As a focused team of Leaders, we will align resources and work to advance education, income and health.

As the statewide association for local United Ways in Kentucky, we
are uniquely positioned to mobilize the strengths of our collective
United Way network to achieve lasting change in communities across the
Commonwealth.

UNITED WAY OF KENTUCKY HISTORY
For more than 90 years, local United Ways have been serving residents of communities in Kentucky. As the number of United Ways grew, they began to look for opportunities to come together to network and share ideas, and so formed the Kentucky Association of United Ways. The Association was an informal group with no staff who met periodically through 1980. In June of 1980, Kentucky United Ways committed to formalizing the Association and supporting a part-time staff position to be housed in the Louisville United Way office. Volunteer involvement expanded.

In February of 1981 at the Kentucky Association of United Ways Annual Meeting, members elected volunteer officers and adopted by-laws. The first staff member was not hired until December of 1983 when the Kentucky Association of United Ways hired a full time consultant on three month contractual basis as lobbyist for 1984 General Assembly.

Pleased with the accomplishments of this first staff member, in April of 1984, United Way of Kentucky was officially incorporated, hired a full-time Executive Director, and established an independent office.

In the years following, the United Way of Kentucky has expanded beyond public policy to include activities such as:
• Providing training and networking opportunities for local staff and volunteers
• Developing state-wide marketing initiatives
• Providing on-site consultation and technical assistance
• Administering the Kentucky Employees Charitable Campaign (KECC) and Enterprise Rent-A-Car Campaign
• Facilitating the development of a statewide 2-1-1 information and referral system and crisis response system

The Board adopted a new strategic plan in January 2009, which implemented the following:
Vision - Uniting Kentuckians to give, advocate and volunteer.
Mission - As a focused team of Leaders, we will align resources and work to advance Education, Income and Health.

Since 2002, an important part of “meeting the human service needs…” has been our effort to secure funding for a statewide 2-1-1 system for information and referral. In 2008, 48% of Kentucky’s population has access to 2-1-1, lagging behind the national access by 73% of the population, prompting redoubled efforts and the development of a new statewide 2-1-1 plan.

United Way of Kentucky’s work continues to evolve in response to the changing needs of our members and the Commonwealth.

• Grants - $200,840
• Fees - $152,718
• Membership Dues - $133,815