United Way of Greater New Haven Inc

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $9,889,229 (FY 2023)
Total Assets: $7,621,027
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:

General inquiries: webmaster@uwgnh.org
Donation questions: donation@uwgnh.org

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 organisation has served the Greater New Haven community for over a century. The organisation 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 organisations together to create solutions to the region's most pressing challenges in education, health, and financial stability, grounded in racial and social justice. The organisation directly operates programmes like Early Head Start and the Greater New Haven Coordinated Access Network (serving homeless populations) while also providing grants to community organisations. The organisation 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 Programmes

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: Organisations with an existing employment programme 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 childcare programmes with specific ideas for programme 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/centres and family childcare programmes to expand early care and education availability
Application Method: Annual granting opportunity

Summer Youth Fund

Total Pool: Approximately $225,000 distributed annually amongst multiple organisations (2023: 32 agencies received grants)
Purpose: Ensure children and youth from low-income families in Greater New Haven have access to high-quality summer programmes
Geographic Eligibility: New Haven, Hamden, Branford, East Haven, and West Haven
Priority: Programmes 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: Organisations 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™ programme (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 programmes
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 programmes administered by United Way (EFSP):

Funds cannot substitute for other programme funds or start entirely new programmes
Not for singular events, special celebratory events, or holiday baskets
Supplemental funds may not exceed 49% of a programme 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
Organisations that discriminate based on protected characteristics

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

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Jennifer Heath, President & CEO

Jennifer Heath leads the organisation 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 neighbours 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 organisations 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 organisations, reflecting the organisation's collaborative approach.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

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

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

For General Community Partnership: Organisations interested in financial support for existing or new community programmes 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: Organisations must be qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organisations. United Way's programme investments are made by volunteer experts who annually evaluate community programmes.

Decision Timeline

Thriving Families Fund:

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

Summer Youth Fund:

Application deadline: Early April

Early Care and Education Grants:

Annual cycle with awards announced in early calendar year

Specific decision timelines vary by programme. Organisations 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 organisations totalling $225,000, indicating competitive but accessible funding for qualifying programmes.

Reapplication Policy

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

Application Success Factors

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

Alignment with Strategic Focus Areas: The organisation prioritises 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 emphasises the organisation's commitment to "creating a future of greater opportunity and true equity for all people living in our community." Applications should demonstrate how programmes address racial and social justice.

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

Geographic Focus: Organisations 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 programme investments are made by a group of volunteer experts" who evaluate programmes, 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 organisations and community members together." Applications that demonstrate collaborative partnerships may be favoured.

Examples of Funded Work: During the COVID-19 response, United Way funded organisations like Agency on Ageing 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 programmes addressing immediate needs.

Barrier Removal Focus: The Thriving Families Fund specifically supports removing barriers (transportation, childcare, technology) rather than just programme 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
Emphasise equity: Explicitly address how your programme advances racial and social justice and creates opportunities for historically marginalised communities
Stay informed: Sign up for the Community Impact Newsletter to receive timely notifications about grant opportunities, as different programmes have different cycles throughout the year
Build relationships first: For organisations 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 organisations strengthens applications
Geographic specificity matters: Different grant programmes serve different geographic footprints within the 12-town area (e.g., Summer Youth Fund focuses on five towns whilst other programmes serve all 12)
Match the right programme: United Way offers multiple distinct grant programmes; carefully review which programme best fits your organisation's work rather than applying to all opportunities

References

All information accessed December 2025.

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United Way Of Greater New Haven Inc