Building a strong, equitable community where all families can thrive.
What We Do
At United Way of Greater Charlottesville, we help bring people, organizations, and other partners together to create a stronger, more vibrant community where everyone can reach their full potential. Our work focuses on three distinct spaces:
Learn more about our story and our impact areas here.
Our Impact
In partnership with individuals and organizations throughout Greater Charlottesville, we identify community needs, convene those closest to the issues, and collaborate on solutions to help all families thrive. In our 2024–2025 financial year, we were able to serve and engage:
223
Families
Supported through United Way transportation programs in FY2025
569
Scholarships
For year-round childcare offered in FY2025 by United Way
2,100+
Volunteers
Engaged through 115 service projects at United Way's 2025 Day of Caring
Read more about our impact in our most recent Annual Report.
*Based on the United Way of Greater Charlottesville 2024-2025 Annual Report.
Our Footprint
We serve the Thomas Jefferson Planning District, which includes the City of Charlottesville and Counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, and Nelson, plus the County of Orange. In our role as Ready Region Blue Ridge lead, we serve an additional 14 cities and counties in the Shenandoah Valley as far west as the City of Staunton and Augusta County and as far north as the City of Winchester and Frederick County.
Who We Serve
Our programs and services target the ALICE population. ALICE stands for: Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed and does not include households under the poverty threshold. The ALICE population makes up 29% of households in Virginia. Watch the video to learn more.
Registration for the 2026 Day of Caring is Now Open!
Registration is open for Volunteer Teams and Project Hosts to sign up for the 2025 United Way of Greater Charlottesville Day of Caring! Join us for our region's region’s most impactful single-day volunteer effort on September 17! Read More
Submit a Day of Caring Project to be Completed by Volunteers at the 2026 Event in September
Registration is open for Volunteer Teams and Project Hosts to sign up for the 2026 United Way of Greater Charlottesville Day of Caring! Join us for our region's most impactful single-day volunteer effort on September 16! Read MoreOur Initiatives
Many of our programs and services within our areas of impact work towards two clear initiatives that help us reach our goal of giving every family within our region the opportunity to thrive.
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Envision
In a region with daily innovations in business, technology, healthcare, and sustainability, how can it be that so many of our neighbors can't afford the essentials of life? Even with two or three jobs and a personal desire for success, financial independence continues to elude thousands of families in our area. United Way of Greater Charlottesville launched Envision in 2022 to offer new ways to solve the complex problems that perpetuate generational poverty. Read More -
Ready Region Blue Ridge
United Way of Greater Charlottesville has served as the lead organization for Ready Region Blue Ridge since our selection in 2022. Ready Region Blue Ridge is a network launched by the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation (VECF) that aims to help coordinate early education programs with families in every community across Virginia by strengthening quality, building relationships, increasing access, and engaging families. Read More
News & Updates
Listen to Envision Radio Episode 221 With Guest Latara S. Ragland
On this episode of Envision Radio, Markiana and Price chat with Latara Ragland of the Community Attention Youth Internship Program (CAYIP). Read More
Listen to Envision Radio Episode 220 With Guest Athena Gould
Markiana and Price welcome guest Athena Gould of Virginia Humanities to the Envision Radio studio Read More
Listen to Envision Radio Episode 219 With Guest Troy Robinson
On this episode of Envision Radio, Markiana and Price chat with Troy Robinson, co-owner of Order Up! Cville. Read More
Listen to Envision Radio Episode 218 With Guest Chacha Mahiri
Markiana and Price chat with guest Chacha Mahiri of Charlottesville Redevelopment & Housing Authority on this episode of the Envision Radio. Read More
Listen to Envision Radio Episode 217 With Guest Shantel Hopkins
This week on Envision Radio, Markiana and Price chat with guest Shantel Hopkins of the Fountain Fund. Read More
Congratulations to the Graduates of the June 2026 ELCL Cohort!
Congratulations with the graduates of the third Early Learning Career Launch (ELCL) program cohort who are kickstarting their careers as early childhood educators and caregivers! Read More
Listen to Envision Radio Episode 216 With Guest Toyosi Ogunseye
Markiana and Price chat with storied journalist Toyosi Ogunseye, now of The Presidential Precinct, on this episode of Envision Radio. Read More
Listen to Envision Radio Episode 215 With Guest Atalaya Sergi
On this episode of Envision Radio, Markiana and Price chat with guest Atalaya Sergi of the Albemarle Foundation for Education. Read More
Nominate Someone for a 2026 Caring for Community Award
Nominate individuals and organizations making significant positive impacts in our region for a 2026 Caring for Community Award–nominations close July 17! Read More
Listen to Envision Radio Episode 214 With Guest Cassidy Dyce
In this week's episode Envision Radio, Markiana and Price chat with guest Cassidy Dyce, writer, storyteller and co-author of the graphic novel "The Brainstormerz: Money Talks." Read More
United Way of Greater Charlottesville Awards $100,000 in Grants to Support the Creation of 105+ New Student Slots at Regional Childcare Centers
United Way of Greater Charlottesville is thrilled to announce that we have awarded $100,000 to early childhood… Read More
Listen to Envision Radio Episode 213 With Guest Tracey Howard-Gough
This week on Envision Radio Markiana and Price chat with guest Tracey Howard-Gough, co-founder of Knot Broken. They… Read More
Women United Awards $60,000 in Grants to Nonprofits Supporting Women and Children in Greater Charlottesville
Women United is excited to announce that it will award $60,000 in funding for local nonprofits serving women and children through its annual grants program. Read More
Listen to Envision Radio Episode 212 With Guest Leontyne Peck
On this episode of Envision Radio, Markiana and Price chat with guest Leontyne Peck–celebrated educator, author, film creator and speaker. Read More
Listen to Envision Radio Episode 211 With Guest Nakesha White
Join Markiana and Price as they chat with Nakesha White of Royalty Eats in this episode of Envision Radio. Read More
Listen to Envision Radio Episode 210 With Guest Carla Hallman
Markiana and Price chat with Carla Hallman of Farmington Country Club in this episode of Envision Radio. Read More
Eligible Small Businesses in Charlottesville and Albemarle Can Apply for $10,000 Envision Enterprise Grant Funding
Eligible small businesses in the Greater Charlottesville region are encouraged to apply for an Envision Enterprise $10,000 grant by Friday, May 22. Read More
Listen to Envision Radio Episode 209 With Guest Leon Henry
Markiana and Price chat with Leon Henry, Director of Social Services with the City of Charlottesville, on this episode of Envision Radio. Read More
Listen to Envision Radio Episode 208 With Guest Yvonnia Bryant
On this episode of Envision Radio, Markiana and Price welcome guest Yvonnia Bryant from the Community Investment Collaborative (CIC). Read More
Charting a Course for the Future of our Region with the Tom Tom Foundation
United Way cohosted the Civic Futures Summit at the 2026 Tom Tom Festival, convening more than 500 local leaders to discuss Charlottesville's future. Read More
The Jefferson School & United Way: A Legacy of Impact on Greater Charlottesville’s Stories
To celebrate 100 years of the Jefferson School, we spoke to Kimberly Sheffield, Executive Director of the Jefferson School Foundation, about the importance of storytelling and how they're celebrating the school's century of impact. Read More
Rod & Gaines’s Story: Neighbors Helping Neighbors Out of the Snow
Rod and Gaines Ballard were some of the Greater Charlottesville community members who volunteered with United Way to shovel snow for their neighbors. Read More
Early Learning Career Launch & Piedmont Family YMCA: Celebrating Our Community’s New Educators
Graduates of the Early Learning Career Launch (ELCL) program have kickstarted their careers as early educators with Piedmont Family YMCA at the new Sentara location! Read More
TamYon’s Story: Tam’s Toddler Town Childcare is Small Yet Mighty
We chat with TamYon Williams, owner and founder of Tam's Toddler Town Childcare and a recipient of an FY25 School Readiness Impact Grant, about her experience working in childcare. Read More
Dorian’s Story: From a “Dreamer” to a First-Time Homebuyer With the Help of United Way of Greater Charlottesville
"Thank you for making it possible for me to say, with pride and joy, I own my first home. Your work, your donations, your belief in programs like these—it all matters more than you know." Read More