United Way of Greater Dayton

What United Way of Greater Dayton does

United Way of the Greater Dayton Area (UWGDA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded over 100 years ago and headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, operating across Montgomery, Greene, and Preble Counties with a 211 helpline extending services to nine counties in the Miami Valley region. The organization functions as a community impact platform, deploying donated capital through direct programs, partner agencies, and referral infrastructure. Its core technology is the HelpLink/VetsLink 211 service, a 24/7 multilingual (100+ languages) helpline connecting residents and veterans to food, housing, utility, healthcare, transportation, childcare, employment, and mental health resources; the 211 network collectively reaches over 1.6 million residents and 130,000+ veterans. UWGDA also runs vertical programs including Freedom Schools (a licensed Children's Defense Fund summer literacy program serving K-8 scholars), Hope to Dream (annual bed distribution with Morris Home), Strong Families (housing stabilization and case management), the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, and Parenting Time Opportunities for Children.

The organization's business model is donation-driven and multi-stream. Revenue is generated through individual donations (online, check, donor advised funds), corporate workplace giving campaigns with a named Top 25 employer roster (Premier Health, University of Dayton, Dayton Children's, Fifth Third Bank, Caterpillar, PNC, CareSource, AES Ohio Foundation, etc.), tiered major donor societies (Tocqueville $10,000+, Leadership Circle $1,000+, John Moore Society $1,000+ designated to Freedom Schools), special events (Americana 250 Cycling Classic, Strong Families Classic golf, Pour With A Purpose), and foundation/government grants. Reported program outcomes include 56,000+ 211 callers served annually, 378 literacy scholars, 309 families stabilized, and 475+ beds delivered since Hope to Dream inception. UWGDA employs 11-50 staff across three county offices and holds a Charity Navigator 4-Star rating and Candid Seal for transparency.

Name

United Way of Greater Dayton

Legal name

United Way of the Greater Dayton Area

Website

https://dayton-unitedway.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1923

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

United Way of the Greater Dayton Area is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Dayton, Ohio, mobilizing donations, workplace giving, and grants to operate a 24/7 HelpLink/VetsLink 211 helpline and programs in youth literacy, family stabilization, and veteran services across a nine-county Miami Valley service area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (62411), Child and Youth Services (624110)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC), Financial Assistance & Benefits Navigation Services (BPAGAEAK), Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD)

Keywords

• Community services
• Nonprofit fundraising
• Emergency helpline
• Workplace giving
• Youth literacy programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Dayton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible charitable gifts from individuals, including one-time and recurring donations via website, check, or donor advised funds. Funds stay in the Miami Valley for local community impact.
2. Workplace Giving Campaigns: Corporate workplace giving partnerships where employers and employees unite to support the organization, typically through payroll deduction campaigns. Includes Top 25 company partnerships.
3. Donor Groups and Major Gifts: Structured giving circles including Tocqueville Society ($10,000+), Leadership Circle ($1,000+), and John Moore Society ($1,000+ for Freedom Schools), providing major donor cultivation and recognition.
4. Special Events: Fundraising events including golf tournaments (Strong Families Classic), cycling events (Americana 250 Cycling Classic), and social events (Pour With A Purpose) with registration fees and sponsorship opportunities.
5. Grants: Funding from foundations and government grants to support specific programs and community initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

United Way of Greater Dayton operates a 24/7 community information-and-referral helpline (HelpLink 2-1-1 and VetsLink) connecting residents of Montgomery, Greene, and Preble counties in Ohio to local health and human services. It also runs direct-service programs including Freedom Schools summer literacy, Hope to Dream bed donations, Strong Families home-visit case management, and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library book-distribution program, funded through individual donations, corporate workplace giving, sponsorships, and grants.

Product overview

United Way of the Greater Dayton Area operates as a community services organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs focused on community resiliency, financial security, healthy community, and youth opportunity. The core service is HelpLink/VetsLink 211, a 24/7 resource hotline providing referrals to community services. Youth opportunity programs include Freedom Schools (summer literacy program), Hope to Dream (bed distribution), Dolly Parton Imagination Library (book gifting), and Parenting Time Opportunities. Family stability is supported through the Strong Families program. The organization also facilitates giving through workplace giving campaigns and donor recognition groups, and engages volunteers through various Days of Service throughout the year.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HelpLink 211: 24/7 lifeline service connecting people with local resources including food, housing, utility assistance, health care, transportation, child care, employment, mental health support, and disaster relief.
• VetsLink 211
• Freedom Schools
• Hope to Dream
• Strong Families
• Tocqueville Society
• John Moore Society
• Leadership Circle

Products and services

• HelpLink 2-1-1 Helpline 24/7 free, confidential community information-and-referral helpline that connects callers in Montgomery, Greene, and Preble counties to local health and human services resources, accessible by phone, text, and online chat.
• VetsLink Veteran-specific 2-1-1 helpline service connecting military service members, veterans, and their families to benefits, resources, and support services in the Greater Dayton region.
• Freedom Schools Summer literacy and enrichment program for K-8 scholars focused on reading achievement, cultural awareness, and social-emotional growth, based on the Children's Defense Fund model.
• Hope to Dream Program that provides twin mattress sets and bedding kits, free of charge, to children in the Greater Dayton area who do not have a bed of their own.
• Strong Families Intensive case-management and home-visit program supporting families with children prenatal through age 18 to achieve self-sufficiency and family stability goals.
• Dolly Parton Imagination Library Free monthly book-delivery program mailing age-appropriate books to children from birth to age five to promote early childhood literacy, implemented locally in partnership with the national Imagination Library.

Quantifiable outcome

• 56,000+ callers gained access to critical help through HelpLink/VetsLink 211
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and major.

• Morris HomecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Morris Home to provide beds for children in need through the annual Hope to Dream event, delivering at least 100 new beds each year to children in Montgomery, Greene, and Preble Counties.
• Children's Defense FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLicensed operator of the Freedom Schools national program model, a summer learning program serving K-8 scholars with integrated reading curriculum, civic engagement, and parent involvement.
• Grace United Methodist Church at Louise Troy ElementarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFreedom Schools site location where Servant Leader Interns teach scholars during the six-week summer program.
• Omega CDC at Thurgood Marshall High SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFreedom Schools site location serving scholars through partnership with community development corporation.
• DECA PrepcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFreedom Schools site location providing summer literacy programming for scholars.
• Dolly Parton Imagination LibrarysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram partner mailing one free age-appropriate book each month to children from birth until age five to develop early literacy skills.
• 211 NetworkcoreTechnology or Integration24/7 helpline infrastructure providing resource referral services supporting 1.6 million+ residents and 130,000+ veterans across nine counties with translation in 100+ languages.
• Montgomery CountysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty partnership supporting Strong Families Program and Parenting Time Opportunities for Children program providing age-appropriate books monthly to children.
• CareSourcemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerHealth plan sponsor and workplace giving campaign participant supporting community health initiatives.
• PNC BankmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerBanking sponsor for workplace giving campaigns and community investment.
• AES Ohio FoundationmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerUtility foundation sponsor supporting energy assistance and community programs.
• SRC, Inc.majorGTM or Marketing PartnerTechnology company sponsor and presenter of Strong Families Classic golf tournament.
• Premier HealthmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerHealthcare system sponsor and Top 25 workplace campaign leader engaging employees in community giving.
• University of DaytonmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerHigher education sponsor and workplace campaign participant with strong community ties.
• Fifth Third BankmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerBanking sponsor for workplace giving campaigns and financial literacy workshops.
• Dayton Children's HospitalmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPediatric healthcare sponsor and workplace campaign participant.
• CaterpillarmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerManufacturing company sponsor for workplace giving campaigns.
• Avery DennisonmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerManufacturing sponsor supporting community programs.
• Nationwide InsurancemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerInsurance sponsor for workplace giving campaigns.
• The Dayton FoundationmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity foundation sponsor supporting regional philanthropy.
• City of DaytonmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMunicipal government sponsor and workplace campaign participant.
• Montgomery County GovernmentmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCounty government sponsor and workplace campaign participant.
• Chase BanksupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial literacy workshops for community members.
• Clothes that WorksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerResume and soft skills workshop partner supporting financial security programs.
• Greene County Family & Children FirstsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrong Families Program implementation partner in Greene County.
• Thrive TherapeuticssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrong Families Program implementation partner in Preble County.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Foodbank of Dayton: Regional food assistance nonprofit serving the same Miami Valley geography. Competes for donor dollars and serves overlapping low-income clients, often co-referred via 211.
• United Way of Butler County: Adjacent Ohio United Way affiliate serving Butler County with workplace giving and impact programs. Same operating model and federation affiliation, competing for overlapping regional donors and corporate sponsors near Dayton.
• Habitat for Humanity of Greater Dayton: Local housing nonprofit serving Montgomery County with affordable home construction and repair. Operates in the same regional nonprofit ecosystem and competes for corporate sponsorships and volunteer hours.
• The Dayton Foundation: Regional community foundation serving the Miami Valley with grantmaking, donor-advised funds, and community initiatives. Competes for the same regional philanthropic dollars and offers overlapping donor services in the same geography.
• Miami Valley Community Action Partnership: Community action agency serving low-income residents across the Miami Valley with housing, energy assistance, and family support. Direct overlap with Strong Families and 211 referral pathways in the same geography.
• United Way of Greater Lorain County: Another Ohio-based regional United Way affiliate with similar program pillars (education, financial stability, health). Comparable in scale and structure, useful benchmark for affiliate operating performance.
• United Way of Central Ohio: Regional United Way affiliate serving the Columbus metro with workplace giving, 211, and impact programs. Closest direct peer in scale and structure, also Ohio-based and operating similar program pillars (youth opportunity, financial security, community resiliency).
• United Way of Greater Cincinnati: Large regional United Way affiliate in southwestern Ohio with workplace giving, community impact funds, and youth/family programs. Comparable operating model and geographic proximity in the same state, differing mainly in market size.

Emerging players

• Greater Dayton Volunteer Center / HandsOn Dayton: Volunteer-matching and Days of Service coordination in the Dayton region. Partial overlap with United Way's volunteer engagement programs (Global Youth Service Day, Day of Social Action, 9/11 National Day of Service).

Broad incumbents

• United Way Worldwide: National federation supporting 1,000+ local United Ways including Greater Dayton. Provides brand standards, licensing, and network effects; serves as the broader incumbent ecosystem in which the subject company operates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/daytonunitedway/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading
• Xx.com/DaytonUnitedWay
• Facebookfacebook.com/DaytonUnitedWay
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/united-way-of-greater-dayton

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about United Way of Greater Dayton