Dear Supporters,

Partnerships and working together to advance equity are at the core of everything we do at United Way of Metro Chicago. We are committed to learning about, piloting, and investing in more equitable funding practices. Last fall, we announced our first grantee cohort of the United Neighborhoods Equity Fund, which awards unrestricted funding and capacity building to small Black and Latinx-led nonprofits.

This spring, our Neighborhood Network Initiative—a community-driven, resident-led approach to investing in neighborhood transformation—expanded into three new neighborhoods: Englewood, Garfield Park, and Far South. The Neighborhood Networks’ successful COVID-19 community response, coupled with a $25 million gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott and support from other essential funders, led to the expansion.

In June, at our Stronger Neighborhoods Awards Luncheon—back in person after two years—we announced the launch of the Commit to a Neighborhood Initiative, a new public, private, and nonprofit partnership with ITW and our community partners to stimulate equitable economic development and the creation of quality, living-wage jobs in the Austin and Belmont Cragin neighborhoods of Chicago.

In this report, you’ll read more about these programs and other highlights: the expansion of Uniting for the Holidays; the return of our April Food Day food drive and awards luncheon in the Southland; and the two-year anniversary of the launch of the Chicago Community COVID-19 Response Fund. The incredible leadership and generosity of our committed volunteers and donors have given us the sound fiscal footing, support, and platform to accelerate our positive impact.

The last fiscal year has brought progress in expanding the impact of our investments and partnerships in the region’s most disinvested neighborhoods, and we see more opportunities ahead. But there is much work to do. United Way brings people together to address community priorities. Collectively that’s what we have done and will continue to do until children have better access to quality education, communities are safer, neighbors are healthier, incomes increase, and our region prospers. Thank you for joining us as—united—we help build a stronger, more equitable Chicago region where all families can thrive.