United Way of Southern Nevada

What United Way of Southern Nevada does

United Way of Southern Nevada (UWSN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has operated in the Las Vegas metropolitan area for over 65 years, operating as the regional affiliate of United Way Worldwide. The organization functions as a community convener and grantmaker, channeling donations from individuals, corporations, and institutional funders to a network of more than 250 partner nonprofits that deliver health, education, and financial stability programs across Southern Nevada. UWSN coordinates large-scale volunteer mobilization events, including Day of Caring and Project REACH, and operates a Volunteer Connect digital platform that matches individual and corporate volunteers with nonprofit opportunities. The board, staff base of approximately 50-100 employees, and donor base span individual givers, local employers, and institutional funders including federal grant-making agencies.

UWSN's programmatic focus spans three core areas: early childhood development, family economic stability, and language access. Recent flagship initiatives include the Big Feelings, Strong Foundations social-emotional workshop series launched in partnership with Intermountain Health, the Language Access Project backed by a $1 million federal grant, and recurring volunteer events Day of Caring (with PNC Bank as flagship sponsor) and Project REACH (with NV Energy as flagship sponsor). The organization's underlying technology infrastructure is centered on donor and volunteer management systems, partner grant tracking, and the Volunteer Connect platform; no proprietary AI/ML systems are described. Revenue is generated through workplace giving campaigns, corporate sponsorships (Caesars Entertainment among others), individual donations, foundation grants, and federal funding, with no transactional pricing model. UWSN's business model is therefore a diversified fundraising and grantmaking operation rather than a commercial product or service.

The strategic posture in 2024-2026 reflects an organization repositioning under new leadership (Samuel Rudd, named President & CEO in 2024), pursuing federal funding diversification, deepening corporate partnerships across multiple sectors, and expanding into direct service delivery beyond traditional grantmaking. Key risks include concentration in Las Vegas metro economic cycles (especially tourism and gaming), the dependency on a small number of flagship corporate sponsors, and the absence of AI/ML capabilities relative to a generally digitizing nonprofit sector.

Name

United Way of Southern Nevada

Legal name

United Way of Southern Nevada

Website

https://uwsn.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

United Way of Southern Nevada is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that, for over 65 years, has raised and distributed funds to 250+ partner nonprofits across the Las Vegas metro, delivering programs in early childhood, family stability, and language access while mobilizing corporate and individual volunteers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

Keywords

• Community social services
• Nonprofit fundraising
• Volunteer engagement programs
• Corporate social responsibility
• Community impact grants

Headquarters

HQ city

Las Vegas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible charitable contributions from individual donors supporting community programs
2. Corporate Partnerships: Sponsorship and partnership revenue from corporate sponsors for events, programs, and volunteer initiatives (e.g., PNC Bank, NV Energy, Light & Wonder, Amazon, Las Vegas Raiders)
3. Event-Based Fundraising: Revenue from events including Golf United Tournament, Women United programs, Day of Caring sponsorships, and membership fees
4. Federal and State Grants: Grant funding for specific programs including Language Access Project ($1M appropriation from Congresswoman Dina Titus), early education, and community impact initiatives

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

United Way of Southern Nevada is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that mobilizes community resources to address local needs across four pillars: Youth Opportunity, Financial Security, Healthy Community, and Community Resiliency. It connects individual donors, corporate partners, and volunteers with programs and nonprofit partners delivering services such as early childhood education, literacy mentorship, utility assistance, free tax preparation, and disaster preparedness throughout Southern Nevada.

Product overview

United Way of Southern Nevada (UWSN) operates as a nonprofit community organization rather than a technology product company. Its core offerings are social service programs organized around four pillars: Youth Opportunity, Financial Security, Healthy Community, and Community Resiliency. The organization administers programs including Volunteer Connect (a volunteer management platform), Project REACH Senior Expo (utility assistance), United Readers (literacy mentorship), Women United (women's giving circle), and various grant programs. UWSN also organizes large-scale events including the annual Day of Caring and hosts workshops like Big Feelings, Strong Foundations. The organization's work focuses on creating pathways to education, job opportunities, healthcare, and housing for Southern Nevada residents.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Women United: Women's giving society within United Way of Southern Nevada, hosting speaker series, networking events, and volunteer activities for women philanthropists.
• Tocqueville Society
• Project REACH
• United Readers
• Volunteer Connect
• Day of Caring

Products and services

• Volunteer Connect A free digital platform that links 7,300+ volunteers with 250+ nonprofit organizations across Southern Nevada, enabling personalized matching for in-person, virtual, and skill-based opportunities with impact tracking.
• Youth Opportunity Programs Educational programs for youth including Early Education initiatives, United Readers literacy mentorship, and Democracy Fellowship to support college and career readiness for children and young people.
• Financial Security Programs Resources and programs helping individuals and families achieve financial stability, including workforce development, job placement, financial literacy, and pathways to economic mobility.
• Healthy Community Programs Health resources and community wellness initiatives connecting families and individuals to essential health services, mental health support, and wellness education.
• Project REACH Utility Assistance Program Utility assistance program for seniors 62 and older, powered by NV Energy, helping pay past-due electric, gas, water, or sewer bills with assistance up to $300 per household through annual Senior Expo events.
• Big Feelings, Strong Foundations Workshop Series Workshop series co-hosted with Intermountain Health, providing practical tools for families to support emotional well-being and confidence building for children ages 0-5 from early childhood.
• Women United Women's giving circle and volunteer group offering networking events, speaker series, microgrants, and advocacy opportunities for women philanthropists focused on community impact.
• Tocqueville Society Major gifts program connecting high-level donors to UWSN's initiatives for creating lasting impact in Southern Nevada.
• Day of Caring Annual large-scale volunteer event (11th annual in 2026) bringing together 1,000+ volunteers across 50+ community-focused projects to support students, families, seniors, and nonprofits across Southern Nevada.
• United Readers Literacy mentorship program connecting volunteers with students from kindergarten through fifth grade to strengthen foundational reading and fluency skills.
• Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Free tax preparation services for individuals and families meeting income eligibility guidelines, delivered through trained volunteers and partner sites.
• Language Access Program A $1 million initiative providing document translation and interpretation services to support Limited English Proficient Nevadans and community engagement with social services.
• Community Impact Grant Program Grant-making programs funding local nonprofit partners delivering services aligned with UWSN's four community pillars, including Emergency Food and Shelter Program and Nonprofit VITA Sites Rehabilitation Program.

Quantifiable outcome

• 13,700 youth connected to educational resources
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• NV EnergyflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026NV Energy is the presenting sponsor for Project REACH Senior Expo 2026, helping seniors pay past-due utility bills. The partnership includes employee volunteer programs and NV Energy sponsors Volunteer of the Month recognition.
• PNC BankflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026PNC Bank is the presenting sponsor for Day of Caring 2026, the largest annual volunteer event in Southern Nevada. The partnership supports community engagement and volunteer mobilization across 50+ projects.
• Intermountain HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Intermountain Health co-hosts the Big Feelings, Strong Foundations workshop series with UWSN, providing practical tools for families on early childhood emotional development and well-being.
• Las Vegas RaiderscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner participating in Day of Caring, holiday meal packing events, and community programs. Raiders players and staff volunteer for community initiatives.
• AmazoncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner that has conducted service projects through UWSN, providing employee volunteer opportunities for CSR initiatives.
• GooglecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner that has conducted service projects through UWSN, supporting employee engagement and community impact.
• Light & WondercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner with multiple touchpoints including Day of Caring sponsorship, Women United programming, and executive leadership on the Board of Directors.
• US BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner conducting service projects through UWSN, with employees volunteering for corporate events and Day of Caring.
• Caesars EntertainmentcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor for Day of Caring 2026, supporting community volunteer initiatives in Southern Nevada.
• Caesars EntertainmentcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDay of Caring 2026 sponsor supporting the largest annual volunteer event in Southern Nevada.
• The Smith Center for Performing ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey community partner; Board Chair Don Snyder serves as Chairman of The Smith Center board. UWSN collaborates on community events and initiatives.
• Spread the Word NevadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNevada's largest children's literacy nonprofit; served 1.5 million children. UWSN collaborates on early literacy initiatives and early education programs.
• Teach For America NevadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in early childhood and literacy initiatives; UWSN staff participate in coalition building and community programs through the partnership.
• City of Las VegascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of Nonprofit Navigator Program, a free 5-week pilot supporting aspiring and existing nonprofits. Also partner on Language Access initiatives.
• Nevada Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUWSN supports Nevada Ready! State Pre-K program, collaborating on early childhood education quality improvement and expansion toward universal Pre-K.
• The Children's CabinetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner for early childhood programs, childcare assistance, and quality improvement initiatives. UWSN collaborates on QRIS coaching and coalition building.
• United Way WorldwideflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization providing brand affiliation, network resources, best practices, and global reach while local funds stay in Southern Nevada.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• VolunteerMatch: National volunteer matching platform connecting individuals with nonprofit opportunities. Competes with UWSN's Volunteer Connect in the volunteer-engagement infrastructure layer; VolunteerMatch operates at national scale while UWSN's platform is regional — but the platform category overlap is direct.

Direct peers

• Heart of America United Way: Regional United Way affiliate operating a community-impact grant program, volunteer mobilization, and corporate partnership model structurally identical to UWSN. Comparable scale and donor mix in the Kansas City metro.
• United Way of King County: Major metropolitan United Way affiliate serving the Seattle region with comparable program pillars, corporate partnerships, and donor-advised fund models. Frequently cited as a leader in the United Way network for innovation in community impact measurement.
• United Way Bay Area: Regional United Way affiliate serving the San Francisco Bay Area with similar multi-pillar programming, major corporate partnerships, and innovation focus (e.g., SPUR and Sparkpoint programs). Closest comparable peer in scale and program sophistication.
• United Way of Greater Los Angeles: Large regional United Way affiliate serving the Greater Los Angeles area with similar four-pillar program architecture, corporate partnership model, and volunteer mobilization events. Operates on a comparable scale and funding mix including major corporate sponsors and government grants.

Regional players

• Three Square Food Bank: Southern Nevada's primary food bank and a UWSN partner organization through the Emergency Food and Shelter Program. Overlaps in food-assistance service delivery and competes for hunger-relief grant funding in the same geography.
• The Salvation Army Southern Nevada: Major social services nonprofit serving Southern Nevada with overlapping programming in crisis assistance, food distribution, and seasonal giving campaigns. Competes for the same corporate donors, volunteers, and federal funding pools.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada: Local youth-focused nonprofit serving overlapping demographics (children and youth) in Southern Nevada with similar corporate sponsorship and event-driven fundraising model. Competes for early-education dollars and youth literacy grants in the same market.
• Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada: Direct local peer in Southern Nevada providing overlapping services including food assistance, utility help, and family support — and is itself a UWSN partner organization funded through the Emergency Food and Shelter Program. Most direct local service overlap with UWSN's community resiliency pillar.

Broad incumbents

• United Way Worldwide: Global federation and parent brand network for UWSN. While UWSN is an independently governed affiliate, United Way Worldwide sets brand standards, network resources, and global best practices — making it the closest institutional peer at the federated level.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/UWSN702
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@UWSN
• Facebookfacebook.com/UnitedWaySN
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/uwsn
• Instagraminstagram.com/uwsn702
• TikToktiktok.com/@UWSN702

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Southern Nevada