United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region is an independent 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that serves as a vital platform for our community. We bring together individuals, businesses, and other organizations to invest resources, provide funding, and create volunteer opportunities to address our area's most pressing needs. We are the place where local philanthropy turns into local action.

You are investing in the strength and stability of the entire Dutchess-Orange community. Every dollar raised here supports various local programs, initiatives, programs, initiatives, and collaborations.

Our mission is to fight for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in our community. Specifically, your donation helps us:

• Ensure people can meet basic needs during a crisis or disaster
• Help children and youth achieve their potential through quality education
• Support families in their journey toward financial stability and independence
• Improve the overall health of our residents

When you give to the Community Fund, you're supporting lasting, comprehensive change. We don't just provide temporary fixes; we tackle the underlying causes of community problem.

We convene experts and vet programs to ensure funding goes to initiatives achieving measurable results in the most critical areas. Your donation to the Community Fund provides comprehensive solutions that no organization can achieve alone. Our unique model allows every dollar donated to make up to 4x the impact in our community.

We are the all-encompassing nonprofit leader for community support in the Dutchess and Orange counties. Our role is to convene, fund, and lead efforts that support individuals in need and empower other organizations and businesses to make the greatest possible difference.

Yes! We do. In addition to funding our partner agencies, we manage and operate key programs and resources, including:

• Hudson Valley Region 2-1-1: A vital information and referral service.
• Hudson Valley CA$H: Free tax preparation services for working families.
• Mission United: Dedicated support services for local veterans.
• Crisis & Emergency Funds: Our Crisis Intervention Fund and Disaster Response Funds.
• Volunteer & Supply Programs include our Days of Caring, supply drives, and our Essential Needs Supply Hub

The local community drives our funding decisions. We bring together over 200 volunteer community leaders annually to review critical issues and evaluate all funding applications. These volunteers make recommendations to our local Board of Directors for final approval. This ensures our investments are transparent, locally focused, and responsive to the community's urgent needs.

We provide funding for specific programs are projects that align with our mission, rather than "blanket funding" for operations. Organizations apply for funding through a competitive process. Our volunteers rate requests based on the program's ability to:

• Meet a critical need within our four focus areas: health, education, financial stability, and veteran support.
• Demonstrate a positive, measurable impact on the community.
• Maintain a responsible budget and an annual audit.
• Operate as an effective and efficient service provider.

We believe in accountability and partnership. We enter into a formal contract with every funded partner and conduct ongoing oversight throughout the contract term. This includes site visits, required biannual performance reports, and frequent communication. We also provide technical assistance to ensure programs progress effectively toward their goal.

You have several easy ways to give:

• Online: Donate directly through our website at uwdor.org/donate.
• Workplace Campaign: Participate in a United Way Campaign at your job.
• Stock/Securities: Call 845-471-1900 ext.3121 for information on giving a gift of stock.

Yes, you have choices on how your money is used:

• United Way Community Fund: This is the most effective way to help the most significant number of people by addressing the most pressing, interconnected needs.
• Designations: You can direct a portion of your gift to any 501(c)3 organization, including environmental groups, arts organizations, schools, or churches. Designated payments are made directly to the chosen organization in installments.

We are an independent, locally governed organization. A local board of directors sets our operations, funding decisions, and priorities, comprising of volunteers across Dutchess and Orange county.

However, as a United Way Worldwide and United Way of New York State member, we benefit from a vast network. This relationship gives us access to best practices, proven program models, training, and global resources that increase our local impact and operational efficiency.