Community Impact Report

Leveraging Local Expertise

Local United Way Centraides (UWCs) are part of the fabric of the communities they serve. Each one has an intimate knowledge of the local issues and strong connections to local service networks.

Recognizing the value of this expertise, the Government of Canada selected United Way Centraide Canada as one of three organizations trusted to deliver the $350M Emergency Community Support Fund.

The efforts to flatten the curve of COVID-19 put community organizations in a tough spot – scrambling to deliver services under strict public health guidelines to an increasing number of people who needed help as traditional sources of fundraising dropped.

Our network of UWCs used their local understanding to make rapid, informed decisions to distribute funds that would provide emergency relief to those who need it most.

The most frequently funded service categories were social inclusion and learning, mental health and wellness, and food security. Additionally, this program prioritized equitable funding practices to ensure that organizations serving mostly Black, Indigenous, and people of colour – in response to the disproportionate impact of COVID on these communitites – were able to access funding.