Who We Are

United Way of Cumberland County fights for the health, education, financial stability, and basic needs of every person in Cumberland County. In short, United Way helps people by connecting people with resources to improve the lives of every person in our community. For a list of specific programs and services we provide, visit our What We Do section.

UWCC is a local, volunteer-led organization. They are governed by a local Board of Directors who represent many sectors within Cumberland County. The Board develops the strategic direction, sets policies, and ensures capable staffing. UWCC has full-time employees who work with the Board of Directors and other leadership and community volunteers.

UWCC is an independent and self-governed member of the United Way Worldwide network. UWCC meets the annual membership requirements and receive benefit such as training, national advertising, and public policy support. While UWCC is a member of United Way Worldwide, they are not a branch office or division of United Way Worldwide. Each United Way is independent from one another which allows them to adapt to the communities they serve.

A recent UWCC audit showed a 13.7 % administrative cost, meaning that 86.3% of dollars donated are used to provide services to people in Cumberland County. For more detailed information visit our Financials Section.

Cumberland County residents can simply dial 2-1-1, a free confidential non-emergency hotline that will connect you to local health and community resources. 2-1-1 is available 24/7/365 in more than 90 language and is also available online at www.nc211.org. When you call, specialists can connect you with important community services such as child care, rent and utility assistance, food pantries, and much more.

UWCC is an agent of change working to create long-term solutions to the challenges facing our community while working to address immediate needs. Your gift is combined with thousands of others and invested in initiatives and programs essential to achieving UWCC’s goals in health, education, financial stability, and basic needs.

Giving to UWCC is easy!! Here are three easy solutions.
1. Donate from this page by clicking onto the Donate button
2. Make a gift through payroll deductions during your company’s annual United Way campaign.
3. Mail a gift or drop by our office:
PO Box 303
Fayetteville, NC 28302

If you would like to make a contribution another way, please contact us at (910) 483-1179

UWCC takes each contribution very seriously and holds themselves to high standards. UWCC is governed by a community, volunteer-led Board of Directors and has an external audit completed annually by a reputable accounting firm. UWCC invests 100% of contributions back into the community through a vigorous volunteer-led grant review process to determine which programs will be funded. Each non-profit partner is reviewed by a panel of volunteers to ensure that funds are utilized in a way to create maximum impact in Cumberland County.

UWCC looks at the big issues that impact all aspects of the community. Instead of funding just one non-profit, gifts made directly to UWCC are distributed through a competitive grant process. This way many local programs are supported to create the broadest impact in the areas of health, education, financial stability, and basic needs. UWCC also helps build a network of non-profit organizations through our community impact partners. Although each community impact partner is focused on their specific mission, they are connected through their common goals.

If you have a special interest in one of UWCC’s impact areas – health, education, financial stability, or basic needs – you may designate your gift to that cause on your pledge form. If there is a specific program you’d like to support, you can also designate a portion of your gift.

UWCC is a federally registered 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by an individual’s or corporation’s circumstances. Those contributing through payroll deduction in their workplace should keep a copy of their pledge form and maintain their last pay stub of the year or Form W-2 from their employer that summarizes the amount withheld for UWCC. For donations received by cash, check or credit card over $10, a letter of receipt will be mailed by January 30th of each year.

Neither UWCC nor its volunteers believe people should be forced to give. We discourage coercion in any form. Any semblance of pressure (whether real, implied or perceived) is contradictory to United Way’s operating standards. If you feel that you have been pressured to give in a workplace campaign, please contact your Employee Campaign Coordinator to express your concerns or contact us at (910) 483-1179.

UWCC currently invests in 27 programs with 16 community partners. Additionally, UWW supports collaborative investment initiatives to address specific needs in the county, including 2-1-1, Dolly Parton Imagination Library, and Leadership Development Program.

Instead of focusing on one single cause, UWCC invests in a system of programs and services across the areas of health, education, financial stability, and basic needs to meet the varied need of the people in the county. United Way views these areas as interconnected. They’re often complicated with no one single solution. Therefore, UWCC invests in organizations to help them make the biggest impact possible, both independently and in partnership with each other.

Every year, organizations are eligible to apply for programmatic investment funds. A volunteer committee makes investment decisions based on an organization’s impact, alignment to UWCC’s goals and accountability. All funding is contingent upon the organization’s sound operation, delivery of services and achievement of measurable outcomes. Funded organizations then become community impact partners