Our Mission

We mobilize the community to help every person and family improve their lives.

Our History

For more than 100 years, United Way has been the trusted nonprofit in Chautauqua County to mobilize the community and drive impact for lasting change. United Way is uniquely poised to connect all sectors of the community (individuals, businesses, nonprofits and government), and leverage those connections to mobilize people to action.

In 2024, the separate United Ways of northern and southern Chautauqua County began exploring a merger into one county-wide organization. In June of 2024, the Board of Directors of each United Way reviewed and approved the merger proposal — with the state of New Yorks signing off on the merger in the spring of 2025.

Each United Way in Chautauqua County began as a local "Community Chest" more than 100 years ago, and in the interim years until the merger each served their respective halves of the county with the same purpose: To mobilize the caring power of the community to help better the lives of all residents.