United Way of Durham Region

What United Way of Durham Region does

United Way of Durham Region is a registered charitable nonprofit organization founded in 1940 and headquartered at 104-97 King Ave E, Newcastle, Ontario, with a secondary office at 345 Simcoe Street South, Oshawa. It operates as the largest non-governmental funder of locally-based health and human care services in Durham Region, supporting 119-160 programs across 25+ partner agencies across eight municipalities (Oshawa, Whitby, Clarington, Ajax, Pickering, Uxbridge, Brock, and Scugog). The organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors chaired by Pam Noonan, with CEO Cindy Murray leading a paid staff of 14 supported by more than 1,000 volunteers at any given time.

The organization operates a portfolio of fundraising, volunteer-coordination, and direct-service programs. Core programs include workplace giving campaigns coordinated by employee volunteers, individual donation channels (online, offline direct debit, payroll pledges, planned giving, gifts of securities), the Operation BackPack school supply initiative (distributing over 6,000 backpacks annually across Durham Region schools), the 211 service partnership connecting residents to social services in 100+ languages, and a portfolio of annual events (Ride4UnitedWay cycling, Score4UnitedWay hockey tournament, Duck Derby, Race Day at Ajax Downs). In October 2024 the organization launched The Thrift Shop, a wholly-owned retail subsidiary in Newcastle generating 100% of proceeds for funded agencies.

The revenue model is diversified across four streams: individual donations, workplace giving campaigns, a new retail/earned-income channel via The Thrift Shop, and legacy planned giving. The organization also administers pass-through government funding — most notably $2.24 million in Emergency Community Support Fund grants during COVID-19 (2020) and $1.88M through the Community Services Recovery Fund (2023). Funds are distributed to community agencies serving vulnerable populations across focus areas including food insecurity, social isolation, mental health, poverty, senior services, and youth support.

Name

United Way of Durham Region

Legal name

United Way of Durham Region

Website

https://unitedwaydr.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1940

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

United Way of Durham Region is a Canadian registered charity (founded 1940) and the largest non-governmental funder of locally-based health and human care services across Durham Region's eight municipalities, supporting 119 programs at 25+ partner agencies via workplace campaigns, donations, and the new Thrift Shop.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Federated Giving Organizations (e.g., United Way-type) (BPAGAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

Keywords

• Community fundraising
• Workplace giving campaigns
• Social service grants
• Emergency relief funding
• Volunteer management programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Newcastle

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute through online donations, offline direct debit, payroll pledges, and gifts of securities. Donations support community programs and services across Durham Region.
2. Workplace Campaigns: Corporate workplace giving campaigns where employees pledge payroll deductions or one-time donations through their employers. This is a primary fundraising channel for the organization.
3. Thrift Shop: The Thrift Shop opened in October 2024 in Newcastle, Ontario. 100% of proceeds from the shop go to support agencies and programs across the Region.
4. Planned Giving: Legacy gifts through wills, bequests, life insurance, and retirement plan beneficiary designations. Allows donors to create lasting impact for future generations in Durham Region.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

United Way of Durham Region is a registered Canadian charity that raises money through individual donations, workplace payroll-deduction campaigns, planned giving, gifts of securities, retail revenue from The Thrift Shop, special-event fundraising, and government grant pass-throughs. It then pools and distributes those funds as grants to more than 25 partner agencies operating roughly 119 programs addressing poverty, food insecurity, mental health, social isolation, and youth and family support across all eight municipalities of Durham Region, Ontario.

Product overview

United Way of Durham Region is a charitable nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of community programs and fundraising services rather than a unified technology product. The core offering consists of fundraising platforms (Online Donation Platform), workplace giving programs (Workplace Campaigns, Virtual Campaign Toolkit), volunteer coordination services (Volunteer Durham, Corporate Volunteer Program), and direct service initiatives (Operation Backpack, The Thrift Shop, 211 Partnership). These programs are supplemented by emergency relief funds (ECSF, CSRF, COVID-19 Relief Fund, Seniors Response Fund) and community events (Ride4UnitedWay, Score4UnitedWay, Duck Derby, Race Day). The organization connects donors to 119 community programs supporting thousands of local residents across eight municipalities in Durham Region, focusing on poverty reduction, food security, mental health, and social isolation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Volunteer Durham: A program of United Way Durham Region providing a database of volunteer opportunities in Durham Region.

Products and services

• The Thrift Shop A retail thrift store operated by UWDR that sells donated and second-hand goods, with proceeds funding community programs across Durham Region.
• Operation BackPack A school-based food support program providing weekend and holiday food packs to children at risk of hunger across Durham Region schools.
• Workplace Campaigns Annual employee giving campaigns run in partnership with Durham Region employers, typically through payroll deduction, with corporate matching, leadership giving, and employee volunteer components.
• Online Donation Platform
• Volunteer Durham
• 211 Partnership Service
• Planned Giving Program
• Gifts of Securities Program
• Corporate Volunteer Program
• Ride4UnitedWay
• Score4UnitedWay
• Duck Derby
• Race Day for United Way
• Volunteer Management Foundations Training Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 119 programs supported through donor contributions
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• 211 (211 Ontario)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Way Durham Region has been a long-standing partner and supporter of the 211 service for residents of Durham. 211 helps people navigate the complex network of services and supports quickly and easily, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in more than 100 languages. 211 recognizes diverse needs of Canadians including Indigenous Peoples, newcomers, and LGBTQ+ people.
• Government of CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough the Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF), a $350 million investment, United Way Durham Region administered $1,583,163.00 in critical funding to 41 community projects supporting vulnerable populations impacted by COVID-19. Additional $658,537.55 was distributed in Round 2.
• United Way Centraide CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with United Way Centraide Canada for the Community Services Recovery Fund - a $400 million investment. United Way Durham Region distributed $1,884,465.00 to 30 community service organizations across Durham Region.
• Canadian Red CrosscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership in administering the Community Services Recovery Fund. The Canadian Red Cross manages a granting stream for non-profits and training/equipment programs for registered charities.
• Community Foundations of CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership in administering the Community Services Recovery Fund. Community Foundations of Canada accepts funding applications from qualified donees through their national online portal.
• Durham Children's Aid FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through Operation BackPack - the first time these 6 organizations have coordinated efforts in a unified way. Durham Children's Aid Foundation focuses on giving kids confidence to walk into school ready to learn.
• Durham Community Health CentreflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through Operation BackPack focusing on caring for the whole person and back-to-school readiness as part of community well-being.
• Ignite Durham Learning FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through Operation BackPack working to ensure access to basic supplies impacts student confidence and ability to learn.
• Simcoe Hall Settlement HouseflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through Operation BackPack - supported nearly 1,600 students last year with goal to extend reach through coordinated regional effort.
• St. Andrew's Community Food BankflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through Operation BackPack - contributing to lift up families across the region with tangible support.
• Durhamway Bus Lines Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily owned and operated for more than 50 years, Durhamway Bus Lines supports Operation BackPack as part of their commitment to safety and development of students in Durham. Their inclusion is a logical extension of their commitment to the community.
• Staples (Oshawa and Ajax)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStaples locations in Oshawa and Ajax host Stuff the Bus events and serve as collection points for Operation BackPack school supply donations.
• Oshawa GeneralscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongstanding partnership over 75 years with local hockey team. Players serve as Scoring Ambassadors for United Way, and the Points4 program donates per point scored to support local charities.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• United Way Greater Toronto: Sister United Way chapter covering the Greater Toronto Area; uses the same federated giving model, workplace campaigns, and donor-advised fund infrastructure, making it the most directly comparable regional United Way peer.
• Durham Community Foundation: Local community foundation operating in the same Durham Region geography with a comparable pooled-giving and grantmaking model, competing for some of the same workplace and individual donor dollars.
• United Way Ottawa: Another Ontario-based regional United Way chapter operating an analogous workplace giving, agency funding, and community impact model in a different but comparable Ontario market.
• United Way Peel Region: Adjacent Greater Toronto Area United Way chapter with similar scale, demographics, and employer base; directly comparable on per-capita campaign performance and program funding structure.

Broad incumbents

• United Way Centraide Canada: National federation of which UWDR is a member; comparable in mission and federated-giving model but operates at a national scale, administering large federal programs (ECSF, CSRF) that UWDR implements locally.
• United Way Worldwide: Global parent organization of the United Way brand network; comparable mission but operates at international scale, setting brand and operational standards that UWDR follows locally.
• Community Foundations of Canada: National umbrella for community foundations; collaborates with UWDR on CSRF delivery and competes indirectly for endowment-style giving, planned gifts, and major-donor relationships.

Others

• Canadian Red Cross: Collaborative partner in administering the Community Services Recovery Fund; broader humanitarian mandate but comparable as a federally-contracted grantmaking intermediary and disaster-response funder.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/235447689858094
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/united-way-of-durham-region

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Durham Region