Join the cause. Make your voice heard. Create real change.

Policy change can be big or small. It can be petitioning your school board to require healthier cafeteria meals. To advocate can be urging your government to invest more in schools, or make child tax credits permanent, or make more children eligible for health insurance. Or it can be mobilizing your friends to speak out on a critical cause, in person or online.

United Way galvanizes people to speak out for change.  We're amplifying individuals’ voices on important community issues. As the largest privately-funded nonprofit in the world, we provide a platform for people to take meaningful action that makes a difference.

United Way’s COVID-19 Advocacy Response

United Way Worldwide has been advocating for comprehensive support for the nonprofit sector and the communities across the U.S. in federal coronavirus relief legislation. Thousands of United Way advocates raised their voices through e-mails, calls, and tweets at the end of March in support of nonprofits on the frontlines of the pandemic and children, workers, and families. Congress listened!

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act each included major wins for United Way’s priorities. This legislation supports millions of families and communities through nutrition supports, paid sick leave, health care coverage for necessary COVID-19 testing, expanded unemployment benefits, increased funding for the Emergency Food and Shelter Program, relief to small businesses, incentives to encourage charitable giving to local solutions, and much more.

But the fight is not finished.

United Way Worldwide and individuals across the country are continuing to advocate to shore up programs-- like 211, increased Medicaid funding for states, an expanded Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit, increased monthly Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and much more -- that enable access to services and build financial stability. 

How do you advocate?

There are many ways to advocate for causes that you believe in. It can be as simple as having personal conversations about the issue you care about or making sure to vote in elections. Advocacy can take the form of public speeches, donations, letters to the editor, or blogs. Any other means of making your opinion known can be a form of advocacy - you have the power to help others with your voice.