What We Do
Together, we fight for the health, education, financial stability and basic needs of every person in south central Kansas.
United Way is leading the charge to create positive and permanent change. We do this by forging unlikely partnerships, forming new solutions to old problems and mobilizing the best ideas and resources. But we don’t do it alone. We inspire others to join the fight. We enable individuals, groups and companies to make a difference – individually and collectively – through their time, talents and treasure.
Together, we’re an unstoppable force for good.
OUR FOCUS
Our focus is on health, education, financial stability and basic needs — the building blocks for a good quality of life and a strong community. Click below to learn more about what we’re doing, the programs we invest in and our lasting impact in each area.
WHERE WE SERVE
United Way of the Plains serves south central Kansas, including Sedgwick, Butler, Cowley, Sumner, Harper, Kingman, Pratt, and Barber Counties, and parts of Reno and Harvey Counties.
HOW WE HELP
We take five approaches to tackling our community’s toughest issues at their root causes:
PROGRAM INVESTMENTS
Every year, we invite local nonprofits to submit investment applications for programs that address the greatest needs in the community in the areas of health, education, financial stability and basic needs. Ever wonder how we distribute funds? Because United Way is built on community, we enlist the help of community volunteers through the investment review process. More than 100 volunteers review grant applications and make funding recommendations to the United Way Board of Directors.
Everyone is invited and encouraged to participate in the investment review process. Learn how you can make an impact as a volunteer.
COLLECTIVE IMPACT
Some community problems are beyond the scope of any one organization or service sector. To tackle those issues, we’ve adopted a unique problem solving approach called collective impact. For example, Impact ICT Continuum of Care brings together partners from multiple sectors, including nonprofits; faith community; federal, state, and local governments; businesses; and persons with lived experience to tackle homelessness in our community. United Way serves as the backbone organization to support the work of the coalition. Learn more about how they are working to make homelessness rare, brief and non-recurring for all our neighbors in Sedgwick County.
DIRECT SERVICES
In addition to funding programs and coordinating partnerships, we also provide direct services.
SPECIAL PROGRAMS
In addition to funding local programs through the grant review process, we also partner with other organizations to support special programs, such as Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and free income tax prep services.
Visit our focus areas of education, health, financial stability and basic needs to see how we are partnering with organizations to address pressing needs in each of these areas.
GRANT WRITING
We research, apply for and manage grants that can impact the needs of our community, including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (H.U.D.) grant for homeless services and the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance grant that funds the free tax prep program. By leveraging grant dollars, we help donor dollars go further and have a larger impact.
RESULTS OF OUR WORK
Who do we help? Could be the guy in the cubicle next to you, the teenager who rang up your groceries at the store, or the elderly woman who walks her dog by your house every day. They are people like you and me, who live here and need our help.
In 2022, United Way of the Plains helped people…
Ensuring Your Gift Goes Further
Because of what we do – leverage resources, grants, donated goods and volunteers to tackle issues head on – your gift has a greater impact in the community when given through United Way.
$1 Donation Becomes…
$2.51 Worth of Impact
LEARN MORE
Explore this site, check our Frequently Asked Questions page or contact us today at (316) 267‑1321.
Want to join our team of #HandRaisers and #GameChangers? Check our current job openings.