We are different than other charities

1 in 4 New Yorkers does not have enough income and earnings to pay for basic necessities.  United Way of New York City is working to change this.  We're fighting poverty in the five boroughs by creating and investing in evidence-based programs that help low-income individuals and families overcome poverty and build better lives.

Most notably, we recognize that while struggling New Yorkers need immediate, short-term assistance, quick fixes won't bring an end to poverty.  To that end, we work to ensure that low-income people get the support services they need right now, while contributing to real, sustainable change that prevents them from slipping into poverty in the first place.  We focus on education, income and health—the building blocks of a good life.  These components are all interrelated; it is difficult to achieve one without the others. 

We work side-by-side with the public, private and nonprofit sectors to tackle the root causes of poverty in a holistic, sustainable way.  We build on strategies that are known to be effective and rigorously evaluate our work. We then work with policy makers to advance citywide change.  Because we believe that everyone has a role to play in creating pathways out of poverty, we actively seek to engage caring New Yorkers as donors, advocates, and volunteers.

Learn more about our approach.