United Way of Greater Houston

What United Way of Greater Houston does

United Way of Greater Houston is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 74-1167964) operating as the regional United Way affiliate for Greater Houston. The organization serves individuals and families in need across four sub-regions — Fort Bend, Montgomery County, Waller County, and the Bay Area/Clear Lake — through a coordinated portfolio of programs spanning financial stability, early childhood and youth development, health care access, disaster recovery, ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) family support, veterans services, and basic needs assistance. Its primary customer segments are help seekers (individuals and families struggling with food, housing, utilities, and financial stability), donors (individual, corporate, and workplace giving participants), and nonprofit partners receiving capacity-building support.

The organization's core technology is a community resource referral database paired with the 211 Texas/United Way HELPLINE, a free confidential 24/7/365 service accessible by phone (211, 713-957-4357, 877-541-7905), text, and email. The database has logged over 3,144,167 cumulative visits and supports searchable filtering by ZIP code, county, age, gender, and language. The 211 HELPLINE connected 1.2 million people with services, while program outcomes include 66,680 families helped to financial stability, 140,113 people receiving basic needs assistance, and 109,106 youth supported. Service delivery is anchored by four physical community centers, including the Fort Bend Center at 12300 Parc Crest Drive, Stafford, which offers conference facilities and an on-site computer lab.

The business model is a charitable nonprofit structure rather than a commercial revenue model. The organization does not charge for services. Funding is sourced from charitable donations, workplace giving campaigns (including the Caring Champions program for corporate partners raising $500,000+ annually), corporate partnerships (e.g., ExxonMobil, EY, Waste Connections as Women Who Rock sponsors), signature fundraising events such as the Women Who Rock Luncheon, and the Alexis de Tocqueville Society, Women's Initiative, and Young Leaders donor programs. Distribution channels include the 211 HELPLINE, the online resource database, regional community centers, and workplace giving campaigns, with go-to-market coordinated through organic social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube) and SEO/organic search.

Name

United Way of Greater Houston

Legal name

United Way of Greater Houston

Website

https://unitedwayhouston.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

United Way of Greater Houston is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating the 211 HELPLINE, a community resource database, and four regional community centers serving individuals, families, and nonprofit partners across the Greater Houston area with financial stability, health, youth, and disaster recovery programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Community Housing Services (62422), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Other Individual and Family Services (62419), Community Food Services (62421)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Substance Use Recovery & Harm Reduction Support Services (BPAGAEAO)

Keywords

• Community social services
• Information and referral
• Disaster recovery support
• Workplace giving campaigns
• Nonprofit capacity building

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

United Way of Greater Houston is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates the 24/7 211 Texas/United Way HELPLINE and a community resource referral database to connect residents with food, shelter, child care, financial counseling, mental health, and disaster recovery services. Its core offering is free information-and-referral case navigation plus coordinated programs in financial stability, early childhood and youth development, health care, and disaster recovery, delivered through four regional community centers.

Product overview

United Way of Greater Houston operates as a social services organization offering a portfolio of interconnected community programs rather than a technology product. The core service is the 211 Texas/United Way HELPLINE, a 24/7 information and referral system that connects individuals and families with essential services. This central hub is supported by specialized programs including Financial Stability, Early Childhood & Youth Development, Health Care, and Disaster Recovery. The organization also operates four regional Community Centers (Bay Area, Fort Bend, Montgomery County, and Waller County) that provide direct access to services and include facilities like the Fort Bend Conference Center for nonprofit use. Additional offerings include the Women Who Rock Child Care Scholarship, Computer Classes for digital literacy, the Nonprofit Connection for professional networking, and the Community Resource Center. The Integrated Client Journey program coordinates these various services around individual client needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 211 Texas/United Way HELPLINE: A free, confidential helpline available 24/7/365 connecting people with essential social services including food, shelter, disaster resources, and basic needs assistance.
• Women Who Rock
• Fort Bend Recovers
• Fort Bend CONNECT

Products and services

• 211 Texas/United Way HELPLINE A 24/7/365 free, confidential helpline connecting Greater Houston residents with critical social services including food, shelter, child care, transportation, mental health, substance abuse assistance, public benefits (SNAP, Medicaid, CHIP, TANF), and disaster resources. Accessible by calling 211, emailing [email protected], or using the online resource directory.
• Financial Stability Program A program area of United Way of Greater Houston supporting families in achieving financial stability through access to good jobs with good wages, safe and affordable housing, financial security resources, and success supports for their children.
• Early Childhood & Youth Development Program Programs helping young people in the Greater Houston area build foundations for success through early childhood and youth development services.
• Health Care Program Healthcare programs connecting Greater Houston community members with medical services and health resources.
• Disaster Recovery Program Disaster recovery services connecting community members with food, child care, transportation, and other resources following emergencies.
• Everyday Basic Needs Program Basic needs assistance program providing food, shelter, and emergency resources for Greater Houston community members.
• Employed but in Need (ALICE) Program Programs supporting ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) families who work hard but still struggle to afford basic necessities in the Greater Houston area.
• Project Blueprint Career development and employment services program for Greater Houston community members.
• Integrated Client Journey & Navigators A coordinated network of services placing clients at the center, helping people navigate and access multiple community resources through assigned navigators.
• Veterans & Active Duty Program Services supporting veterans, active duty military personnel, and their families in the Greater Houston area.
• Women Who Rock Child Care Scholarship Scholarship program helping parents — particularly mothers — continue their education by providing child care support, funded in part through the Women Who Rock Luncheon.
• Fort Bend Center A United Way community center providing access to health and human services for the Fort Bend community at 12300 Parc Crest Drive, Stafford, TX 77477, including conference rooms and an on-site computer lab.
• Bay Area Center United Way community center providing access to health and human services in the Bay Area/Clear Lake region of Greater Houston.
• Montgomery County Center United Way community center providing access to health and human services in Montgomery County.
• Waller County Center United Way community center providing access to health and human services in Waller County.
• Fort Bend Conference Center Free meeting space within the Fort Bend Center offering ten meeting rooms accommodating groups up to 112 people, available to nonprofit and community organizations.
• Computer Classes Computer and technology training classes offered to nonprofit organizations and community members in the Greater Houston area.
• United Way Nonprofit Connection Networking and professional development platform connecting nonprofit organizations in the Greater Houston area.
• Professional Development for Nonprofits Professional development and leadership training programs available to nonprofit organizations serving the Greater Houston community.
• Community Resource Center Physical resource center providing services and meeting space for the Greater Houston nonprofit community.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1.2 million people connected with help by the 211 HELPLINE
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Houston Food BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHouston Food Bank is a proud partner with United Way of Greater Houston, expanding food access to assist individuals and families affected by government shutdowns or SNAP program changes. The partnership involves food donations, volunteer coordination, and monetary donations to support food distribution.
• ExxonMobilflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerExxonMobil is a Rock & Roll Legend sponsor of the Women Who Rock Luncheon, supporting the child care scholarship program for parents pursuing education.
• EY (Ernst & Young)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerEY is a Rock Star sponsor of the Women Who Rock Luncheon supporting parent education scholarships.
• Waste ConnectionscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerWaste Connections is a Rock Star sponsor of the Women Who Rock Luncheon supporting parent education scholarships.
• Caring Champions (Corporate Partners)flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partners who raise $500,000 or more annually are recognized as Caring Champions. These corporate partners and their teams support United Way's community programs through workplace giving campaigns.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• American Red Cross: National humanitarian organization with overlapping disaster response, shelter coordination, and emergency helpline functions. Comparable on disaster-recovery program portfolio and donor-funded operating model.
• United Way Worldwide: The national umbrella organization for the United Way network. Comparable as the brand, standards, and 211 infrastructure backbone that United Way of Greater Houston operates within.
• Feeding America: National food bank network. Comparable because United Way of Greater Houston channels substantial food-assistance demand through partners including the Houston Food Bank, a Feeding America member.

Emerging players

• Findhelp (formerly Aunt Bertha): A national social-care network connecting people to programs by ZIP code. Comparable to United Way's community resource referral database but as a technology platform that could compete for digital resource-navigation mindshare.

Direct peers

• Houston Food Bank: Regional food bank and explicit United Way partner. Operates large-scale food distribution that United Way refers 211 callers to, making it both a peer and an ecosystem counterpart in addressing food insecurity.
• United Way of New York City: Another large-market United Way affiliate operating 211, community programs, and corporate giving campaigns. Directly comparable operating model and scale profile to United Way of Greater Houston.
• United Way Bay Area: Regional United Way serving the San Francisco Bay Area with 211, workplace giving, and equity-focused programs. Closely comparable structure and community-resource database approach.
• Salvation Army Greater Houston: Direct Houston-area peer providing social services, emergency assistance, and disaster relief. Operates overlapping programs in financial assistance, shelter referral, and basic-needs support in the same geography.
• United Way of Greater Los Angeles: Large-metro United Way affiliate addressing financial stability, housing, and disaster response in Greater LA. Operates an analogous multi-program, donor-funded model in a similarly complex urban market.

Regional players

• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston: Houston-area social services agency providing basic-needs assistance, refugee services, and case management. A direct regional competitor for community-services funding and donor dollars.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/houunitedway
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/unitedwayhouston
• Facebookfacebook.com/unitedwayhouston
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/unitedwayhouston
• Instagraminstagram.com/unitedwayhouston

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Greater Houston