About United Way of Central New York
Ignite the spirit of community collaboration, giving, and civic engagement to improve lives in Central New York.
Focus Areas
211CNY (community resource hotline)Volunteer & community drivesFinancial empowerment (VITA, Thrive at Work, CNY CA$H Coalition)Youth literacy and tutoring (Dolly Parton Imagination Library, Book Buddies)Community partnership & capacity building (Community Program Fund)
Who They Fund
non-United Way of Central New York nonprofit agenciescampaign donors (as designators of funds)Central New York community (general/unspecified)
Funding Style
donor-designated allocations
About United Way of Central New York
A defining feature of United Way of Central New York Inc is the scale of its donor-designated pass-through giving: campaign designations to other 501(c)(3) organizations reached $903,491 in 2025, alongside an earlier $638,972 designation total in 2023. That pattern sits next to direct support for local nonprofit agencies through the Community Program Fund and other program investments tied to community resiliency, financial security, healthy community, and youth opportunity. The foundation’s recent giving also includes an organizational transition grant to Early Childhood Alliance Onondaga, which received $1,079,885 in 2023 when the initiative became its own nonprofit and United Way transferred unspent revenues to the new organization. Across its Central New York portfolio, the funder supports agencies working on emergency response, technology continuity, basic needs, legal aid, health access, and youth-focused services. Its grantmaking shows a steady relationship with core Syracuse-area nonprofit partners, including Catholic Charities of Onondaga County and the Salvation Army of the Syracuse Area, both of which appear in the recent grant list in multiple years.
What United Way of Central New York Funds
In community resiliency and basic-needs work, United Way of Central New York Inc gave $498,500 in 2025 to Catholic Charities of Onondaga County and $374,550 in 2025 to the Salvation Army of the Syracuse Area, both listed for community impact. Financial security is another visible area: the foundation awarded $50,000 in 2025 to Volunteer Lawyers Project of Cny Inc and $49,500 in 2025 to Frank H Hiscock Legal Aid Society. Youth opportunity also appears in the grant record through $52,000 in 2025 to On Point for College Inc. The grant list includes health-related support as well, with $102,900 in 2025 to Acr Health. These awards fit the funder’s stated impact areas and show a mix of direct service, access-to-services work, and capacity support for local agencies.
How United Way of Central New York Gives
Typical grants cluster around a mid-sized local operating range, with the data showing a p25 of $15,000, a median of $37,700, and a p75 of $96,757. The recent record also includes several larger allocations above $100,000, reflecting a blend of standard program support and larger special-purpose transfers. Recipients recur across years: Catholic Charities of Onondaga County, the Salvation Army of the Syracuse Area, Huntington Family Centers, Center for Community Alternatives Inc, Peace Inc, Contact Community Services Inc, Acr Health, Food Bank of Central New York, Chadwick Residence Inc, On Point for College Inc, and Volunteer Lawyers Project of Cny Inc all appear in both 2023 and 2025. The organization uses a mix of Community Program Fund grants, RFP-based funding, donor designations, and restricted transfers.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$6.7M
Total Assets
$10.1M
Total Revenue
$9.1M
Total Expenses
$9M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $15K and $97K, with a median of $38K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$38K
75th Percentile
$97K
Geographic Reach
Local1 state funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
NANCY KERN EATON
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