United Way of the Mohawk Valley

What United Way of the Mohawk Valley does

United Way of the Mohawk Valley is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1920 in Utica, New York, operating as an independent local affiliate within the broader United Way network. It serves the Mohawk Valley region, primarily Oneida and Herkimer counties, addressing three impact areas: Health & Wellness, Economic Stability, and Community Response. The organization is governed by a volunteer board of directors led by President Melissa Mann and CEO/Executive Director Sarah Macri, with a staff of 11-50 employees headquartered at 258 Genesee St, Utica.

The organization operates a portfolio of community programs rather than commercial products. Core offerings include the 211 information and referral service (a 24/7/365 database described as the most comprehensive local services listing in the Mohawk Valley), the Ride United transportation assistance program, the Housing and Homelessness initiative supported by an in-house HMIS (Homeless Management Information System) team that works alongside local agencies, the Emergency Food & Shelter program administered for Oneida and Herkimer counties, and the Backpack Program launched in 2025 in partnership with the Food Bank of Central New York. Additional offerings include the Workplace Campaign for payroll-deduction giving, Volunteer Programs including Day of Action, Strategic Investments and Mini-Grant Series for nonprofit and government grantees, the Gap Map Forum workshop series, the Inside the Impact Podcast, and the Legacy Society for planned giving.

United Way funds its operations through individual donations, workplace giving campaigns, corporate partnerships, labor partnerships, and grant funding distributed to funded partner organizations. It does not sell products or services for profit. The go-to-market motion is community-led, relying on workplace campaigns, volunteer programs, day-of-action events, and direct donation solicitation. The organization has over 100 years of brand recognition in the region and partners with five school districts, multiple corporate sponsors, labor organizations, faith-based groups, and government agencies to deliver services to individuals and families in need.

Name

United Way of the Mohawk Valley

Legal name

United Way of the Mohawk Valley

Website

https://unitedwaymv.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1920

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

United Way of the Mohawk Valley is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1920 in Utica, NY, serving Oneida and Herkimer counties through programs including 211 information/referral, Ride United transportation, housing/homelessness services, and the Backpack Program, funded by individual donations, workplace campaigns, and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Community Housing Services (62422), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB), Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

Keywords

• Community social services
• Nonprofit fundraising programs
• Health and human services
• Workplace giving campaigns
• Community resource referrals

Headquarters

HQ city

Utica

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Direct donations from community members to support United Way programs and funded partner organizations.
2. Workplace Campaigns: Corporate workplace giving campaigns where employees donate through payroll deductions.
3. Strategic Investments/Funded Programs: Grants and funding distributed to nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, government agencies, and faith-based organizations through a strategic investment process.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

United Way of the Mohawk Valley is a community-impact nonprofit that connects individuals and families to essential services through programs in Health & Wellness, Economic Stability, and Community Response. Core offerings include 211 information and referral, Ride United transportation assistance, Housing and Homelessness initiatives supported by an HMIS data system, Emergency Food & Shelter funding for Oneida and Herkimer counties, the Backpack Program for students, Strategic Investments and Mini-Grants to partner agencies, plus workplace giving and volunteer programs. The organization raises funds through donations and grants and distributes them through a network of funded partner organizations across the Mohawk Valley region.

Product overview

United Way of the Mohawk Valley is a non-profit charitable organization that serves as a community impact leader, not a technology company with software products. The organization offers a portfolio of social service programs focused on three impact areas: Health & Wellness, Economic Stability, and Community Responsiveness. Core programs include 211 (information and referral), Ride United (transportation assistance), Housing and Homelessness services, Emergency Food & Shelter, and the Backpack Program (food security for students). Additional offerings include the Workplace Campaign for workplace giving, volunteer programs with Day of Action, strategic investment funding for partner agencies, mini-grants, the Gap Map Forum for community collaboration, a podcast, and legacy/planned giving options. The organization does not offer a software product platform or technology services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• United Way MV: Abbreviated name used for United Way of the Mohawk Valley
• 211
• Ride United
• Housing and Homelessness Initiative
• Backpack Program

Products and services

• 211 Information and Referral Service A 24/7/365 information and referral service that connects individuals and families to local resources and services across the Mohawk Valley, serving as the most comprehensive local listing of community services.
• Ride United Transportation Assistance Transportation assistance program that helps individuals get to work, medical appointments, and other essential services, addressing transportation barriers to economic stability and health access.
• Housing and Homelessness Initiative Initiative that uses the HMIS (Homeless Management Information System) team working alongside local agencies to connect homeless and shelter residents to safe housing through data-driven solutions.
• Emergency Food & Shelter Program Emergency food and shelter funding program administered by United Way of the Mohawk Valley for Oneida and Herkimer counties, channeling resources to local agencies delivering emergency food and shelter services.
• Backpack Program Program providing backpacks filled with nonperishable food and essential supplies to children during extended school breaks, delivered in partnership with the Food Bank of Central New York through local school districts such as Utica City School District.
• Workplace Campaign Annual workplace giving campaign enabling employees of corporate partners to contribute to United Way of the Mohawk Valley through payroll deductions, with the United Games as the campaign kickoff event.
• Strategic Investments Funding Program Funding program that provides strategic investments in Health & Wellness, Economic Stability, and Community Responsiveness to nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, government agencies, and faith-based organizations serving the Mohawk Valley.
• Mini-Grant Series Mini-grant series launched in December to help local programs expand their reach and increase their impact in the Mohawk Valley, complementing the Strategic Investments program.
• Legacy Society - Planned Giving Planned giving program for donors interested in leaving a legacy contribution to United Way of the Mohawk Valley, supporting long-term community impact.

Quantifiable outcome

• 712 people served with housing and support services
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Assured Information SecurityminorOthers · 9 June 2025Local technology company that celebrated its 25th anniversary; mentioned in United Way partnership news coverage.
• Food Bank of Central New YorkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in which the Food Bank of Central New York provides backpacks filled with nonperishable food items and essential supplies for distribution to children during extended school breaks through the Backpack Program.
• Excellus BlueCross BlueShieldminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor for Day of Action volunteer event, providing visibility and support for community service activities.
• Corporate PartnerscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerVarious corporate organizations that participate in workplace campaigns, sponsor events, and engage employees in volunteer activities with United Way.
• Labor PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLabor organizations that partner with United Way through the labor-partnership initiative for community engagement.
• Local School DistrictscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool districts including Utica City, New Hartford, Rome, Frankfort, and Ilion that partner with United Way for the Backpack Program and other educational initiatives.
• 211 Mid-YorkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConnected resource for the Gap Map Forum workshop series and community resource navigation, linking individuals to local services through the 211 database.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• United Way of Northern New York: Nearby United Way affiliate serving Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties. Comparable operating model, programs, and fundraising mechanisms, but operates in an adjacent geography in upstate New York.
• Catholic Charities of Oneida, Madison, and Lewis Counties: Faith-based nonprofit serving overlapping populations in the same region with comparable social services including housing, food assistance, and case management. Directly competes for donor dollars and program funding in the Mohawk Valley.
• United Way of Central New York: Another United Way affiliate serving the broader Central New York region with overlapping community-impact programs (211, workplace campaigns, funded partners). Directly comparable operating model and service mix to United Way of the Mohawk Valley, but covering a larger geographic footprint.
• 211 Mid-York: Regional 211 information and referral service covering multiple counties including overlapping territory with United Way of the Mohawk Valley. Operates the same core 211 service as a direct functional peer and current strategic partner.
• The Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties: Regional community foundation operating in the same Oneida and Herkimer counties, providing grants, scholarships, and donor-advised funds. Directly comparable geographic footprint and nonprofit grantmaking/fundraising model.
• Mohawk Valley Housing & Homeless Coalition: Regional coalition addressing housing instability and homelessness—the same focus area as United Way of the Mohawk Valley's Housing and Homelessness initiative. Directly comparable mission and beneficiary population within the same geography.
• Food Bank of Central New York: Regional food bank that is both a current operational partner (Backpack Program) and a functional peer in addressing food insecurity in the same geographic area. Comparable scale and nonprofit funding model.

Broad incumbents

• American Red Cross of Central New York: National humanitarian organization with a regional chapter serving Central New York. Comparable in mission breadth (emergency response, disaster relief, community programs) and competes for similar donor dollars in the same geography.
• United Way Worldwide: National umbrella organization for the United Way network. While United Way of the Mohawk Valley is an independent affiliate, United Way Worldwide provides brand, infrastructure, and best-practice resources that shape the operating environment of all local affiliates.

Regional players

• Habitat for Humanity of Herkimer and Oneida Counties: Regional Habitat affiliate serving the same counties with affordable housing programming. Comparable nonprofit model, donor base, and focus on community housing solutions in the Mohawk Valley.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/UnitedWayMV

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 the Mohawk Valley