FY25 Impact Report

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Dear Friends,

At United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, we believe that lasting change happens when people come together around a shared purpose. Every dollar invested, every partnership formed, and every volunteer who steps forward helps create more opportunity for our neighbors and strengthens the communities we all call home.

This past year, together, we invested more than $16 million across Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey to help families achieve greater financial stability, prepare for emergencies, access critical resources, build wealth, and pursue brighter futures. Behind every investment is a person, a family, and a community with greater opportunity because of your generosity and commitment.

FY2025 marked the planned conclusion of The Promise, our landmark public-private partnership with the City of Philadelphia. Over five years, the initiative connected tens of thousands of households to critical public benefits, removed barriers to employment, and demonstrated the extraordinary impact that’s possible when government, philanthropy and community organizations work together. It is a model that will influence our work for years to come. While this year’s community investment reflects the conclusion of The Promise, it also marks the beginning of a new chapter – one that is already taking shape.

We are expanding matched savings programs that help families build assets and generational wealth, launching innovative partnerships like Camden Community Uplift, strengthening disaster preparedness in vulnerable communities, and increasing access to essential resources across Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey.

While this report reflects the impact of the past year, it also points toward the future. We are building new partnerships, attracting new investment, and creating new opportunities to increase our impact in the years ahead. We are proud of what we accomplished together this year, and we are even more excited about what lies ahead.

None of this would be possible without you. To our donors, volunteers, corporate partners, community organizations, public partners, and everyone who believes in this mission: thank you for standing with us. Together, we are creating stronger communities where more people have the opportunity not just to get by, but to thrive.

With gratitude,

Bill Golderer
President & CEO
United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey

9

Counties Served

$16M+

Dollars Invested

15K+

Generous Donors

350+

Corporate Partners

150+

Community Partners

FY 2025
Collective Poverty-Fighting Impact Across Nine Counties

Focus Areas

CAREER PATHWAYS

Providing educational and career readiness training to build financial stability.

EARLY LEARNING

Providing early childhood education and support to promote school-readiness and success.

FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT

Providing people with opportunities to save money, get out of debt, and increase income and assets.

COMMUNITY RESILIENCY

Providing communities and individuals with solutions for their needs.

CAPACITY BUILDING

Providing community-based organizations and leadership with resources to meet the needs of their communities.

Creating Opportunity Across Our Region

United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey raises funds for a 12-month span which is then invested into the community during the next 12-month span.

In the 2025 fiscal year, we invested over $16,000,000 to the community.

Your gift provides solutions that work for change that lasts across our 9-county footprint.

5404

households connected to public benefits and credits

$12.8M

in benefits and tax credits delivered to families

160

families reached their goals to get an education, buy a home or start a business

4670

residents better prepared for emergencies and natural disasters

1640

people connected to violence prevention resources

463

people helped build emergency savings

Every number represents a person, a family or a community moving toward lasting financial stability.

IMPACT STORIES

United We Prepare

When emergencies happen, preparation can mean the difference between chaos and confidence.

In 2025, United Way helped thousands of residents gain the knowledge, resources and connections they need before disaster strikes—strengthening the resilience of neighborhoods across Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. Through United We Prepare, a national initiative supported by Verizon and local partners, we reached more than 4,670 residents, distributed 9,600 preparedness resources, hosted eight emergency preparedness workshops, and assembled 1,500 emergency go-kits with corporate volunteers.

But the most meaningful results weren’t measured in flyers or workshops. They were measured in confidence. Before participating, only 30% of workshop attendees felt very or extremely confident they could respond to an emergency. Afterward, that number jumped to 72%. Nearly 95% said they felt better prepared, and most planned to build emergency kits, save emergency contacts, and protect important documents.

Drawing on our longstanding relationships across sectors, United Way helped strengthen the region’s emergency preparedness network by forging a new partnership with the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management. Together, we launched Philadelphia’s first National Preparedness Month Kickoff, bringing government agencies, nonprofits and community organizations together around one goal: ensuring every resident has access to the information and support they need before disaster strikes.

When communities are prepared, they recover faster. Thanks to the support of donors, volunteers and partners, more families are ready for whatever comes next.

4,670 people engaged

1,500 emergency go-kits assembled and distributed

95% of workshop participants felt better prepared for emergencies

200 participants enrolled

99% of participants reached their savings goal and received their match

Emergency Savings Match Program

For families living paycheck to paycheck, even a small emergency can trigger a financial crisis.

United Way brings together philanthropic investment, trusted community organizations and financial coaching to help families turn disciplined saving into lasting financial stability.

During the program’s third and final pilot year, 200 participants enrolled, and an extraordinary 99% reached their savings goal, earning a matched deposit that transformed $200 in personal savings into $1,000 in emergency reserves.

But participants gained far more than a savings account. Every dollar saved was paired with financial coaching that helped families build confidence and lifelong financial habits. For participant D.W., the judgment-free guidance proved just as valuable as the matching funds. She left the program with practical budgeting strategies, greater confidence managing her finances, and tools she continues to use today.

Over its three-year pilot, United Way brought together four community organizations around a shared model helping 463 people build emergency savings—demonstrating that with the right support, families can strengthen their financial resilience and be better prepared for life’s unexpected challenges.

By investing in both people and practical tools, United Way helps families move beyond surviving financial emergencies toward building long-term stability.

Violence Prevention Helpline

Sometimes, the first step toward safety is simply knowing who to call.

Through Philadelphia’s Violence Prevention Helpline, United Way makes that first call count. Available 24 hours a day through PA 211, trained resource navigators connect residents experiencing violence, trauma or crisis with services that can change the trajectory of their lives.

In 2025, the Helpline responded to 1,640 requests for assistance, connecting residents with counseling, mentoring programs, youth services, housing support, employment resources and domestic violence assistance.

When Kate reached out while fleeing domestic violence, a United Way resource navigator did more than provide referrals. Together, they explored housing options, discussed neighborhoods where she could safely relocate, and developed a plan for starting over. During a follow-up call, Kate shared that she had secured a new home in another Pennsylvania community and would soon begin a new chapter.

Every call represents someone looking for hope, stability or safety. By operating this critical front door to services, United Way helps ensure that people facing crisis don’t have to navigate it alone.

Violence prevention is about more than responding to emergencies—it’s about strengthening the systems of support that help people thrive. United Way is proud to serve as a trusted connection between those in need and the resources that can change lives.

1,640 residents assisted through the helpline

168 community events attended

53,000+ households reached through anti-poverty initiatives from 2021-2025

$159 million in benefits and tax credits unlocked from 2021-2025

11,500+ people received record-clearing assistance

The Promise: Record Clearing Initiative

Lasting solutions to poverty require more than good intentions—they require bold partnerships.

Through The Promise, United Way led one of Philadelphia’s most ambitious poverty-reduction initiatives, bringing together government, philanthropy and community organizations around a shared commitment to expand opportunity.

Between 2021 and 2025, The Promise helped more than 53,000 households, submitted 171,000 applications for benefits and services, and delivered $159 million in public benefits and tax credits, a remarkable 9-to-1 return on investment.

The initiative also tackled one of the biggest barriers to economic mobility: criminal records that prevent qualified people from securing employment. Through 76 record-clearing clinics, more than 11,500 Philadelphians received assistance, with 70% moving forward with record clearing to open new pathways to employment and financial stability.

David attended one of those clinics determined to rebuild his life after relapse. With legal assistance through The Promise, he began the process of clearing his record and moving toward stable employment, a critical step in creating the future he envisioned.

Although The Promise concluded in 2025, its impact continues. The partnerships, collaborative model and lessons developed through this work continue to shape how United Way brings organizations together to reduce poverty and expand opportunity across our region.

The Promise proved that lasting change happens when government, philanthropy, and community organizations work together. By coordinating partnerships, aligning investments and measuring results, United Way helped turn individual programs into a citywide strategy for economic mobility.

Read the full Promise Impact Report here

Lubert Matched Savings Programs

Building wealth begins with owning an asset—a home, an education or a business.

For 25 years, United Way has brought together philanthropy, financial institutions and trusted community organizations to help families turn savings into life-changing investments that create financial security today and opportunity for future generations. Participants commit to saving toward a specific goal, and United Way helps those dollars go even further through generous matching funds. Families saving for their first home or to start or grow a small business receive a 2:1 match, while those pursuing higher education or workforce training receive a 3:1 match. Combined with financial education and one-on-one coaching, these matched savings make milestones that once felt out of reach achievable.

In 2025, 160 participants used matched savings to pursue their goals:

69 purchased their first home.

66 invested in education or workforce training.

25 launched or expanded small businesses.

Every participant paired disciplined saving with financial education and coaching, building the skills needed for long-term success.

One participant, L.D., saved $2,000 toward homeownership and received a $4,000 United Way match. After completing financial education courses, she purchased her first home through Habitat for Humanity’s Philadelphia Homeownership Program. Homeownership is more than a milestone. It provides stability today while creating equity that can benefit future generations.

United Way’s role extends beyond providing matching funds. We bring together philanthropic investment, financial education and trusted community partners to help families build assets that create lasting pathways out of poverty.

2,300+ participants have saved $3M since 2002

72 families purchased their first home last year

$233,500+ saved by participants last year

Financials

Transparency drives impact.

We insist on accountability from ourselves and our partners so we can accurately measure our impact and continually improve and refine our poverty-fighting efforts.

Read Our 2024 Impact Report