United Ways of Texas

What United Ways of Texas does

United Ways of Texas (UWT) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) state association founded in 1980 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, that serves as the unified voice and coordination body for nearly 70 local United Way organizations across the state. Its core mission centers on advancing education, health, financial stability, and nonprofit/community strengthening through non-partisan public policy advocacy, member services including back-office support, and crisis management resources. UWT operates with a lean staff of 1-10 employees and is funded through member dues, donations, and partner grants rather than product sales.

The organization's flagship operational asset is 211 Texas, a 24/7 statewide information and referral helpline established by the Texas Legislature in 2001 (first call 2002) that connects Texans to community-based services such as food, shelter, utility assistance, mental health, and financial stability resources. 211 Texas is delivered as a public-private partnership: the FCC designates the Texas Public Utilities Commission with 211 authority, which in turn designated the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) for oversight. HHSC contracts with a network of 25 Area Information Centers (13 operated by local United Ways) that all meet national AIRS accreditation standards. The 2-1-1 HelpLine operated by United Way of Greater Houston is the second-largest 2-1-1 in the country by call volume. In 2020, UWT helped bring 211 Counts (tx.211counts.org) to Texas, a real-time data platform that provides breakdowns of met and unmet needs across service areas.

UWT's go-to-market motion is community-led and multi-stakeholder. On the policy side, it convenes a legislative agenda for sessions such as the 89th Texas Legislature, representing collective priorities of the state network. On the operational side, it provides back-office services and member events to local United Ways and operates crisis response hubs for events including floods and government shutdowns. UWT promotes the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) research initiative to address working-family financial instability, and participates in Texas Nonprofit Strong, a statewide coalition to strengthen the nonprofit sector. In 2024, UWT reported that 3.7 million+ Texans received vital support through United Way programs and 211 referrals, and 211 Texas answered more than 3.5 million calls per year. The organization is part of a global United Way network of nearly 1,800 organizations, 2.8 million volunteers, and 9.8 million donors.

Name

United Ways of Texas

Legal name

United Ways of Texas

Website

https://uwtexas.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

United Ways of Texas is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) state association serving nearly 70 local United Ways through public policy advocacy, member services, crisis response, and operation of the 211 Texas 24/7 information and referral helpline.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Association and Community Information Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Facilities Helpdesk & Service Request Management (FM Call Center/Dispatch) (IMAIALAG)

Keywords

• Nonprofit association services
• Community resource referral
• Public policy advocacy
• Disaster relief coordination
• Member support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: United Ways raise resources through workplace campaigns, individual donations, and community fundraising efforts to support local community work.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

United Ways of Texas is a nonprofit state association that supports and connects nearly 70 local United Ways across Texas. It operates 211 Texas, a 24/7 statewide information and referral helpline that connects Texans to community-based services such as food, shelter, utility assistance, and mental health resources. The organization also delivers public policy advocacy, member back-office services, and crisis/disaster response coordination for its member network.

Product overview

United Ways of Texas is a nonprofit association serving local United Ways across Texas. The organization operates 211 Texas, a statewide 24/7 information and referral hotline, along with policy advocacy, member services including back-office support, and crisis management resources. Key offerings include 211 Texas for resource connection, 211 Counts for real-time data analytics, and public policy advocacy at the state level.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 2-1-1 Texas: Statewide information and referral service connecting Texans to critical community-based services, operated as a public-private partnership with the state.

Products and services

• 211 Texas 24/7 statewide information and referral helpline that connects Texans to critical community-based services including food, shelter, utility assistance, mental health, substance use, health, education, and financial stability services, operated through a network of 25 Area Information Centers.
• 211 Counts Real-time local data platform providing breakdowns of met and unmet needs across Texas service areas, enabling better understanding of community service gaps and resource utilization.
• UWT Membership Membership program providing back-office services, member events, and coordination for local United Ways across Texas, serving as the voluntary state association.
• Back-Office Services Administrative and operational support services delivered to member United Ways in Texas, reducing duplicative administrative effort across local affiliates.
• Public Policy & Advocacy Non-partisan public policy voice for local Texas United Ways, focused on education, health, financial stability, and nonprofit/community strengthening during Texas legislative sessions.
• Texas Flood Relief Disaster relief coordination and recovery fund management for Texas communities affected by flooding, including volunteer coordination and resource sharing across the United Way network.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3.7+ million Texans received vital support in 2024
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• State of TexascoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2001The Texas Legislature established the state's 2-1-1 service in 2001 and it took its first call in 2002. Today, 2-1-1 Texas answers more than 3.5 million calls a year.
• Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHHSC has oversight and management responsibilities for 211 as the statewide information and referral system, designated by the Texas Public Utilities Commission. HHSC contracts with and provides funding to a network of 25 Area Information Centers.
• Texas Public Utilities Commission (PUC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Federal Communications Commission designates the Texas Public Utilities Commission (PUC) with authority over 211, which in turn designated HHSC for oversight.
• Area Information Centers (AICs) NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner25 Area Information Centers operated by organizations including Council of Governments, Area Agencies on Aging, and local United Ways—all required to meet national AIRS accreditation standards. These centers handle 211 calls across Texas.
• United Way WorldwidecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization that provides support, training, resources, and coordination for local United Ways. Part of a global network of nearly 1,800 United Way organizations.
• United Way of Greater HoustoncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOperates the 2-1-1 HelpLine which is the second largest 2-1-1 in the country by call volume, answering more than 1 million calls in 2017 (beat only by New York City).
• 211texas.orgcoreTechnology or IntegrationOnline resource portal for connecting Texans to local services. Available 24/7 alongside the phone helpline.
• ALICE (United for ALICE)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) is a research-driven initiative that provides data and resources about working families who struggle financially. United Ways of Texas promotes ALICE as part of their focus on financial stability.
• Texas Nonprofit StrongmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTexas Nonprofit Strong brings together organizations and advocates to strengthen the nonprofit sector across the state. United Ways of Texas is part of this collaborative initiative.
• 211 CountscoreTechnology or IntegrationData platform (tx.211counts.org) providing real-time local data on specific met and unmet needs in service areas. Rolled out in Texas in 2020 due to UWT advocacy, allowing better understanding of 211's role in connecting Texans to resources.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• United Way of Greater Houston: The largest local United Way in Texas and operator of the second-largest 2-1-1 in the country by call volume. It is directly comparable because it is both a local United Way member of UWT and a major 2-1-1 operator using the same infrastructure, branding, and service model.
• United Way of Metropolitan Dallas: Another major Texas local United Way and member of the UWT network. It is directly comparable as a peer statewide member delivering similar fundraising, 2-1-1, and community impact programs within Texas.
• 211 San Diego: A leading California-based 2-1-1 information and referral provider. It is directly comparable as a peer 2-1-1 operator delivering the same community resource helpline model, with similar AIRS accreditation standards and public-private partnership structure.

Broad incumbents

• United Way Worldwide: The national umbrella organization coordinating the global United Way network of ~1,800 organizations. It is comparable because UWT is a direct member/state association within this network, with similar policy, branding, and member-service functions, though UWW operates at a much larger national/global scale.
• Feeding America: The largest U.S. hunger-relief nonprofit network. It is comparable because UWT's 2-1-1 system frequently routes callers to food assistance programs (including Feeding America affiliates), and both organizations function as statewide/national umbrella bodies for local service providers.
• Salvation Army: A national faith-based social services organization delivering emergency assistance, disaster relief, and social support. It is comparable because both organizations coordinate emergency aid, disaster response, and referrals to community services through a distributed local-presence model.
• American Red Cross: A large national humanitarian organization with overlapping disaster response, volunteer mobilization, and community support missions. It is comparable because UWT coordinates crisis response and volunteer resources across Texas in a similar mode, though the Red Cross operates at much greater national scale.

Emerging players

• Findhelp (Aunt Bertha): A digital social services referral platform connecting users to community resources online. It is comparable as an emerging alternative to the 2-1-1 call-based referral model, representing a technology-forward competitor that could reshape how Texans find community services.
• Texas Nonprofit Strong: A Texas-based collaborative initiative to strengthen the nonprofit sector that UWT actively participates in. It is comparable as a peer advocacy coalition operating in adjacent space on nonprofit capacity-building issues in Texas, though newer and broader in scope than UWT.

Regional players

• Heart of Florida United Way: A regional United Way serving Central Florida. It is comparable as a peer multi-county United Way that runs 2-1-1 service, member campaigns, and community impact programs, though operating in a different geography from UWT.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UWTexas
• Facebookfacebook.com/uwtexas
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/united-ways-of-texas

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Ways of Texas