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United Way Of Greater New Haven Inc

Annual Giving
$12.6M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.0M

United Way of Greater New Haven Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Revenue: $12,642,278 (FY 2024)
  • Total Assets: $9,138,908
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $25,000 (Thriving Families Fund)
  • Geographic Focus: 12 towns in Greater New Haven, CT
  • Founded: 1920

Contact Details

Address: 370 James Street, Suite 403, New Haven, CT 06513

Phone: 203-772-2010

Fax: 203-773-0332

Email:

Website: www.uwgnh.org

Hours: Monday through Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm

Community Impact Team: For grant inquiries, contact the Community Impact Team through the website

Early Childhood Grants: Contact Claire Kaiser, Director of Early Childhood Initiatives, at ckaiser@uwgnh.org

Summer Youth Fund: Contact Laura Callachan at lcallachan@uwgnh.org

Overview

Founded in 1920 as the Community Chest of Greater New Haven, this organization has served the Greater New Haven community for over a century. The organization underwent rebranding in 1951 to become the United Fund of Greater New Haven, and adopted its current name in 1971 following a merger with the Community Council. United Way of Greater New Haven brings people and organizations together to create solutions to the region's most pressing challenges in education, health, and financial stability, grounded in racial and social justice. With annual revenue of $12.6 million (FY 2024), the organization directly operates programs like Early Head Start and the Greater New Haven Coordinated Access Network (serving homeless populations) while also providing grants to community organizations. The organization innovated charitable giving in the 1950s by introducing payroll deduction, a practice that continues today and serves as a major revenue source.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Thriving Families Fund

  • Amount: $5,000 - $25,000
  • Purpose: Provides flexible funds to existing workforce service providers to remove barriers for job seekers (transportation, childcare expenses, stipends, technology needs, job search support, uniforms)
  • Eligibility: Organizations with an existing employment program in Greater New Haven designed to connect job seekers to employment
  • Application Method: Annual application cycle with specific deadline

Early Care and Education Enhancement Grants

  • Purpose: Directed to child care programs with specific ideas for program enhancement and/or quality improvement
  • Funding Source: Federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds from the City of New Haven
  • Application Method: Annual granting opportunity

Early Care and Education Expansion Grants

  • Purpose: For both group homes/centers and family child care programs to expand early care and education availability
  • Application Method: Annual granting opportunity

Summer Youth Fund

  • Total Pool: Approximately $225,000 distributed annually among multiple organizations (2023: 32 agencies received grants)
  • Purpose: Ensure children and youth from low-income families in Greater New Haven have access to high-quality summer programs
  • Geographic Eligibility: New Haven, Hamden, Branford, East Haven, and West Haven
  • Priority: Programs accessible to young people from low-income families offering academic enrichment, skill-building, and personal development
  • Application Deadline: Typically early April

General Community Impact Funding

  • Application Method: Organizations interested in becoming community partners should contact the Community Impact Team
  • Communication: Grant opportunities are communicated through the Community Impact Newsletter

Priority Areas

United Way of Greater New Haven focuses on three main areas:

Education

  • Early childhood development through Success By 6™ program (launched 2003)
  • Early Head Start programming (directly operated)
  • Summer youth programming
  • Academic enrichment and skill-building for youth

Economic Mobility/Financial Stability

  • Workforce development and job training
  • Employment barriers removal
  • Basic needs services for ALICE families (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed)

Health and Housing

  • Ending chronic homelessness through Greater New Haven Coordinated Access Network (CAN), established 2014
  • Food security and emergency food/shelter programs
  • Basic health needs

Cross-Cutting Focus

  • Racial and social justice
  • Community engagement and collective action

What They Don't Fund

Based on limited publicly available information, the following restrictions apply to federal programs administered by United Way (EFSP):

  • Funds cannot substitute for other program funds or start entirely new programs
  • Not for singular events, special celebratory events, or holiday baskets
  • Supplemental funds may not exceed 49% of a program budget
  • Not intended to be held or reserved for future use

Standard United Way exclusions typically include (though not explicitly confirmed for this chapter):

  • Political causes, candidates, or campaigns
  • Religious purposes or sectarian activities
  • Individual needs such as scholarships
  • Organizations that discriminate based on protected characteristics

Note: For comprehensive funding exclusions, organizations should contact United Way of Greater New Haven directly.

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Jennifer Heath, President & CEO

Jennifer Heath leads the organization with a vision focused on community transformation. Key quotes from Heath include:

  • "My goal is really to create amazing change in the community. My vision is that we would be in a community where people are not just surviving, but are thriving."

  • "The pandemic has shown us clearly that too many of our neighbors have been struggling to survive; United Way of Greater New Haven is focused on helping families in our community not just survive, but thrive."

  • "At United Way, we believe that by investing in early education, we empower children with the tools they need to thrive academically and succeed in life."

  • "United Way continues to be called upon as a convenor and coordinator to bring organizations and community members together to design and implement solutions to key community needs."

  • "We are committed to creating a future of greater opportunity and true equity for all people living in our community."

Senior Leadership Team

  • Maria Arnold – Chief Advancement Officer
  • Rachel Anastasio, CPA, MBA – Chief Financial Officer
  • Shelly Hicks – Vice President of Education
  • Kelly Fitzgerald – Vice President of Economic Mobility
  • Aly Fox – Vice President of Community & Belonging

Board of Directors

Chair: Annie Merkle-Ward, The AMI Solution, Inc.

Board Members (with affiliations):

  • Jenna Allegretto – CBIZ
  • Allison Batson – CT State Community College
  • Jillian Bontempo – Yale University
  • Alan Bowie – Simon & Schuster
  • Lorenzo Boyd – University of New Haven
  • Chris Brown – Yale University
  • Heather Calabrese – Community Member (former Chief Operating Officer of United Way of Greater New Haven)
  • Jennifer Cinque – University of New Haven
  • Jodie Driscoll – Harris Beach Murtha
  • David Henry – Surge Institute
  • Beverly Hodgson – Beverly Hodgson Mediation
  • Frank Mathew – Yale University
  • Judith Meyers – Meyers Philanthropy Advisors
  • Tameika Miller – Boys and Girls Club of Greater New Haven
  • Karen Peart – Yale University
  • Lenny Rodriguez – Avangrid
  • Steve Solecki – Bank of America
  • Pamela Sutton-Wallace – Yale New Haven Health System
  • Caroline Tanbee Smith – New Haven Board of Alders

The board includes strong representation from Yale University, major corporations, and community organizations, reflecting the organization's collaborative approach.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

United Way of Greater New Haven operates through multiple grant programs, each with its own application process:

For Specific Grant Programs: Applications are released annually for programs like Thriving Families Fund, Summer Youth Fund, and Early Care and Education grants. Application materials are posted on the organization's website when cycles open.

For General Community Partnership: Organizations interested in financial support for existing or new community programs should contact the Community Impact Team directly through the website contact form at uwgnh.org/community-partners.

Communication: Sign up for the Community Impact Newsletter at uwgnh.org/community-impact-bulletin-sign to receive updates about grant opportunities in financial stability, food security, housing/homelessness, education, childcare, and community engagement.

Requirements: Organizations must be qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. United Way's program investments are made by volunteer experts who annually evaluate community programs.

Decision Timeline

Thriving Families Fund:

  • Application deadline: Late April
  • Grant period: June 1 - May 31

Summer Youth Fund:

  • Application deadline: Early April (April 4, 2025 for current cycle)
  • Awards announced: Typically by late spring/early summer

Early Care and Education Grants:

  • Annual cycle with awards announced in early calendar year

Specific decision timelines vary by program. Organizations should refer to individual grant opportunity announcements for precise timelines.

Success Rates

Specific success rate data is not publicly available. However, the 2023 Summer Youth Fund awarded grants to 32 organizations totaling $225,000, indicating competitive but accessible funding for qualifying programs.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly available. Organizations should contact the relevant program director for guidance on reapplying.

Application Success Factors

Based on United Way of Greater New Haven's stated priorities and funded programs:

Alignment with Strategic Focus Areas: The organization prioritizes education (particularly early childhood), economic mobility, and health/housing. Strong applications demonstrate clear alignment with these themes.

Equity and Justice Lens: President & CEO Jennifer Heath emphasizes the organization's commitment to "creating a future of greater opportunity and true equity for all people living in our community." Applications should demonstrate how programs address racial and social justice.

Service to ALICE Families: United Way of Greater New Haven focuses on ALICE families (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). Programs serving this population are prioritized.

Geographic Focus: Organizations must serve one or more of the 12 towns in United Way's service area: Bethany, Branford, East Haven, Guilford, Hamden, Madison, New Haven, North Branford, North Haven, Orange, West Haven, and Woodbridge.

Measurable Impact: As stated on their FAQ page, "United Way's program investments are made by a group of volunteer experts" who evaluate programs, suggesting that demonstrable outcomes and evaluation capacity are important.

Collaborative Approach: Heath notes that "United Way continues to be called upon as a convenor and coordinator to bring organizations and community members together." Applications that demonstrate collaborative partnerships may be favored.

Examples of Funded Work: During the COVID-19 response, United Way funded organizations like Agency on Aging of South Central Connecticut ($20,000 for meal delivery), APNH ($20,000 for meal purchases), and Believe in Me Empowerment Corporation ($15,000 for food and basic needs), indicating support for direct service programs addressing immediate needs.

Barrier Removal Focus: The Thriving Families Fund specifically supports removing barriers (transportation, childcare, technology) rather than just program operations, suggesting United Way values flexible, responsive programming.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Focus on one of three core areas: Education (especially early childhood), economic mobility/financial stability, or health/housing, with an emphasis on serving ALICE families in the 12-town service area
  • Emphasize equity: Explicitly address how your program advances racial and social justice and creates opportunities for historically marginalized communities
  • Stay informed: Sign up for the Community Impact Newsletter to receive timely notifications about grant opportunities, as different programs have different cycles throughout the year
  • Build relationships first: For organizations new to United Way, consider contacting the Community Impact Team to discuss partnership opportunities before an application cycle opens
  • Demonstrate collaborative capacity: United Way values its role as a convener and coordinator, so showing willingness to collaborate with other organizations strengthens applications
  • Geographic specificity matters: Different grant programs serve different geographic footprints within the 12-town area (e.g., Summer Youth Fund focuses on five towns while other programs serve all 12)
  • Match the right program: United Way offers multiple distinct grant programs; carefully review which program best fits your organization's work rather than applying to all opportunities

References

All information accessed December 2025.

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