United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley

What United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley does

United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization headquartered in Allentown, Pennsylvania, that identifies and addresses the Greater Lehigh Valley's most pressing social challenges through coordinated funding, programming, and partner stewardship. Operating across Lehigh, Northampton, and Carbon Counties, it delivered measurable impact to 246,054 people in the most recent reporting year through three integrated focus areas: Education (34 Community Schools across 5 districts serving nearly 20,000 students, kindergarten readiness programs, Lehigh Valley Reads literacy, summer learning, social-emotional wellness), Healthy Aging (11 Community Hubs, Age-Friendly Lehigh Valley — the nation's first dual-county AARP-certified community, dementia and caregiver support), and Community Stability (Housing Assistance, Full Cart Virtual Food Pantry, Crisis and Disaster Response, Mental Health, and the Critical Support Fund).

The organization's core "technology" is its community-impact platform: PA 211 multilingual resource navigation (15,390 connections in 2025), a network of 450+ partner nonprofits, embedded school and senior-center service delivery, and a portfolio of programs including Waterford Upstart, James Lawson Freedom Schools, Resilient Lehigh Valley, Handle With Care, Leader in Me, and United for ALICE research. It does not develop proprietary technology products; the operational backbone consists of standard nonprofit donor management and payment processing via PayPal and credit card rails, with text-to-donate (HOPEFUL to 40403), stock/IRA transfer, and EITC tax-credit pass-through capabilities. Backed by the United Way's 100+ year brand and national recognition from the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, Coalition for Community Schools, and the U.S. Department of Education (visit by Secretary Miguel Cardona), the organization is led by President and CEO Marci Lesko with Board Chair Joe Savage (Victaulic).

The revenue model is fundraising-centric across six streams: individual donations (online portal, text-to-give, mail, phone, recurring gifts); corporate workplace giving campaigns with payroll deduction and matching contributions (300+ corporate partners); corporate gifts and sponsorships; Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) pass-through (up to 90% PA tax credit on contributions); planned giving and endowments (bequests, IRAs, donor-advised funds, QCDs up to $105,000 annually); and appreciated stock/securities gifts. Donor and partner programs are tiered — general suggested giving ($25-$250), Cornerstone Society corporate giving (100K-$10M tiers including PPL, Air Products, City Center Group, CAI), and individual giving societies: Tocqueville Society ($10K+), Leadership Circle ($1K+), Women United ($1K+), TeenWorks, and Legacy Circle. A 15% administrative charge is applied to externally designated gifts, waived for Tocqueville Society members. The 2025-2026 annual campaign raised $27,731,984; PPL Corporation separately raised a record $10M in its Power of One campaign and Air Products contributed more than $6M, with 100% of disaster-relief donations designated for affected individuals.

Name

United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley

Legal name

United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley

Website

https://unitedwayglv.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Allentown, PA, that raises and deploys community funds across Education, Healthy Aging, and Community Stability to serve 246,054 residents annually across Lehigh, Northampton, and Carbon Counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Community Impact Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Community Food Services (624210)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

Keywords

• Community impact programs
• Workplace giving campaigns
• Nonprofit fundraising services
• Community resource navigation
• Education wellness programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Allentown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute through online portal, recurring monthly gifts, one-time donations, mail-in checks, text-to-give (text HOPEFUL to 40403), and phone donations. Donors can direct gifts to specific focus areas (Education, Healthy Aging, Community Stability) or the Critical Support Fund.
2. Corporate Workplace Giving Campaigns: Employees give through workplace payroll deductions during annual campaigns. Companies like PPL and Air Products conduct corporate campaigns with matching foundation contributions. Over 300 corporate partners participate, with Cornerstone Society members contributing $100,000+ annually.
3. Corporate Gifts and Sponsorships: Direct corporate gifts support programs, events, and sponsorships. Air Products contributed over $6 million supporting 854 nonprofits. PPL raised $10 million for 500+ local nonprofits.
4. Education Improvement Tax Credit (EITC): Pennsylvania EITC program allows individuals with household income $200,000+ affiliated with PA businesses to redirect state tax dollars to United Way's Special Purpose Entity. Donors receive up to 90% back as PA state tax credit plus federal charitable deduction. Supports United Way Community Schools and Pre-K scholarships.
5. Planned Giving and Endowments: Donors can include United Way in estate plans, name United Way as beneficiary of donor-advised funds, make Qualified Charitable Distributions from IRAs (age 70.5+, up to $105,000 annually), and establish planned gifts through insurance policies or bequests.
6. Stock and Securities Gifts: Donors gift appreciated stock or mutual funds directly. United Way accepts gifts year-round, valued at average of high/low trading price on gift date. Donors may claim full fair market value deduction bypassing capital gains tax if held over one year.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that identifies the Greater Lehigh Valley's greatest community challenges and delivers measurable results in three focus areas: Education, Healthy Aging, and Community Stability. Core offerings include a network of 34 United Way Community Schools, 11 Community Hubs for seniors, PA 211 resource navigation, and a portfolio of programs covering kindergarten readiness, literacy, summer learning, dementia caregiver support, housing assistance, food access, and crisis/disaster response. The organization raises funds through individual donations, corporate workplace giving campaigns, giving societies, and planned giving to support these programs across Lehigh, Northampton, and Carbon Counties in Pennsylvania.

Product overview

United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley is a nonprofit charitable organization operating as a single integrated community impact platform rather than a traditional product company. The organization delivers measurable results in Education, Healthy Aging, and Community Stability through a portfolio of interconnected programs. Key offerings include United Way Community Schools (34 schools across 5 districts), Summer Learning Programs with James Lawson Freedom Schools, Lehigh Valley Reads literacy campaign, Age-Friendly Lehigh Valley senior initiatives, and Resilient Lehigh Valley trauma-informed programs. The organization also manages donor engagement through Giving Societies (Tocqueville Society, Women United, TeenWorks, Leadership Circle) and corporate Workplace Giving Campaigns. Community impact is amplified through PA 211 resource navigation, Full Cart Virtual Food Pantry, Housing Assistance with Housing Navigator positions, and Critical Support Fund for emergency relief. The donation infrastructure includes online giving with PayPal and credit card processing, text-to-donate (HOPEFUL to 40403), and stock/IRA transfer options. Over 300 corporate partners support operations across Lehigh, Northampton, and Carbon counties, serving nearly 250,000 people annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• United Way Community Schools: School-based program providing coordinated services including food, clothing, health services, academic support, and family engagement at 34 schools in 5 districts.
• United Way Community Hubs
• Women United
• Tocqueville Society
• Leadership Circle
• TeenWorks
• Cornerstone Society
• Day of Caring
• United for ALICE

Products and services

• Tocqueville Society Giving society for business and philanthropic leaders making annual gifts of $10,000 or more to United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley. Includes recognition, exclusive events, networking opportunities, and waiver of the external designation fee. Designed for high-net-worth individuals and philanthropists seeking structured engagement with the nonprofit's community impact work.
• Women United Women's giving society requiring an annual gift of $1,000 or more, focused on improving lives of women, children, and families in the Greater Lehigh Valley. Members run the Lehigh Valley Women's Summit and signature community projects, and connect as community and business leaders.
• Leadership Circle Giving society for individuals making an annual gift of $1,000 or more to United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley. Connects local leaders addressing regional challenges with measurable impact and provides recognition within the donor community.
• TeenWorks Youth donor and leadership development program that empowers community-minded student leaders through service and philanthropy. Operated as a collaborative effort between organized labor and United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley.
• Workplace Giving Campaigns Corporate workplace giving program enabling employee payroll deductions, online donations, and recurring or one-time contributions. Includes coordinated annual campaigns with matching foundation gifts, Day of Caring volunteer events, and dedicated corporate partner account management. PPL Corporation raised a record $10M and Air Products contributed over $6M through these campaigns.
• Cornerstone Society Corporate giving program for companies contributing more than $100,000 to the annual campaign. Includes multiple recognition tiers ($100K-$249K through $10M+) and is currently populated by 50+ major employers including PPL, Air Products, City Center Group, CAI, Crayola, Victaulic, BSI, Butz, Lutron, Just Born, St. Luke's, and HNL Lab Medicine.
• PA 211 Resource Navigation Free, confidential 24/7 referral service connecting Pennsylvanians to health and human services. Available via phone (2-1-1, 855-567-5341), text (text zip code to 898-211), and online chat with translation support in 75 languages. Made 15,390 connections to housing, food, healthcare, and utility resources in 2025.
• Online Donation Platform Web-based donation system accepting one-time and monthly recurring gifts via PayPal, MasterCard, and Visa. Donors can direct gifts to the Critical Support Fund or to specific focus areas including Education, Healthy Aging, Community Stability, and Mental Health. Suggested donation tiers displayed include $25, $50, $100, and $250.
• Text-to-Donate (HOPEFUL) Mobile text-to-donate channel where donors text HOPEFUL to 40403 to support mental health services for children, families, older adults, and veterans in the Greater Lehigh Valley.
• United Way Community Schools A network of 34 Community Schools across 5 school districts that remove barriers to education by addressing basic needs, promoting family engagement, building partnerships, and coordinating services. Each school is staffed by a full-time Community School Coordinator and serves students and families with on-site services including food, clothing, health care, mental health, and housing navigation. Nearly 20,000 students served across the network.
• United Way Community Hubs A network of 11 community hubs serving as gathering places for older adults, offering food assistance, health care services, social activities, and essential services. Locations include Casa Guadalupe Center, Easton Area Neighborhood Center, Greater Valley YMCA Slate Belt, and other senior centers across the region.
• United Way Day of Caring Annual single-day volunteer effort described as the area's largest, with 1,500 volunteers completing 8,200 hours of service at local nonprofits. Coordinated by the Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley and presented by Crayola as the title sponsor.

Quantifiable outcome

• 246,054 lives improved annually in the Lehigh Valley
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Air ProductscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 June 2026Air Products announced contribution of more than $6 million from employees, retirees and Air Products Foundation supporting 854 nonprofits in 44 states through United Way partnership. Hosted Day of Impact volunteer experiences at United Way Community Schools.
• CAIcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 December 2025CAI partnered with United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley and The Salvation Army to support families with rent and utility assistance during the holiday season. Program aimed to help 12 families stay housed and build community stability.
• The Salvation Army of the Lehigh ValleycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 December 2025Partnered with United Way and CAI for rent and utility assistance program helping families stay housed during holiday season.
• PPL CorporationcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 September 2025PPL Corporation employees and retirees raised a record $10 million during the annual Power of One employee giving campaign, with matching contributions from PPL's affiliated foundations. Funds support 500+ local nonprofit organizations across PPL's service territories in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Rhode Island, and Virginia. More than 1,000 employees volunteered during Day of Caring events.
• American Red Cross Pennsylvania Rivers ChaptercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided immediate disaster relief to residents displaced by the six-alarm fire at former American Atelier furniture factory in Allentown, including shelter, food, and emergency supplies.
• City of AllentowncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking with United Way and Catholic Charities Diocese of Allentown to provide long-term recovery support for households displaced by the June 24, 2026 fire. 100% of donations designated for affected residents.
• Catholic Charities Diocese of AllentowncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinating long-term recovery support with United Way and City of Allentown for families displaced by the Allentown fire.
• CrayolacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCornerstone Society member and presenting sponsor of Day of Caring. Corporate partner with employee giving and volunteer programs.
• VictauliccoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCornerstone Society member hosting Tocqueville Society events at Victaulic Guest House. Corporate partner with employee engagement programs.
• CAPTRUST Financial AdvisorscoreGTM or Marketing Partner2025-2026 Campaign Co-Chair Mike Molewski and wife Diane led campaign raising $27.7 million. Cornerstone Society member contributing $100,000+ annually.
• Brown-Daub DealershipsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner providing incentive prizes for United Way donor appreciation incentive drawing, including grand prize for 2025-2026 campaign.
• City Center GroupcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCornerstone Society member at $1M+ level. Major corporate supporter of United Way campaigns.
• River Crossing YMCAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with United Way and City of Bethlehem to expand services as part of the planned South Bethlehem Community Center.
• Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the ArtsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner spotlight: Creates spaces where young people pursue passions, build confidence, discover voice and develop discipline and creativity.
• Lehigh Valley P4P Boxing GymminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNew partner providing local youth safe environment to learn boxing and values of discipline, integrity, responsibility to prepare to be productive members of society.
• Keel InfrastructureminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCornerstone Society corporate partner supporting United Way annual campaigns.
• Volunteer Center of the Lehigh ValleycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinates the annual Day of Caring volunteer event, the area's largest single-day volunteer effort.
• PA 211coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Way supports PA 211, a free 24/7 service connecting Pennsylvanians with health and human services. Made 15,390 connections to resources in 2025.
• Resilient Lehigh ValleycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition focused on increasing youth, family and older adult resiliency through trauma-informed and resilient community practices.
• SingleCareminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership provides access to affordable prescription medications with discounts up to 80% for community members through SingleCare pharmacy savings cards.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• United Way Worldwide: Parent/umbrella organization of the global United Way network, providing brand, standards, and shared infrastructure to local affiliates including United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley. Not a direct fundraising competitor but defines the brand and operating standards.

Direct peers

• United Way of the Midlands: Regional United Way affiliate serving the Omaha/Council Bluffs metro with a similar workplace giving, education, and community stability portfolio. Comparable in mid-size regional structure and corporate campaign approach.
• United Way of the National Capital Area: Regional United Way affiliate serving the greater Washington, D.C. metro area with a comparable federated fundraising, workplace giving, and community impact model focused on education, financial stability, and health. Directly comparable in structure, donor programs, and regional scope.
• United Way of Central Ohio: Mid-size regional United Way affiliate running a community schools, early childhood, and ALICE-focused model with corporate workplace giving campaigns. Closely comparable in scale, programmatic mix, and donor society design.
• United Way of Greater Los Angeles: Major regional United Way affiliate operating a community schools, housing, and workforce development portfolio through workplace campaigns and corporate partnerships. Comparable federated fundraising and program structure.
• United Way of New York City: Large urban United Way affiliate running a comparable donor society, workplace giving, and community impact model focused on education, income, and health. Comparable in programmatic design, though operating at a much larger scale.
• United Way of Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey: Regional United Way affiliate serving the Philadelphia/SNJ region with a similar workplace giving, corporate partner, and community school strategy. Closest geographic and demographic comparable for a Pennsylvania-based United Way.

Regional players

• Lehigh Valley Community Foundation: Regional community foundation serving the same Lehigh Valley geography as United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, competing for similar high-net-worth individual donors, planned giving, and donor-advised fund relationships, though focused more on endowment-style grantmaking.

Others

• Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley: Regional volunteer coordination organization that partners with United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley to run the Day of Caring event. A thematically adjacent peer in the volunteer infrastructure ecosystem, not a fundraising competitor.
• American Red Cross of Eastern Pennsylvania: Disaster response partner operating in the same geography, with overlapping emergency relief fundraising and corporate engagement. Not a direct competitor for workplace giving but a thematic peer in disaster philanthropy and an active coordination partner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/unitedwayglv
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@unitedwayglv
• Facebookfacebook.com/UnitedWayGLV
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/united-way-of-the-greater-lehigh-valley
• Instagraminstagram.com/unitedwayglv

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley