About

United Way has always been a leader in the community.

Our organization began in 1909 as Milwaukee’s Central Council of Philanthropies to prevent duplication and standardize delivery of human services among charitable organizations. In 1916, a committee from the Central Council proposed and implemented a plan to organize 22 philanthropic organizations in the city into a financial confederation called the Centralized Budget of Philanthropies. This fund-raising organization conducted Milwaukee’s first community-wide campaign.

Today, United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County continues to tackle big problems with big solutions.

• We championed efforts to reduce teen births in our community by 65%.
• We are the first community in the nation to have met the criteria set by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness and have ended family homelessness in two of our four counties.
• We are one of the leaders in the United Way network that is creating solutions to bridge the digital divide.

We are a trusted and effective network.

As one of the world’s largest privately funded charities, United Way Worldwide serves 37 countries and territories, making life better for 47 million people every year.

We are an independently-governed 501(c)3 nonprofit organization connected to a network of more than 1,400 local United Ways through United Way Worldwide. We have our own board of directors and focus our work on local solutions for local problems. 

United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County has been recognized nationally and locally for a high rate of efficiency and fiscal accountability. View our recent financial forms and reports.

Over the past several years, United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County has received awards from the Milwaukee Business Journal, Milwaukee BizTimes, the Waukesha County Business Alliance, and the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
 

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