's service area includes Columbus and Franklin County as well as Delaware, Fairfield, Licking, Madison, Pickaway and Union Counties.
Address:
78 Jefferson Avenue (43215)
Phone:
614.224.0222
Website:
Twitter:
Organization Description:
The members of the Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio are 28 non-profit and for-profit organizations that represent the full spectrum of affordable housing activities in Franklin County, from homeless and housing services, to housing development and housing finance. Working together, we are advancing solutions to address the affordable housing challenge, which will support economic progress and strengthen the community.
Address:
215 N Front St, Suite 600, Columbus, OH 43215
Website:
Organization Description:
Founded in 2004, The African American Male Wellness Initiative (AAMWI) was established to improve the health disparities affecting African American men. From our humble beginnings, the AAMWI has grown to become the largest health initiative locally and across the state of Ohio. Accelerated growth of the AAMWI can be contributed to our ability to engage African American men. Every year the initiative engages over 50,000 families nationwide providing health educational workshops, fatherhood training, employment training and free health screenings to over 3,000 African American men. Our educational programming focuses on topics such as mental health, opioid addiction, healthy cooking, work readiness, HIV prevention and financial wellness.
Address:
2780 Airport Drive, Suite 333, Columbus, OH 43219
Phone:
614.754.7511
Website:
Organization Description:
Alvis provides research-based reentry programs for individuals with justice histories and/or substance use and behavioral issues. We also serve people with intellectual or developmental disabilities who face challenges as they seek to live independently. Alvis serves more than 8,000 men, women, young adults and children in Ohio each year, and our programs indirectly impact tens of thousands more. At Alvis, we give people the inspiration, the encouragement and the tools they need to turn their lives around 180 degrees.
Address:
2100 Stella Court (43215)
Phone:
614.252.8402
Website:
Twitter:
Facebook:
Organization Description:
Empowering diverse parents and youth to become leaders, learn the power of their voice and work collaboratively with other organizations, city/state leaders and other community members to support K-12 education, social and emotional learning and health outcomes.
Partner Description:
The Central Ohio Parent Leadership Training Institute (COPLTI) is a pioneering initiative dedicated to empowering parents and guardians with the skills and knowledge necessary to become effective advocates for their children's education. As an integral component of this mission, COPLTI works in tandem with the Children's Leadership Training Institute (CLTI), a complementary program designed to directly engage children, particularly those in early elementary grades. While COPLTI focuses on equipping parents with leadership, advocacy, and policy understanding skills to influence positive changes in the educational system, CLTI operates parallelly, targeting children's literacy and educational development. CLTI, led by a team of experienced educators, provides a tailored curriculum that enhances children’s reading, comprehension, and early tech skills, fostering an environment where both parents and children grow and learn together. This synergistic approach ensures that while parents are being trained as advocates and leaders, their children are simultaneously receiving quality education and literacy support, creating a holistic and impactful educational ecosystem.
Address:
1586 Clifton Ave, Columbus, OH, 43203
Phone:
(614) 778-1951
Website:
Organization Description:
Founded in 1933, the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. We do not create potential. We defend, ignite and empower the potential of the youth we serve. This way our youth can reach their biggest possible future! Abraham Maslow identified loving relationships and a sense of belonging as basic human needs, much like food, shelter and safety, and that the realization of basic needs are needed for people to achieve their full potential. The relationships provided by Big Brothers Big Sisters are essential for young people to thrive. During 2020, our volunteers and supporters have stepped up in a BIG way. They are preventing social isolation in our most vulnerable population, our youth, and helping kids hold on to the positivity and resiliency they need to get through this difficult time. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio was one of the charter agencies that founded Big Brothers of America in 1947. Today we are one of the largest agencies of approximately 240 Big Brothers Big Sisters affiliates in the country. We accomplish our mission through our four core programs: * Community-based Mentoring matches caring adults with children in need of friendship and guidance. Mentors meet with youth twice per month. These one-to-one relationships help youth grow socially and emotionally. * School-based Mentoring matches positive adults with children at schools around central Ohio. Mentors meet with youth weekly during the school year. * Camp Oty’Okwa provides group mentoring in a safe haven for youth. Children can attend summer camp or weekend camp during the school year. We also offer environmental education programs for schools. * MENTOR Central Ohio provides training, organizational consulting, and capacity building to more than thirty youth mentoring programs. At the heart of Big Brothers Big Sisters is the one-to-one relationship between the mentor and youth. Our organization is uniquely positioned to bring diverse groups of people together from different racial, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, and build bridges of understanding through the power of one-to-one relationships. In doing this we are playing a powerful role in ending racism and inequality.
Address:
1855 E. Dublin-Granville Rd. (43229)
Phone:
614.839.2447/Toll free 866.892.2447
Website:
Organization Description:
The mission of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Ohio is to empower young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens. We have been providing out-of-school programming to underserved youth in Columbus since 1948. We operate eight Clubs in central Ohio's most at-risk neighborhoods and serve kids between the ages of 5 -- 18. Residents in these neighborhoods face great challenges including poverty, high crime rates, vacant housing and barriers to educational and career attainment. Ninety-three percent of Club members are economically disadvantaged, and 23% report that they live in households with annual incomes under $5,000. At the Club we offer a comprehensive array of evidence-based programs that focus on three core pillars: 1) Academic Success 2) Good Character & Leadership and 3) Healthy Lifestyles. A typical day at the Club includes structured activities, a well-balanced meal and daily physical activity. Our Clubs are traditionally open five days a week from 3-7 p.m. during the school year and all day in the summer. In response to the pandemic and the full-time virtual programming that our local school districts are offering, our Clubs have shifted hours to 7:30 a.m. -- 3 p.m., Monday -- Thursday.
Address:
1000 Cleveland Ave, Columbus, OH 43201
Phone:
614.221.8830
Website:
Twitter:
Organization Description:
Our mission is to empower Black and Brown Girls through social emotional development to recognize their inherent value, cultivate resilience in the face of adversity, and foster a strong sense of confidence in their own identity. We achieve this by facilitating connections between the girls and accomplished women of color, enabling them to learn from and be inspired by shared life experiences.
Address:
P.O. Box 307504, Columbus, OH 43230
Phone:
(614) 749-3141
Website:
Organization Description:
Central Community House is a source of support and a community home for the children, teens, families and seniors living in the near east and near south areas of Columbus. Within a full-service community center, people of all ages come together to learn, play, share their gifts and find assistance when needed. The agency has been part of the fabric of the near east side since 1936 operating in the historic Settlement House model in cooperation with neighbors to improve the lives of residents, especially those struggling with longstanding poverty and social injustice. CCH offers youth/teen out-of-school programs, crisis material assistance, neighborhood initiatives, family strengthening/social work and senior programs.
Address:
1150 E. Main Street (43205) Child Care Center 614-253-7267
Phone:
614.252.3157
Website:
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
At United Way of Central Ohio, diversity, equity and inclusion inform every aspect of our work. We understand from experience that the best solutions are crafted by diverse perspectives and stakeholders.
Diversity is who we are. Our Board of Trustees, staff and volunteers come from many walks of life and reflect the many faces that make up our community. Our greatest strength is that we’re not all the same.
Inclusion is essential to what we do and strengthens our community. It is at the heart of what it means to Live United and to advance the common good; to be a diverse, equitable and inclusive system is fundamental to fighting poverty in central Ohio.
Equity is making sure everyone in the community has what they need to reach their full potential. We align resources, build strong partnerships and ensure the fair treatment of everyone.
Years ago, we laid the foundation. Moving forward, we will continue to leverage and build upon the talent, strength and opportunity that is available in central Ohio.
United Way of Central Ohio’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement:
United Way of Central Ohio is committed to creating and maintaining a community where everyone has equitable opportunity to participate and contribute to their own success. Because our greatest strength as a community is that we are not all the same, everyone must be valued for their skills, experiences and unique perspectives.
We oppose all forms of structural racism, ethnic discrimination and other forms of oppression that have contributed to racial disparities in the past and persist in the present. Inequities and unfair policies and practices have marginalized entire populations, and we unequivocally denounce them, in any form. Racism and ethnic discrimination threaten the well-being of our entire community. United Way actively works to end all forms of inequities by dismantling unfair policies/procedures, and by engaging diverse residents and community members, particularly those whose voices have traditionally been marginalized.
As a trusted organization in central Ohio for nearly 100 years, we actively involve our for-profit, nonprofit and individual partners in co-creating solutions that build and sustain equity. We are committed to leveraging all our assets (e.g., convening, strategic investments, awareness building, advocacy) to create a more equitable central Ohio for all residents.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Project Diversity Pride Leadership is United Way’s inclusive nonprofit board development program designed to create impactful, diverse leaders from central Ohio’s racial minority and LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer) communities. As our community becomes increasingly diverse, it’s critical that the composition of our nonprofit boards reflects this diversity to include many perspectives and approaches. The program trains participants to serve effectively by providing the knowledge, skills and experiences to contribute confidently. Participation in this program is a valuable $1,000 investment and we encourage the applicant’s employer to pay the tuition fee on their behalf. A limited number of partial scholarships are available to participants for which employers or personal circumstances will not allow them to participate otherwise.
2023 TIMELINE TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON!
| March | Applications Available (online only) | APPLY ONLINE |
| April | Open House (1 p.m. to 2 p.m.) | REGISTER HERE |
| April | Open House (11 a.m. to 12 p.m.) | REGISTER HERE |
| May | Applications Due by 5 p.m. | SUBMIT ONLINE |
| Week of May 22 | Selection Letters Emailed to Participants | |
| June | Orientation Reception (5:30 to 6:30 p.m.) |
After orientation, the curriculum is six months of structured workshops and facilitated dialogue with monthly sessions two to four hours in length. View Full Timeline and Employer Agreement here.
CURRICULUM AND PROGRAM STRUCTURE
The program is composed of an opening retreat, facilitated board development workshops, service project planning and graduation. The curriculum is six months of structured workshops and facilitated dialogue with monthly sessions two to four hours in length. United Way believes it’s important for participants to immerse themselves in the community and hear firsthand from local nonprofits about the work they do in order to best address the issues impacting nonprofits and our community. Throughout the program, United Way provides skill development, community tours, education and direct access to local nonprofits.
Sessions include lectures, hands-on workshops and other activities incorporating key board governance subjects such as:
- Fiscal Management
- Parliamentary Procedures
- Strategic Planning
- Marketing and Public Relations
- Fundraising and Resource Development
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
- Service project planning and execution
BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATION
Graduates cite numerous professional benefits, particularly in these areas:
- Skill development
- Collaborative decision making/flexibility
- Building a diverse professional network
- Increased understanding of the community and local nonprofits
- Nonprofit board/committee opportunities
SERVICE PROJECT
Participants will participate in one or two service projects designed to provide practical experience of being on a board or committee and implement the knowledge and skills they are learning from the program.
During the learning sessions, participants will report on their service project experiences during the conclusion of the program.
Following graduation, United Way will facilitate introductions to nonprofit leaders whose organizational missions align with participant interests. United Way does not guarantee board or committee placement.
For any questions you may have, please contact:
Reyna Hughes, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Program Manager at Reyna.Hughes@uwcentralohio.org
NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2022 PROJECT DIVERSITY PRIDE LEADERSHIP COHORT!
APPLY TO THE PROGRAM HERE
PROJECT DIVERSITY FACTS
Designed to give people of color— African Americans, Asians, Hispanics, Native Americans and other racial minorities—a greater opportunity to serve the community, Project Diversity was launched in 1989. Known today as a premier racial minority leadership program, it boasts an impressive list of about 550 graduates, many of whom have gone on to serve on local nonprofit boards.
PRIDE LEADERSHIP FACTS
Founded in 2008, Pride Leadership has given close to 200 members of the LGBTQ+ community a greater voice in leadership. Since its inception, the program has gained a solid reputation as a quality leadership development program in central Ohio.
“Project Diversity showed me the challenges minorities have in our community. I saw different leadership styles in action and learned the importance of trusting in a team. It gave me a new group to call family.”
–Magaly Vasquez, Columbus Metropolitan Library
“Pride Leadership has been a wonderful experience because not only do I have the tools, skills, resources to move forward with supporting organizations in this city, I also have a number of new friends. That to me is a great value.”
–Justin Warren, L Brands
