Volunteer in United Way of Marathon County

simple – uniting to thrive

The history of United Way has evolved from a fundraising organization to an organization that brings all segments of the community together to look for solutions to community-wide issues. It’s not just about how much money United Way raises, or how many people are helped. That’s important – but even more important is a focused effort to address the root causes of problems like homelessness, poverty, early childhood development, abuse, and more.

Together with community partners, United Way concentrates on preventing problems while maintaining a safety net for those in need. Since 2009, that work has been guided by the “Roadmap for Change” developed by more than 100 community members who contributed hundreds of hours and many months to meetings and discussions.

In 2014, the direction first outlined in the Roadmap for Change was reaffirmed through an extensive Strategic Planning process. During that process, five key roles for United Way were identified as part of the Strategic Plan.

Convening – bringing community groups together to work on common goals
Mobilizing – supporting coalitions and building capacity with volunteers and special projects
Connecting – people to resources and volunteer opportunities
Evaluating – determining community needs and progress
Investing – in programs at area non-profits that get results

United Way’s work has expanded to include four Coalitions that work collaboratively with traditional funded partners to get results on important issues in our community.