DONATE
VOLUNTEER

For more than a century, United Way of Central Iowa has played a unique role by bringing together people from every part of our community – donors, volunteers, advocates, nonprofit organizations, community leaders, elected officials, and people with lived experience.

TOGETHER, we look at the big picture when it comes to the future of our community to identify gaps and best leverage points to create sustainable impact. 

We are UNITED in taking on some of our community's critical challenges, addressing them at their roots through investments and strong partnerships. In addition, we identify specific barriers limiting our community's ability to provide equitable opportunities to EVERY central Iowan.

United Way of Central Iowa invests in hundreds of local nonprofit programs focused on creating progress in the 5 Elements of a Thriving Community: Essential Needs, Early Childhood Success, Education Success, Economic Opportunity, and Health & Well-Being. 

As we look to the future, the way we work in the community is evolving to reflect and respond to the changing needs of central Iowa. Every hard puzzle, just like every challenge we face, has a solution. We can't get there without you! 

 

United Way of Central Iowa Looks at the Big Picture

UNITE


UNITE

We bring together donors, volunteers, businesses, nonprofits, faith-based leaders, community leaders, elected officials, experts, and those in need to address challenges in the 5 Elements of a Thriving Community: Essential Needs, Early Childhood Success, Education Success, Economic Opportunity, and Health & Well-Being.

Strategize Icon


STRATEGIZE

We get all the right people in the room to break down central Iowa’s toughest challenges to their root causes and develop research-based, comprehensive strategies to make significant and sustainable progress. Specific strategies are developed for each issue under all  5 Elements of a Thriving Community.

Tackle_icon.png


TAKE ACTION

Once sound strategies are set, we take action. We invest in or create initiatives designed to make progress under UNITED to THRIVE. We convene coalitions, advocate for public policy, raise awareness, mobilize volunteers, and more.

evaluate_icon-1.png


EVALUATE

We create metrics toward our success and continuously evaluate the results of our investments, holding every initiative accountable to make meaningful progress. Our volunteer leaders have identified key indicators of success, various community metrics to set goals and measure progress.

central-iowa.icon.png

Investing In Central Iowa

The funds raised by United Way of Central Iowa are invested in community programs and initiatives addressing the real challenges people are facing right here in central Iowa, which is why real people just like you help determine where those donations go.

Investment decisions are made by groups of volunteer leaders called "cabinets." Our Investment Cabinets are made up of local experts in the areas of Essential Needs, Early Childhood Success, Education Success, Economic Opportunity, and Health & Well-Being. The generous gifts donated are united in ways that most powerfully improve lives in our community. How We Invest

UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL IOWA
1111 9TH ST  •  Suite 100
Des Moines, IA 50314
(515) 246-6500   •   contactus@unitedwaydm.org

Need Help? Dial 2-1-1

211 Iowa - Get Connected, Get Help
 

 

 

Charity Navigator four star rated charity badgeUnited Way of Central Iowa is proud to have earned a four-star rating for 18 straight years from Charity Navigator, an American independent charity watchdog organization that evaluates charitable organizations in the United States. This record places United Way of Central Iowa in the top 1 percent of charities nationwide. Click the logo to review our complete evaluation.

candid-seal-platinum-2024United Way of Central Iowa has received a Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar, the world's largest source of information on nonprofit organizations. The seal is given to nonprofits who have achieved the highest level of transparency through disclosures, information made available to the public, and accuracy and frequency of updates. Click the logo to learn more.

© 2024 United Way of Central Iowa. All Rights Reserved.

Privacy Policy