About United Ways of California
Our mission is to improve health, education, and financial stability for children and families with low incomes by enhancing and coordinating the community impact and advocacy work of California’s United Ways.
Focus Areas
EducationHealth EquityFinancial EmpowermentAdvocacyCommunity Strengthening211 / Information & ReferralFree Tax Preparation (VITA / MyFreeTaxes)Broadband access initiatives
Who They Fund
low-income tax filers eligible for EITCfarmworkers and agricultural worker householdspeople seeking social service navigation via 2-1-1 (statewide callers)disaster survivors (e.g., Maui fire victims)
About United Ways of California
United Ways of California’s largest recent awards are anchored in statewide service systems: $1.65 million to Icfs for 2-1-1 services statewide and $2.22 million to United Way of Fresno & Madera Counties. Those grants point to a funder that supports coordinated navigation, relief, and local delivery through California United Ways rather than a single program silo. The organization’s mission centers on improving health, education, and financial stability for children and families with low incomes, and its recent grants show that mission in practice through 2-1-1 services, farmworker relief, CalEITC outreach, financial stability work, and disaster response. Its portfolio also includes direct support for regional United Way affiliates across the state. United Way San Joaquin received awards for farmworker relief and CalEITC outreach, while United Way of Greater Los Angeles received support for financial stability. The pattern suggests a funder that uses affiliated local intermediaries to deliver outreach, emergency aid, and enrollment support in communities where need is concentrated.
What United Ways of California Funds
One core area is 2-1-1 and information/navigation services. United Ways of California gave $1,651,409 to Icfs in 2025 and $1,376,107 in 2024 for 2-1-1 services statewide, and also supported Community Link Capital Region in Sacramento for 211 service work. Another major theme is farmworker and agricultural household support. Recent grants include $646,706 to United Way Fresno Madera for farmworkers relief work and Cal EITC outreach, $457,915 to Inland Socal United Way in Riverside for farmworkers relief work, and $348,800 to United Way of Kern County for farmworkers relief work. Financial stability is also a recurring focus. The foundation gave $250,000 to United Way Bay Area in San Francisco and $200,000 to United Way of Greater Los Angeles, both for financial stability. Free tax preparation appears as well, including a 2023 grant to United Way of Fresno & Madera Counties for promoting a free tax prep program.
How United Ways of California Gives
Typical grants fall in a mid-sized operating range, with a p25 of $33,435, a median of $81,153, and a p75 of $224,800. The recent record includes both larger statewide service awards and many regional affiliate grants, indicating a mixed pattern of system support and place-based funding. The same recipients also appear across multiple years: Icfs, Community Link Capital Region, United Way of Fresno & Madera Counties, United Way of Kern County, and United Way of Santa Cruz County all recur in the grant list. United Ways of California is a public charity and regular DAF funder, and it also issues RFP-based conference opportunities, including an open 2026 Western Regional Conference request for proposals.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$6.6M
Total Assets
$5.4M
Total Revenue
$25.1M
Total Expenses
$25.5M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $33K and $225K, with a median of $81K.
25th Percentile
$33K
Median
$81K
75th Percentile
$225K
Geographic Reach
Local2 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
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