United Way Announces Fiscal Year 2021 Community Investments Of $7,097,671

(Portland, ME) United Way of Greater Portland (UWGP) announced its Fiscal Year 2021 community investments of $7,097,671.

UWGP has awarded $3,940,854 in strategic investment grants to 61 community programs at 45 local nonprofits, including 7 new programs and $253,000 of member directed investments through United Way’s giving circles, Brick & Beam Society and Women United.

These grants reflect strategic investments in our community’s shared vision, Thrive2027, three 10-year goals for a measurably better Greater Portland:

• Give kids a strong foundation and help them rebound from challenges in life, setting them on a course to reach their potential;
• Ensure our neighbors can rebuild with opportunities to access to safe and affordable housing, jobs and careers with economic mobility so that they thrive; 
• Help people live longer, better through integrated pathways to mental health supports and recovery from substance use

Liz Cotter Schlax, President and CEO of United Way of Greater Portland, said this work is more important than ever due to the health and economic impacts of COVID-19 and the disparities in education, financial well-being, and health in our community. “The past few months have tested all of us, bringing awareness and greater urgency to deep, historic inequities and worsening challenges for people who previously were able to get by week-to-week. It is clear our community needs us now, perhaps more than ever.”

United Way of Greater Portland also will invest an additional $2,445,850 into the community through donor-directed contributions, Thrive2027 adverse childhood experience training, support for policy work, community and volunteer engagement, evaluation and measurement, and programmatic leadership for Thrive2027.

These grants, made possible by thousands of generous donors, will fund holistic solutions and innovative ideas to strengthen the areas of education, financial stability, and health.

“As a member of this community, I am particularly inspired by the many ways in which United Way of Greater Portland is helping to build a more inclusive and sustainable future,” said Sheryl McQuade, Regional President, Northern New England, TD Bank. “TD is proud to play an active role in supporting these investments to provide opportunities for all Greater Portland residents.”

United Way of Greater Portland has a long history of convening non-profit, business, and government partners and generating resources to tackle immediate crises and critical long-term issues.

Since March, UWGP has raised a total of $710,967 for the Greater Portland COVID-19 Community Relief Fund, and invested those funds through three rounds of grants ranging from $1,200 to $25,000 to 51 organizations across the Greater Portland region.

“Certainly, the COVID-19 pandemic has created community challenges unique in our lifetimes,” said Diane Garofalo, Chair of United Way of Greater Portland’s Community Impact Steering Committee. “Still, I can say confidently that our United Way was built for this — for moments like these which require unlikely partnerships, new solutions to old problems, and the mobilization of community resources to meet the extraordinary need of our communities.”  

Cotter Schlax shared that while a substantial portion of strategic investments and COVID-19 funds support programming and services for people of color, UWGP will provide additional solutions to ensure a stronger, more equitable community. “As part of our on-going equity work and to help our community thrive, we are working with partners to meaningfully address racial disparities and increase capacity for organizations led by and serving people of color. We will have more to share soon.”

United Way encourages everyone to be part of the change. To give, volunteer, advocate, or learn more, visit UnitedWayGP.org.

Download Investment Portfolio

UWGP FISCAL YEAR 2021 INVESTMENTS (ALPHA ORDER BY ORGANIZATION):

*Programs or initiatives led by United Way of Greater Portland.

About United Way of Greater Portland: For over 90 years, United Way of Greater Portland’s mission has been to improve people’s lives by mobilizing the caring power of our community.  Today, UWGP unites individuals and organizations around our community’s shared vision, Thrive2027, three 10-year goals to improve education, financial stability, and health for every person in Greater Portland. With community partners, UWGP builds on strategies that are known to achieve the best results, and rigorously evaluates progress toward those goals. Everyone has a role to play in the recovery, rebuilding, and reimagining of a thriving community; UWGP actively seeks to engage donors, advocates, and volunteers to create measurable, long-lasting community change. Learn more at unitedwaygp.org