United Way of West Florida

What United Way of West Florida does

United Way of West Florida (UWWF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1924 and headquartered at 7100 Plantation Rd, Ste 18 in Pensacola, Florida, serving Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as part of the United Way Worldwide network. With 36 employees and a 100+ year operating history, UWWF functions as a regional community foundation and direct-service operator, running a portfolio that includes the 24/7 211 Northwest Florida information and referral helpline (covering 10 counties), the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, the Florida Veteran Support Line, a Community Investment grant program that deployed $675,128 to 25 partner agencies in 2025-26, signature volunteer events such as Day of Caring and Stuff the Bus, the VITA free tax-preparation program, and educational initiatives including Born Learning, Healthy Schools Escambia, Achieve Escambia, and the ALICE household-economic-stability research program.

Name

United Way of West Florida

Legal name

United Way of West Florida

Website

https://uwwf.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

United Way of West Florida is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Pensacola that funds 25 local agencies, operates the 211 Northwest Florida helpline across 10 counties, and runs the 988 Suicide Lifeline and Florida Veteran Support Line.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Community Housing Services (62422), Other Community Housing Services (624229), Other Individual and Family Services (62419), Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

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
• Crisis helpline services
• Volunteer coordination
• Community grantmaking

Headquarters

HQ city

Pensacola

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, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute gifts at various recognition levels through direct giving, workplace campaigns, and online donation portals. Donors at certain recognition levels may be acknowledged in UWWF publications, with the option to remain anonymous.
2. Corporate Sponsorships & Workplace Campaigns: Corporate partners sponsor events (Stuff the Bus, Annual Celebration) and workplace giving campaigns. Examples include HCA West Florida, Navy Federal Credit Union, Santa Rosa Energy Center, Publix, Florida Power and Light, and Kia AutoSport of Pensacola.
3. Community Investment Grants: UWWF distributes grant funding to local nonprofit agencies through its Community Investment Process. In FY23, $480,000 was awarded to 25 agencies. In 2025-26, $675,128 was invested in 25 agencies in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Grants target education, financial stability, and health programs.
4. Emergency Relief Fund: UWWF maintains an Emergency Relief Fund to meet urgent community needs quickly, such as during government shutdowns, SNAP benefit losses, or natural disasters. Donations to this fund are directed to vetted local nonprofit partners on the front lines.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

United Way of West Florida is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that mobilizes community resources through direct-service helplines (211 Northwest Florida, 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, Florida Veterans Support Line), grant funding to local nonprofit agencies, volunteer coordination events (Day of Caring, Stuff the Bus), and free tax preparation services (VITA). The organization serves as a centralized hub connecting residents in need to vetted community resources while channeling philanthropic dollars to effective local programs.

Product overview

United Way of West Florida operates a portfolio of community service programs rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include 211 Northwest Florida (a 24/7 information and referral hotline), the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, and the Florida Veterans Support Line. Additional programs include Community Investment Grants for local nonprofits, Day of Caring (volunteer event), Stuff the Bus (school supply drive), VITA free tax preparation, Mini Grants, Born Learning, Healthy Schools Escambia, Achieve Escambia, and the ALICE Program. These are community-facing programs and initiatives, not software products or platforms with technical integrations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 211 Northwest Florida: 24/7 information and referral hotline providing connections to community resources and services for Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton, and Washington counties in Florida
• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
• Florida Veteran Support Line
• Day of Caring
• Stuff the Bus
• VITA
• ALICE

Products and services

• 211 Northwest Florida 24/7 information and referral hotline connecting residents of 10 Northwest Florida counties (Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton, Washington) to community resources including emergency food, shelter, healthcare, mental health support, and disaster services through live specialists and a continuously updated resource database.
• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Free, confidential 24/7 crisis line for individuals experiencing mental health-related distress, providing immediate support, de-escalation, and safety planning by trained counselors.
• Florida Veterans Support Line Veteran-to-Veteran peer support helpline (1-844-MyFLVet) connecting veterans with fellow veterans who provide emotional support, help navigate VA benefits, and link to community resources including housing assistance.
• Community Investment Grants Annual grant funding awarded to local nonprofit agencies through a competitive volunteer-driven review process, supporting programs in education, financial stability, and health across Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. In the 2025-26 cycle, $675,128 was invested in 25 agencies.
• Day of Caring Annual single-day community-wide volunteer event connecting hundreds of volunteers with nonprofit agencies and schools to complete service projects across Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
• Stuff the Bus Annual school supply drive collecting essential school supplies at participating Walmart locations to help students in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties start the school year prepared.
• VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) Free tax preparation services for eligible individuals and families, helping taxpayers claim credits and save on preparation fees. In 2024, saved community members $200,000 in tax preparation fees.
• Mini Grants Small grant program supporting local nonprofits with quick turnaround funding for community initiatives.
• Born Learning Early childhood education initiative helping parents and caregivers create learning opportunities for young children.
• Healthy Schools Escambia School-based health and wellness program supporting student wellbeing in Escambia County schools.
• Achieve Escambia Education initiative focused on improving educational outcomes and opportunities for students in Escambia County.
• ALICE Program Research and awareness program focused on ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) households that earn above the Federal Poverty Level but below the basic cost of living, providing data and advocacy for this population.

Quantifiable outcome

• 119,590 connections made by 211 Northwest Florida in the last year
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 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

Feature5 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• HCA West FloridacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor corporate sponsor of UWWF's Stuff the Bus 2025 school supply drive. HCA West Florida's sponsorship enables the annual event that serves students across Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, providing essential school supplies to children in need.
• Navy Federal Credit UnioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of Stuff the Bus 2025 and employer participating in workplace giving campaigns. Navy Federal's Manager Todd Phillips serves as Chair of UWWF's Community Impact Committee, overseeing grant review processes.
• PublixcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of Stuff the Bus 2025. Store Manager Muriel Lawson received the Mr. George Community Service Award and serves on UWWF's Board of Directors, providing leadership on education, financial security, and health initiatives.
• Florida Power and Light (FPL)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Stuff the Bus 2025. Board member Gregory Jackson, Senior Customer Advisor at FPL, participated in UWWF's Time to Shine Tour and serves on the board, connecting FPL's community engagement with UWWF's mission.
• Kia AutoSport of PensacolacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated a new Kia Soul for UWWF's annual Kia giveaway to incentivize donors giving $250+ during fundraising campaigns. Partnership in its seventh year. Vice President and GM Jessica Lee actively participates in winner celebrations.
• Escambia County Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partner in Stuff the Bus school supply drive. Part of the annual planning committee alongside Santa Rosa County District Schools, local media, and UWWF staff/board members.
• Santa Rosa County District SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partner in Stuff the Bus school supply drive. School districts help identify student needs and coordinate distribution of supplies across the county.
• WEAR Cares, Cat Country 98.7, News Radio 92.3, Pensacola News JournalsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partners for Stuff the Bus 2025, helping promote the annual school supply drive across radio and print channels in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
• BRACE (Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUWWF funded partner and key disaster preparedness collaborator. Barbara Bailey, UWWF's Disaster and Emergency Services Coordinator, works with BRACE to coordinate relief during emergencies. UWWF staff participated in STOP THE BLEED training with BRACE. BRACE's CERT Program Manager Preston Marvel noted the partnership enables life-saving training across the community.
• Valerie's House Northwest FloridacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUWWF funded partner (5 years of partnership). Helps children and families navigate grief through peer groups and guided conversations. UWWF's Day of Caring provides volunteer support annually. Initial UWWF grant was credited for catalyzing community growth.
• Pace Center for Girls Escambia-Santa RosacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUWWF funded $16,300 in most recent grant cycle to support GED teacher salary, helping girls continue education and work toward long-term success. Part of 18-center statewide network that has served 40,000+ girls since 1985.
• E-Comfort (Epps Christian Center)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUWWF funded partner receiving $28,300 in most recent funding cycle. E-Comfort has served Pensacola's vulnerable residents since 2007, providing food boxes, hot meals, hygiene supplies, and ID assistance. UWWF funding directly enabled individuals to access insulin and medical care.
• REAP (ReEntry Alliance Pensacola)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner receiving 211 referrals. Client Gay accessed REAP's transitional housing through 211 connection, graduated after a year, and now works at REAP helping others. Example of referral pathway from crisis to stability.
• Bright Bridge MinistriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUWWF funded partner. UWWF staff volunteered during Bright Bridge's Hot, Healthy Meals service. Received $5,000 from Muriel Lawson's Mr. George Community Service Award funds. Helps families experiencing homelessness and hardship.
• Florida Department of Children and FamiliescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner in the Florida Veteran Support Line statewide program. Part of 211 provider network dedicated to helping Florida veterans, working in conjunction with Florida Department of Veterans Affairs and Crisis Center of Tampa Bay.
• Florida Department of Veterans AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner in the Florida Veteran Support Line statewide program. Florida has the third-largest veteran population in the nation with 1,750,000+ veterans. FVSL provides information, referral to VA services, and emotional support.
• Crisis Center of Tampa BaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide partner in the Florida Veteran Support Line program alongside 211 providers and state agencies. Provides crisis intervention infrastructure and training for the veteran peer support helpline.
• American Red CrosssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerUWWF refers disaster survivors to American Red Cross for post-disaster assistance. Example: The Smith family, who lost their home to fire, was connected to American Red Cross for disaster assistance through 211.
• Santa Rosa Energy CentersupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Stuff the Bus 2025 school supply drive, supporting students in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
• Galaxy Digital (Volunteer Platform)supportingTechnology or IntegrationTechnology platform used for volunteer management and engagement. UWWF's volunteer portal (uwwf.galaxydigital.com) connects volunteers with opportunities including VITA, Get Connected, and Day of Caring.
• e-Cimpact (Grant Management Portal)supportingTechnology or IntegrationGrant management system (agency.e-cimpact.com) used by funded partner agencies for reporting, compliance submissions, and communications with UWWF's Community Investment team.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Regional players

• 211 San Diego: A peer 211 information and referral operator in a different geography, demonstrating the regional 211 operator model that UWWF's 211 Northwest Florida follows. Useful operational benchmark for scale, technology, and partnership structure.
• United Way of Northeast Florida: A fellow United Way affiliate operating a similar community investment, 211, and volunteer mobilization model in a different region of Florida. Highly comparable in mission, structure, and program mix, but does not directly compete as each UW affiliate is geographically autonomous.
• United Way of Broward County: Another Florida-based United Way affiliate running 211 helplines, community grants, and volunteer programs. Comparable in scale of operations, federated giving model, and multi-county service footprint.

Broad incumbents

• United Way Worldwide: The global umbrella network to which UWWF belongs. Provides brand, shared infrastructure, and national program frameworks; operates at much larger scale and sets the playbook that local affiliates like UWWF execute.
• The Salvation Army: Large national social services and disaster relief organization with regional presence in NWFL. Comparable in addressing food insecurity, housing, and emergency assistance, and competes for similar donor and volunteer pools.
• American Red Cross: National humanitarian organization with regional chapters overlapping UWWF's service area, particularly on disaster relief and emergency preparedness. Comparable in mobilizing volunteers and corporate donations, and is a UWWF referral partner.

Direct peers

• United Way of the River Cities: A direct comparable local United Way affiliate in Huntington, West Virginia, where current UWWF CEO Laura Gilliam previously served as Executive Director for 12 years. Same United Way federation model, community investment process, and 211 operation.
• Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida: A regional faith-based social services nonprofit operating in the same NWFL geography as UWWF, providing emergency assistance, housing, and family support services. Directly comparable target population and service mix, with overlapping corporate/foundation donor pools.
• Community Foundation of Northwest Florida: A regional community foundation serving the same Escambia/Santa Rosa geography, with overlapping grant-making, donor-advised funds, and corporate partner relationships. Comparable in acting as a community resource aggregator and philanthropic intermediary.

Emerging players

• Goodwill Industries of Northwest Florida: A regional nonprofit focused on workforce development, financial stability, and community support in the same NWFL service area. Comparable in mission around financial stability and serves overlapping ALICE populations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/uwwfl

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 West Florida