Frequently Asked Questions

United Way is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) agency that brings people together to help our community reach its full potential. Our local United Way of Northeast Georgia partners with local nonprofits, government agencies, policy-makers and businesses to motivate and mobilize resources to meet the highest priority needs of the people living in Banks, Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Franklin, Greene, Hart, Jackson, Madison, Morgan, Oconee, and Oglethorpe counties.

United Way of Northeast Georgia works to create a region where every man, woman, and child has access to quality education, financial stability, and a healthy lifestyle. Since 1954, United Way of Northeast Georgia has had one mission – to advance the common good.

Learn more about making a gift.

There are 1,800 community-based United Ways across the world and each is separately incorporated and independently governed by local volunteers. Many of these organizations are similar in their mission and structure, but have the ability to respond to needs in the local communities.

We are a part of and support the community impact goals of United Way Worldwide, an umbrella organization that addresses the same problems on a national and global level, and provides guidance, training and development services to local United Ways.

Contributions raised in our 12-county service area support local organizations, and decisions about which programs to invest in and which partnerships to pursue are made here in our local community.

A designated gift directs your gift to a specific fund. You can choose to direct your gifts to a specific United Way of Northeast Georgia focus area, 211, or the United Way Endowment Fund.

An undesignated gift allows you to help the most people and do the most good for our entire community, by taking advantage of United Way of Northeast Georgia’s thorough, research-based granting that distributes money to the areas that need it most.

An undesignated gift to United Way of Northeast Georgia allows you to help more people than a gift to a single focus area or specific program could. Our community’s problems are interrelated and United Way of Northeast Georgia’s diversity of programs work to address the interrelated and complex causes of poverty and other social issues, and direct funds to the areas that need it most.

Yes, all donations are tax-deductible.

Donations are used to provide grants to programs in one of our three focus areas – basic needs, early childhood success, or workforce development; to support  211, our health and human services program; to host educational opportunities and trainings for local nonprofits; and to connect our community. Grant recipients are reviewed via an application process on a yearly basis to ensure fiscal and programmatic integrity.

Making a gift to United Way of Northeast Georgia is the most effective way to help our whole community. Our unique ability to work across complex issues with community partners is unmatched. We mobilize volunteers and convene nonprofits, corporations, community leaders and policymakers to make broad, systemic changes like no other organization can on its own.

United Way 211™ connects callers with a trained, bilingual Contact Center agent who helps assess callers’ needs and provides detailed information and referrals to governmental and community service agencies. Our 211 database contains community resources ranging from job training programs to childcare to counseling services to financial assistance. This free, confidential help line is available by dialing 211 from any phone. In the event that dialing 211 does not connect you to our call center, you may reach a 211 call agent by dialing 706-353-1313.

For texting service, please text your zip code to 898-211.

Click here to learn about volunteer opportunities or contact us directly.

There are more than 1,800 United Ways across the country. United Way of Northeast Georgia helps people in Banks, Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Franklin, Greene, Hart, Jackson, Madison, Morgan, Oconee, and Oglethorpe counties.

To find the United Way that serves your zip code, visit United Way Worldwide.

Hundreds of companies in Northeast Georgia are making a difference by partnering with United Way of Northeast Georgia through workplace campaigns.

To learn more, contact Jordan North via email at jnorth@unitedwaynega.org or by phone at 706-543-5254 to get started now.