Our Mission

Our Mission at United Way of Southern Chautauqua County is to mobilize the community to help every person and family to improve their lives.

To Do This We Will

  • Ignite a communitywide social movement, and thereby mobilize thousands to action – to volunteer, advocate and give to improve the conditions in which we live.
  • Motivate and connect all sectors of our community – individuals, businesses, nonprofit organizations and governments – to create long-term social change that produces well-educated, financially stable and healthy individuals and families.
  • Raise, invest and leverage $1.45 million annually in philanthropic contributions to create and support innovative programs and approaches to generate sustained community impact.
  • Hold ourselves accountable to this cause through our steadfast commitment to continually measure – in real terms – improvement in Academic Success, Health & Independence, a Ready Workforce, and Self Sufficiency.

We invest in 42 community-based programs that align with these priorities. Funding decisions are made locally by a team of 60 volunteers from all walks of life and approved by the Board of Directors. For every dollar donated, $0.85 is returned to the community in programming and 100% of every donation remains in Southern Chautauqua County.