United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania

What United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania does

United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, operating as United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization founded in 1921 and headquartered in Center City Philadelphia. The organization operates across a nine-county footprint in Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey and is governed by a regional board with no parent company ownership. Its mission is to fight poverty and expand opportunity through immediate relief, long-term support, and systems change, reaching 1.75 million people in the most recent reported year.

The organization's service portfolio spans the 211 Helpline (75,000+ callers connected to health and human services annually), the Impact Fund (initial $14.1M deployed to 120+ nonprofit grantees), financial empowerment programs including the Lubert IDA matched savings program and VITA free tax preparation, youth literacy initiatives such as Vello, the PHLConnectED digital equity program, trauma-informed care training delivered in partnership with Lakeside Global Institute (20,000+ professionals trained across 2,000+ organizations), the Center for Leadership Equity, Built By Philly equitable entrepreneurship work, and the United We Prepare emergency preparedness initiative. Technology infrastructure is described as standard nonprofit systems: donor management, grant-making platforms, and 211 call-center referral technology, with no proprietary AI/ML or platform products disclosed.

Revenue is generated entirely through charitable channels: individual donations (including the Donor Choice program), workplace giving campaigns via payroll deductions, corporate partnerships and sponsorships, and foundation grants. Notable corporate relationships include PECO ($10M Customer Relief Fund), Comcast (Digital Navigator Support), Citizens (tax-prep grants), Verizon (United We Prepare), and a $5M Camden coalition with Cooper University Health Care, Virtua Health, PNC Bank, Holman, and NFI Industries. The organization co-administered the PHL COVID-19 Fund with the City of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Foundation, raising over $18M in less than 10 months. The annual OpportUNITY Summit convenes 450+ cross-sector leaders and serves as a flagship convening platform. Headcount is 51-100 employees.

Name

United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania

Legal name

United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey

Website

https://unitedforimpact.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1921

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1921 that fights poverty across a nine-county region through the Impact Fund, 211 Helpline, financial empowerment programs, and 150+ community partnerships, serving 1.75 million people annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Human Services and Community Grantmaking

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Social Assistance (624), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Family Offices & Philanthropic Advisors (Grantmaking) (BPAGAKAD), K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB)

Keywords

• Charitable fundraising
• Human services referral
• Poverty alleviation programs
• Community grantmaking
• Workplace giving campaigns

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Charitable contributions from individual donors, including direct giving, bequests, and planned gifts. The organization maintains a Donor Choice program allowing donors to direct gifts to specific agencies.
2. Workplace Giving Campaigns: Corporate workplace giving programs where employees pledge deductions from their paychecks. These campaigns are a traditional major revenue source, particularly strong with long-standing corporate relationships.
3. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Support from corporations including direct grants, sponsorship of initiatives, and in-kind contributions. Examples include PECO's $10M relief fund and Citizens' $30K grant.
4. Impact Fund Grants: The organization manages an Impact Fund that distributes grants to community partners. The fund announced $14.1 million in grants focused on fighting intergenerational poverty.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization that fights poverty across a nine-county footprint in Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. It funds and operates a portfolio of community programs including the 211 Helpline for service referrals, the Lubert IDA matched savings program for homeownership, education, and small business, PHLConnectED for digital equity, Trauma-Informed Care Training, and youth literacy via Vello. The organization also manages the Impact Fund, which makes general operating grants to 120+ vetted nonprofit partners, and convenes cross-sector leaders at the annual OpportUNITY Summit.

Product overview

United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey operates as a nonprofit charitable organization offering a portfolio of community programs and services rather than a traditional technology product. The organization provides direct social services including the 211 Helpline for referrals, financial empowerment programs like the Lubert IDA matched savings and VITA free tax prep, youth development initiatives such as Vello reading tutoring and early learning support, community resiliency programs including Trauma-Informed Care training and United We Prepare emergency preparedness, digital equity efforts through PHLConnectED and the Digital Navigator Network, and equity initiatives like the Center for Leadership Equity and Built By Philly entrepreneurship support. The organization also manages grantmaking through The Impact Fund and operates the annual OpportUNITY Summit. These programs work together as an integrated approach to fighting poverty and expanding opportunity across a nine-county footprint in Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• United Way: Core brand for the regional United Way network serving Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey
• 211 Helpline
• United We Prepare
• The Promise
• PHLConnectED
• Lubert IDA Program
• SVP Philadelphia
• Built By Philly
• Center for Leadership Equity
• OpportUNITY Summit

Products and services

• 211 Helpline A free, confidential helpline connecting callers across Pennsylvania and New Jersey with thousands of local health and human service programs, providing referrals for everyday needs and crisis situations; serves 75,000+ callers annually.
• Camden Community Uplift A multi-sector initiative partnering with employers including PNC Bank, Cooper University Health Care, Virtua Health, Holman, and NFI Industries to provide jobs and community support services in Camden, NJ.
• Center for Leadership Equity The region's first leadership program designed to support, advocate for, and invest in Black nonprofit executives to bridge the equity gap within the Philadelphia nonprofit sector.
• Lubert IDA Program (IDA & Match Savings) Individual Development Account matched savings program founded by philanthropist Ira Lubert, providing matched savings to low-income individuals for homeownership, post-secondary education, and small business expansion; over 1,000 individuals and families have graduated, collectively saving over $3 million.
• United We Prepare A collaborative regional emergency preparedness initiative, in partnership with Verizon and 13 other local United Ways, designed to strengthen community resilience in Greater Philadelphia.
• Violence Prevention Hotline A helpline providing support and resources to individuals and families affected by gun violence and community violence.
• PHLConnectED A collaborative initiative with the City of Philadelphia, School District of Philadelphia, and Comcast helping K-12 students and families connect to the internet for free to bridge the digital divide; connected 12,000+ district and charter students and families.
• Digital Navigator Network A network of trained community partners providing digital literacy support and assistance, enabling Greater Philadelphians to dial 2-1-1 for help with internet access and use.
• Vello A virtual reading program providing one-on-one tutoring for students in grades 1-5, featuring weekly guided reading sessions to improve reading skills and engagement.
• Trauma-Informed Care Training Comprehensive trauma awareness and trauma-informed care training programs for parents, educators, behavioral health specialists, and community members, developed in partnership with Lakeside Global Institute; 20,000+ professionals trained across 2,000+ organizations.
• Built By Philly An equitable entrepreneurship ecosystem initiative assessing and enhancing Philadelphia's entrepreneurial landscape through the Equitable Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Assessment and Strategy, supporting BIPOC small businesses via resource navigation and a funding collaborative.
• The Impact Fund United Way's grantmaking initiative investing in 120+ vetted community partners through general operating grants and signature program investments focused on fighting intergenerational poverty.
• VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) Free tax preparation services for PA and NJ residents with household incomes under $64K, helping working families access Earned Income Tax Credits and financial stability.
• The Promise A criminal record-clearing initiative helping individuals remove barriers to employment, housing, education, and stability by addressing the impact of criminal records on families.
• School Telehealth Program (with CHOP) A school telehealth program in partnership with the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), enabling CHOP providers to examine students via secure video and send prescriptions electronically to pharmacies.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1.75 million people positively impacted in the region
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• VerizoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025United We Prepare initiative joining 14 local United Ways across the country to strengthen community resiliency through emergency preparedness programs.
• PECOflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025PECO partnered with United Way to launch a $10 million Customer Relief Fund to help customers with energy costs during high-demand summer months.
• Cooper University Health CareflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025$5M Camden initiative to uplift the city through jobs and community support, alongside Virtua Health, Holman, NFI Industries, and PNC Bank.
• Virtua HealthflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025Joint $5M Camden initiative alongside Cooper University Health Care, Holman, NFI Industries, and PNC Bank for jobs and community support.
• PNC BankflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025Partnership in $5M Camden initiative for jobs and community support, alongside Cooper University Health Care, Virtua Health, Holman, and NFI Industries.
• CitizenscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024Citizens provided a $30,000 grant and volunteer support to deliver free tax preparation assistance for PA and NJ residents with household incomes under $64K.
• ComcastcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2023Expansion of Digital Navigator Support to Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties, allowing residents to dial 2-1-1 for digital assistance from trained community partners.
• City of PhiladelphiaflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2020Partnership with City of Philadelphia to launch the PHL COVID-19 Fund in March 2020, raising over $18 million for frontline organizations. Also partnered on PHLConnectED digital inclusion initiative and 2020 Census outreach.
• Philadelphia FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2020Co-founded the PHL COVID-19 Fund with City of Philadelphia, serving as regional relief and response fund administrators.
• Lakeside Global Institute (LGI)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner15+ year partnership for trauma-informed care training. United Way invested over $7 million in LGI's mission. LGI developed and delivers trauma training curriculum to parents, educators, and behavioral health specialists. Over 20,000 professionals trained.
• Philadelphia School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing free trauma-informed care courses for school staff. Over 3,500 people participated, with 232 completing certification as trauma-competent.
• PIDC (Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Built By Philly initiative assessing the state of BIPOC entrepreneurship in Philadelphia, along with City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce.
• Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool telehealth program piloting virtual doctor visits in Philadelphia schools. CHOP providers examine students via secure video, with prescription sent electronically to pharmacies.
• ClarificoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinancial counseling and debt management partner offering financial literacy and asset-building services to help individuals achieve financial stability.
• ACHIEVEabilitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWest Philadelphia nonprofit partnered on Lubert IDA Program, helping low-income, single-parent and homeless families achieve self-sufficiency through homeownership.
• Cradles to CrayonsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual Backpack-a-Thon partnership to provide school supplies to children in need during back-to-school season.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Philadelphia Foundation: Local community foundation serving Greater Philadelphia with grantmaking, donor-advised funds, and civic leadership — co-founded the PHL COVID-19 Fund with United Way, indicating direct operational overlap.
• United Way of New York City: Large regional United Way serving the New York City metro with similar workplace giving, 211 operations, grantmaking, and corporate partnership model. Most structurally comparable regional peer.
• United Way of Central Maryland: Mid-Atlantic regional United Way with comparable 211 helpline operation, Impact Fund-style grantmaking, and similar mix of workplace campaigns and corporate partnerships.
• United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley: Regional United Way with similar anti-poverty focus, Impact Fund-style grantmaking, and corporate partnership strategy; comparable scale and footprint dynamics.

Regional players

• Robin Hood Foundation: Major poverty-fighting foundation operating in New York City with grantmaking and program investments — comparable mission, operating model, and funder base, though different geography.
• Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers: Regional nonprofit working on complex care and poverty in Camden, NJ — overlaps directly with United Way's Camden Community Uplift initiative and trauma-informed care work.
• The Pittsburgh Foundation: Pennsylvania-based community foundation with grantmaking, donor-advised funds, and regional civic leadership — comparable role in a different Pennsylvania city.

Broad incumbents

• Goodwill Industries International: National nonprofit with workforce development, financial empowerment, and community programs that overlap with United Way's IDA, VITA, and workforce offerings at regional affiliate level.
• United Way Worldwide: National umbrella organization for the United Way network; provides branding, standards, and shared infrastructure for ~1,100 regional United Ways including the subject company.
• Feeding America: National hunger-relief nonprofit network that competes for corporate workplace giving dollars and donor attention in the food-security category that United Way addresses.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/PhillySJUnited/featured
• Xx.com/phillysjunited
• Facebookfacebook.com/phillysjunited
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/united-way-of-greater-philadelphia-and-southern-new-jersey

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania