United Way of Will County

What United Way of Will County does

United Way of Will County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1936 (as the Joliet Community Chest) and headquartered at 54 North Ottawa Street, Suite 300, Joliet, Illinois. It serves Will County residents — a community where more than 200,000 people struggle annually to afford basic human needs — through three focus areas: health and wellness, youth opportunity, and financial stability. Since May 2021, leadership has been provided by President & CEO Kamala Martinez (Sarah Oprzedek is also referenced in FY26 grant materials as President & CEO), with a four-person staff executing programs.

The organization runs a portfolio of community service programs rather than a unified software product. Core service offerings include the 211 Helpline (a free, multilingual, 24/7 information and referral service launched June 2022 indexing 445 agencies and 2,130 services), Diaper Depot (286,884 diapers distributed since 2018), Community Impact Grants ($1,021,000 distributed to 43 nonprofit partners across 70 programs in FY26), and the Resilient Youth K-12 wellness curriculum (delivered via an $884,000 SAMHSA award). The organization also serves as Lead Agency for the Will County Continuum of Care, coordinating homelessness prevention across Will, Kendall, and Grundy Counties.

Revenue is generated through individual donations (Pillars Society tiers from $1,000 to $10,000+), corporate workplace giving campaigns, event sponsorships (Golftoberfest, Spirit of Giving, 90th Anniversary Celebration), and government pass-through grants (DHS/FEMA Emergency Food & Shelter funds, SAMHSA, ARPA). Marketing and distribution rely on the organization's website (uwwill.org), media partnerships (Herald-News, Farmers Weekly Review, WJOL radio), and a network of 43 community grant partners. United Way of Will County is independently certified by United Way Worldwide (2023) and holds a Charity Navigator transparency seal.

Name

United Way of Will County

Legal name

United Way of Will County

Website

https://uwwill.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1936

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

United Way of Will County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1936, headquartered in Joliet, Illinois, that funds and operates community health, youth, and financial stability programs for Will County residents through grants to 43 nonprofit partners, a 211 Helpline, and federal pass-through funding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Human Services Nonprofit

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

Keywords

• Community fundraising
• Grant-making services
• Human services nonprofit
• Information and referral
• Volunteer coordination

Headquarters

HQ city

Joliet

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: Individual donors contribute through one-time donations, monthly recurring gifts, payroll deduction, and birthday giving programs. Donors giving $1,000+ annually join the Pillars Society recognition program.
2. Corporate Employee Giving Campaigns: Businesses conduct workplace giving campaigns where employees pledge donations, often through payroll deduction, to support United Way's community programs.
3. Event Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships for events including the Annual Golf Outing (Golftoberfest), 90th Anniversary Celebration, and Spirit of Giving holiday event provide revenue through various sponsorship tiers.
4. Partnership Programs: Partnerships with healthcare programs like SingleCare and FamilyWize provide prescription savings to the community while generating awareness and engagement.
5. Community Grants: United Way distributes grants funded by donations to 70 programs across 43 nonprofit partners, focusing on health and wellness, youth opportunity, and financial stability.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

United Way of Will County is a community-impact nonprofit that raises funds through individual, corporate, and workplace giving campaigns and redistributes those funds as Community Impact grants to vetted local nonprofit partners. It also operates direct-service programs such as the 211 Helpline information-and-referral service (connecting residents to 445 partner agencies and 2,130 services), the Diaper Depot, the Resilient Youth program, the Pillars Society giving circle, and signature fundraisers such as Golftoberfest and the 90th Anniversary Celebration. The organization serves Will County, Illinois residents, donors, volunteers, and partner agencies.

Product overview

United Way of Will County is a nonprofit charitable organization offering a portfolio of community service programs rather than a unified software product. Core services include the 211 Helpline (24/7 information/referral service), Diaper Depot (free diaper distribution), Community Impact Grants (annual grantmaking to 43 nonprofit partners), and the Resilient Youth Program (K-12 mental wellness curriculum). Additional programs include volunteer coordination via an Online Volunteer Center, the SingleCare Prescription Savings partnership, emergency disaster relief funds, and the Continuum of Care homelessness prevention initiative. The organization also hosts fundraising events including Golftoberfest and Spirit of Giving. Donor engagement is facilitated through the Pillars Society leadership giving program and Women United initiative.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 211 Helpline: Free, multi-lingual, confidential, 24-hour information and referral service connecting residents to health and human services.
• Spirit of Giving
• Pillars Society
• Diaper Depot
• Resilient Youth
• Women United

Products and services

• 211 Helpline

Quantifiable outcome

• 157,927 people served in FY2025 through programs facilitated or supported by United Way of Will County
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 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

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Farmers Weekly ReviewminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 October 2025Co-marketing partnership for Harvest of Hope fall fundraising campaign supporting 70 essential programs across 43 local nonprofits.
• SingleCarecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 November 2021Partnership providing free SingleCare prescription savings cards to Will County residents, helping uninsured and under-insured individuals save on medications. Has delivered $5 million in prescription savings to the community. Cards are available at pharmacies and through United Way distribution.
• Elevate HopeminorOthersUnited Way donates 10,000 diapers monthly to Elevate Hope's Diaper Depot program, allowing distribution of 25 diapers per child per month to families.
• ConstellationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor for the 2026 Golftoberfest Annual Golf Outing, supporting community programs for Will County neighbors.
• Community Foundation of Will CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to administer the Will County COVID-19 Response Fund, uniting local funds and disbursing to nonprofit organizations serving Will County residents during the pandemic.
• Will County Center for Community Concerns (WCCCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrevious Lead Agency for the Will County Continuum of Care for 22 years. Transitioned leadership to United Way of Will County in June 2022.
• NuMark Credit UnionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner participating in annual CU Kind Day community service, volunteering with local nonprofits including United Way initiatives.
• The Herald-NewsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner for Herald Angels holiday campaign raising record donations ($20,017 in 2024) for United Way of Will County.
• Trinity ServicescoreOthersLong-term community support services partner receiving United Way grants for homeless assistance and mental health counseling services on a sliding-scale basis.
• Habitat for Humanity of Will CountyminorOthersPartnership providing homeownership opportunities. United Way has allocated $514,252 to Habitat programs since 1992.
• Lockport Township High School District 205minorOthersSchool district that adopted the Resilient Youth evidence-based curriculum in 2020, which remains part of their physical education and health classes.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• United Way of Metropolitan Chicago: Another local United Way affiliate operating in the same model of workplace giving, grantmaking to partner nonprofits, and 211 helpline services, but serving the broader Chicago metro area including collar counties adjacent to Will County. Same brand, similar programs, larger geography.
• United Way of Lake County (Illinois): Adjacent Illinois United Way affiliate operating similar workplace giving, community grants, and direct-service programs (e.g., 211, diaper distribution, youth programs) in Lake County, sharing regional funders and employer partnerships.
• Will County Center for Community Concerns (WCCCC): Former Lead Agency for the Will County Continuum of Care (succeeded by UWWC in June 2022 after 22 years) and ongoing local social services provider. Directly comparable as a Will County nonprofit delivering community assistance and housing support.
• United Way of DuPage and West Cook: Sibling United Way affiliate serving DuPage and western Cook counties in Illinois. Same fundraising (workplace giving, Pillars-style leadership giving), grantmaking, and 211 service model; comparable organizational scale and headcount.
• Habitat for Humanity of Will County: Long-tenured Will County UWWC funded partner ($514K+ since 1992) delivering housing/homeownership services. Directly comparable Will County human-services nonprofit competing for the same UWWC community grants and donor base.
• Trinity Services: United Way-funded Will County nonprofit delivering homeless assistance and sliding-scale mental health counseling. Comparable Will County human-services provider funded through the same grant pipeline (FY26 community grants).
• Northern Illinois Food Bank: Funded United Way of Will County partner delivering food acquisition and distribution in Will County. Larger regional hunger-relief nonprofit with overlapping food pantry and meal program footprint and a similar donor/grantor mix.
• Community Foundation of Will County: Local community foundation operating in the same Will County geography with an overlapping grantmaking and donor-advised fund model. Co-administered the COVID-19 Response Fund with UWWC; competes for the same corporate and major-donor philanthropic dollars.

Regional players

• United Way of Kankakee County: Smaller Illinois United Way affiliate serving Kankakee and Iroquois counties with the same workplace-giving and community-grant model. Comparable scale and program mix, separate geography just south of Will County.

Broad incumbents

• United Way Worldwide: The umbrella organization of the United Way network of which United Way of Will County is a member. Sets standards (membership certification), provides brand licensing, and aggregates national campaigns; not a direct fundraiser in Will County.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCQviSlM9Phn_Sr1d5io-JNQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/uwwill
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/united-way-of-will-county

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Will County