United Way of Greater Chattanooga

About United Way of Greater Chattanooga

United Way of Greater Chattanooga’s grantmaking is anchored in a six-county community investment model that includes a multi-year Impact Cohort running from June 2025 through June 2028. Across recent awards, the foundation supports practical services for families, children, older adults, and people facing instability, with funding tied to self-sufficiency, shelter, food, and coordinated support. The biggest recent awards show that approach clearly: Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center received $365,969 in 2023 to promote environmental stewardship through conservation, education, and research, while Partnership for Families Children & Adults received the same amount to help families maintain self-sufficiency and older adults maintain their independence. Other large awards went to Northside Neighborhood House and the Children’s Advocacy Center, reflecting a mix of family stability and trauma-recovery work. The foundation also uses one-time investments through its Community Investments cycle, including Bridge Fund support for urgent needs and Catalyst Fund support for innovative strategies serving ALICE families. Program support is a recurring feature of the portfolio, alongside donor-designated funding and targeted support for specific community needs.

What United Way of Greater Chattanooga Funds

Economic mobility is a consistent thread in the portfolio. Northside Neighborhood House received $315,000 in 2023 to help youth and families become more self-sufficient, and Project Return received $150,000 in 2023 to connect people with resources needed to return successfully to work after incarceration. The foundation also supports child and family development. Chambliss Center for Children received $229,950 in 2023 to prepare children to enter kindergarten ready to learn, and Girls Incorporated received $202,500 in 2023 to help develop self-sufficiency skills in youth. Basic needs and food access appear as well. Chattanooga Room in the Inn received $229,950 in 2023 to provide shelter and transitional housing for women and children, while Tri-state Food Pantry of Dade County received $202,500 in 2023 to provide food to persons in need. The portfolio also includes disability services, with Signal Centers Inc. receiving $185,000 in 2023 to help persons with disabilities maintain their independence.

How United Way of Greater Chattanooga Gives