Our Mission

What We Do

United Way works to bring the whole community together to create long-term, lasting change in conditions like poverty, violence and isolation. We strengthen the lives of people, from children to seniors, through partnerships, programs and community initiatives that deliver tangible results.

How We Do It

Our volunteer base is more than 500-people strong. Together, we act for the good of our whole community and everyone in it. We start by helping the people of Lincoln and Lancaster County identify and prioritize community goals - whether it's shelter for displaced families or health and nutrition for seniors. We then work to help them achieve those goals by bringing together the right people, ideas, and resources to do what matters most.

Our Difference

Most charities focus on a single group or issue. United Way tackles issues for the entire community. One powerful idea guides our work. It takes all parts of a community working together to create real, measurable change in people's lives.

What Does This Mean To A Donor

A community working together, drawing on the talents and skills of all individuals brings about positive change. The annual United Way campaign is a great example of community building itself, tapping into the resources and caring of the whole community. It means that your contributions to the United Way campaign will have the greatest impact on our community, making a difference in the lives of children, families and neighborhoods. If you don't find the information you need about United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster County on this website, call 402-441-7700 for assistance.

About Will Power

Did you know that more than 60 percent of American's die without a will? If you have not organized your estate plan, we encourage you to do so. This is the best place to start with gift planning. Will power - that's what you have when you write your will! Power to use your accumulated assets to provide for your loved ones as you see fit, rather than as the government determines. Power to ease the transition for those who survive you. Power to fund community programs that you support now. Power to revise your plans. A will is fully changeable while you live - You retain control. That's Power!

History

Since 1923, United Way and its predecessor organizations, the Charity Organization Society and the Community Chest, have provided an effective system for supporting local voluntary health and human services in Lincoln and Lancaster County.

United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster County is a volunteer-driven organization. Each year, hundreds of individuals donate their time to make United Way work for all of us. United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster County has a small full-time staff who support volunteers in policy making, fundraising, fund distribution, and our internal operations. The specific purpose of United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster County include:

1. To assess, on a continuing basis, the need for human service programs, to seek solutions to human problems, to assist in the development of new or the expansion of existing human service programs, to promote preventive activities, and to foster cooperation among local, state, and national agencies serving the community.

2. To develop as fully as possible the financial resources, both governmental and voluntary, needed to meet the human service needs of the community and reduce the number of appeals for financial support for services.

3. To deploy United Way financial support so as to maximize the resources available to agencies for services aimed at the most urgent current needs of the community.

4. To muster community support and commitment for the entire United Way system through a communications program which both speaks and listens to the community.

5. To manage United Way operations effectively and to offer assistance to agencies wishing to improve their management skills.