For more than 95 years, no other nonprofit organization in the area has taken such a broad, objective view of the community as a whole like we do at United Way of Southeast Louisiana. We spend a great deal of time identifying, assessing and monitoring the most pressing needs in our region.
We then fund programs, support collaborations, convene experts, advocate for change and foster new and needed community services to address the issues based on best practices. We work tirelessly to provide quality health and human services for our community and measure the results to ensure we are making a difference.
We’re motivated and committed to improving lives. But we can’t do it alone…what this place needs is YOU! Investors, advocates and volunteers like you are helping every day to advance the quality of life for thousands of individuals and the region as a whole.
Great things happen when we work together. You can GIVE. You can ADVOCATE. You can VOLUNTEER!
Our Mission
To Eradicate Poverty in Southeast Louisiana.
About Us
Since 1924, the United Way of Southeast Louisiana has been a key force in addressing the most heartfelt and necessary issues of the communities we serve. Through the commitment of volunteer leadership, our United Way has worked to raise both awareness of needs and the funds necessary to address those needs.
Statement of Diversity
The Core Values of United Way of Southeast Louisiana represent our highest priorities and deeply held beliefs. Respect for individuals and the value that each team member brings to the organization is an inherent part of our Core Values.
We recognize that having a diverse organization allows us to benefit from a variety of perspectives and strengthens our ability to achieve our mission. The Board of Trustees and the senior leadership of this United Way are committed to demonstrating respect and appreciation of the differences in age, race, gender, nationality, sexual orientation, physical ability, and cultural backgrounds within our United Way organization and will continue to bring together unique individual backgrounds to collectively and more effectively address the issues facing our community.
History of United Way
The United Way began 1887 in Denver when a priest, a rabbi and a minister recognized the need for cooperative action to address their city’s welfare problems, a result of the thousands of families who came to Colorado during the Gold Rush. They formed the Charity Organization Society of Denver, which sought to coordinate charitable services and to seek financial support for ten agencies in a combined fundraising campaign. This first campaign raised $21,700.
In 1908, the first community planning department was developed at Pittsburgh Associated Charities. In 1913, a budget program began in Cleveland for the allocation of campaign proceeds to participating charities. The first Community Chest began in Rochester, New York in 1919.
During World War I, more than 130 war-related services and relief organizations were formed and joined with the already established United Ways. Beginning in 1930, corporate giving began to assume great significance in campaigns and, by 1950, represented more than 40% of the dollars raised. Ninety percent of all monies raised today comes from corporate and employee giving. United Ways achieved a major milestone with the introduction and implementation of payroll deduction for charitable giving.
In 1971, United Way of America was formed to aid in addressing the needs of community problem solving through training of volunteers, statistical data evaluation, and development of national corporate support. Its purpose is to act as a service organization to the United Ways throughout the country.
Today, there are 1,400 member United Ways throughout the country. Each of these United Ways is autonomous and governed by a local volunteer Board.
Local History
The local organization began in 1924, as the Community Chest began in New Orleans to meet the needs of a growing city. Raising $902,000 for local agencies, it established itself as one of the oldest United Way traditions in America.
In 1952, New Orleans Community Chest evolved into the United Fund and raised $2.5 million.
In 1974, the New Orleans United Fund joined United Way of America. As a member, the organization would benefit from national brand recognition, training, national campaign structure and other resources, while maintaining local autonomy and retaining 98.5 cents of every dollar raised. This health and human service organization was known as the United Way for the Greater New Orleans Area.
In 1994, the Tangipahoa Area United Way merged with the United Way for the Greater New Orleans Area to provide funding to agency programs serving the residents in Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Tammany and Tangipahoa Parishes.
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast. Despite suffering major damage from extreme flooding at its own corporate headquarters and being unable to return to the facility for over 5 months, with 90% of the homes of its employees severely damaged or destroyed, United Way used its fiscal reserves to keep all 60 of its Community Impact partner social and human service agencies fully funded after the immediate aftermath of the hurricanes.
In 2009, the Washington Area United Way merged with the United Way for the Greater New Orleans Area to provide funding to agency programs serving the residents in Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington Parishes.
In 2010, United Way answered the call following the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico distributing mini-grants to local organizations to assist those impact by the oil spill.
In 2011, United Way for the Greater New Orleans Area changed its name to United Way of Southeast Louisiana to reflect the region the organization is now serving.
In 2015, United Way of Southeast Louisiana partnered with United Ways throughout Louisiana on a groundbreaking study of financial hardship know as the ALICE Report.
In 2016, United Way introduced our Blueprint for Prosperity, a road map to eradicating poverty in Southeast Louisiana.
Present Day
United Way of Southeast Louisiana provides funding to programs, collaboratives and initiatives serving the people of Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington Parishes.
We can create real, lasting change through United Way’s Blueprint for Prosperity, which calls for people working together to affect change. We bring together business, government, schools, churches, foundations, and nonprofit organizations to tackle our most pressing challenges and develop lasting solutions. The work of volunteers and the generosity of contributors to the annual campaign demonstrates the community supports our Mission “to eradicate poverty in Southeast Louisiana”.