Putting your dollars to work
United Way is dedicated to ensuring your donation is invested in the most effective and efficient way possible. We invest approximately $6 million each month in our network of almost 300 community agencies, alongside our partnerships with local governments and other key decision makers, to provide a lifeline to individuals and families, fill gaps in essential services, and meet emergency needs while driving lasting solutions to poverty. Here is how we are putting your dollars to work in community, right now.
Anchor funding
We support 69 Anchor agencies delivering almost 220 programs across Peel, Toronto and York Region. Dependable and flexible, our five-year Anchor funding equips frontline agencies with funding for both programming and core operating support – so they can meet immediate needs while building long-term capacity and solutions to move the needle on poverty and related issues in our region.
Program Funding
Through our program funding, we are investing in over 200 agencies and almost 300 programs that fight poverty’s pressing issues by empowering communities to lead local solutions across Peel, Toronto and York Region. Designed to be nimble while delivering lasting impact on current and emerging issues in the GTA, these three-year program grants target investment to the populations, geographies, and solutions at the centre of our ongoing fight against poverty.
Emergency funding
In response to the increased need caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, we set up an emergency response fund. Thanks to donors like you, we’ve invested $2.3 million in Local Love rapid response emergency funding, supporting almost 200 projects across the GTA.
Federal funding
The federal government is also responding to this unprecedented crisis with emergency funding. To deliver that funding, they looked to United Way’s trusted network. Here is how United Way Greater Toronto is working with the federal government to allocate the funding:
- We are proud to have partnered with United Way Centraide Canada and the Government of Canada to deliver the Government of Canada’s Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF) in Peel, Toronto, and York Region. Through two rounds of grants, United Way Greater Toronto approved over 425 community service agencies for a total investment of $21.1 million. With $15.7 million distributed to more than 375 community service agencies in summer 2020, we are pleased to announce the balance of funding — $5.4 million to over 150 agencies, with many continuing the great work they started – all enabling community programs and services to support individuals, families and communities made vulnerable by the pandemic or other systemic barriers.
- We are administering $850,000 in funding from the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors program. This is the GTA portion of the $9 million in funding they announced at the end of March, and we have distributed it to 45 programs across the GTA.
- We are administering federal Reaching Home investments in York Region, as part of Canada’s Homelessness Strategy. We’re committing over $6.5 million in additional emergency funds to programs that address the impacts of COVID-19 among the homeless population, women and children seeking shelter, and those sleeping rough.
Read more about what programs and services have received additional funding to meet emerging needs.