Putting your dollars to work
United Way is dedicated to ensuring your donation is invested in the most effective and efficient way possible. By partnering with a network of 280 community agencies, local governments, and other key decision makers, we provide a lifeline to individuals and families, ensuring there are no gaps in essential services and that no emergency need goes unmet. Here is how we are putting your dollars to work in community, right now.
Ongoing funding
We invest $6 million each month in our network of agencies across Peel, Toronto, and York Region. Dependable and flexible, our existing funding allows our frontline agencies to do what they do best: help people who are experiencing poverty and related unignorable issues in the most effective ways possible.
Learn more about our network of 280 community agencies.
Emergency funding
In response to the increased need caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, we set up an emergency response fund. Thanks to donors like you, we’ve invested $2.3 million in Local Love rapid response emergency funding, supporting almost 200 projects across the GTA.
Federal funding
The federal government is also responding to this unprecedented crisis with emergency funding. To deliver that funding, they looked to United Way’s trusted network. Here is how United Way Greater Toronto is working with the federal government to allocate the funding:
- We are proud to have partnered with United Way Centraide Canada and the Government of Canada to deliver the Government of Canada’s Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF) in Peel, Toronto, and York Region. Through two rounds of grants, United Way Greater Toronto approved over 425 community service agencies for a total investment of $21.1 million. With $15.7 million distributed to more than 375 community service agencies in summer 2020, we are pleased to announce the balance of funding — $5.4 million to over 150 agencies, with many continuing the great work they started – all enabling community programs and services to support individuals, families and communities made vulnerable by the pandemic or other systemic barriers.
- We are administering $850,000 in funding from the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors program. This is the GTA portion of the $9 million in funding they announced at the end of March, and we have distributed it to 45 programs across the GTA.
- We are administering federal Reaching Home investments in York Region, as part of Canada’s Homelessness Strategy. We’re committing over $6.5 million in additional emergency funds to programs that address the impacts of COVID-19 among the homeless population, women and children seeking shelter, and those sleeping rough.
Read more about what programs and services have received additional funding to meet emerging needs.