NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT: United Way of the Capital Region

“All these things that can typically hamstring the nonprofit sector, we take care of so you can just come in and focus on getting after the mission.”

Many reading this have probably heard of United Way. One of the largest charities in the world, they have access to a robust global network that works to “mobilize the caring power of neighbors, businesses, and community partners to lead transformational change.” With branches all across the United States, and even around the world, I’m told that the organization’s true superpower is their ability to maintain that global presence while also remaining hyperlocal. It’s among the first things Peter Gannon, CEO of the United Way of the Greater Capital Region, emphasizes during our discussion. 

“You maintain this sort of expertise and global network, but at the same time, you're listening to local needs and remaining extremely agile in response to those. I've been around almost seven years now and that's what we've done, including getting us through the pandemic.” 

Those global connections pay dividends when it comes to addressing local needs, which can be seen in the recent partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imaginary Library; Gannon says this will provide around 10,000 kids under the age of five with a brand new book every month in an effort to make childhood literacy easily accessible and get kids off to the best start possible. In addition to working with such heavy-hitter organizations, that hyperlocal aspect of the organization is exemplified in other recently announced initiatives that United Way of the Greater Capital Region are a part of. 

In March, they will be launching a new program called Jubilant Birth Albany, a program aimed at improving maternal health and birth outcomes for underserved communities. The program will be flush with local partners like the Carl E. Touhey Foundation, Highmark Blue Shield of Northeastern New York, Hudson Valley Credit Union, and Albany County Executive Dan McCoy.  

“It’s a pilot program,” Gannon clarifies, “to give a guaranteed income of $1,000 a month for 12 months to the highest density zip codes in Albany County. So, that's going to be at least 28 families who are benefiting from that partnership… the hope is you can demonstrate through a program like that that it makes good policy sense to improve conditions for those families to be able to thrive.” 

He emphasizes that even with these new programs, the tried and true United Way staples are all there as well. They still offer grant programs to other charities that work to improve conditions locally. He says that their Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program has never been bigger. 

“We prepare income taxes for free for low and moderate income family households across the nine-county service area. In fact, if folks want to get an appointment, there are still some left. They can go online and find a tax preparation site near them right here in the Capital Region.” 

Gannon tells me that another thing they’ve been working on recently is ensuring access to nutritious food for kids; they achieved a major victory on this in the recent state budget, in which Governor Kathy Hochul included free school breakfast for every New York student. United Way fought for this for several years along with their community partners. 

“That's been born out of the coalition we led that really springs into action in the summer by providing free summer meals to kids at dozens and dozens of sites throughout the Capital Region. Through that coalition with many of our partners, including Boys and Girls Club, the Sycamore Collaborative in Schenectady and the Regional Food Bank, we have served over two million meals in the 11 years of its existence.”

 Even the organization’s local headquarters, the Blake Annex, is technically a United Way project. The Annex provides a space for nonprofit tenants to come together to share services and ideas by creating a community where everyone can thrive. The space allows nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations to focus more on their mission by providing work space at rates below market value. It holds a particular place in Gannon’s heart. 

“We thought there was a way we could bring nonprofits together under one roof, and enjoy the benefit of scale, right? That's what the Blake is all about,” he says. “We have nice furniture. There's a beautiful kitchen, the internet's great. All these things that can typically hamstring the nonprofit sector, we take care of so you can just come in and focus on getting after the mission. We've had over 30 organizations be a part of the Blake since we opened four years ago.”  

The Blake Annex website also notes that many traditional nonprofit spaces are located in remote or suburban areas out of touch with the communities they serve, something Gannon had personal experience with. 

“When I first started at United Way, we were occupying 14,000 square feet up at Crossgates Mall.” He tells me it took 15 minutes to drive to get a cup of coffee downtown. The Blake also remedies this, offering a location right in the heart of its intended community in downtown Albany. 

While primarily dedicated to the Capital Region, Gannon reminds me that their base of operations extends throughout the 518 region and includes volunteers doing work in Albany, Columbia, Fulton, Greene, Montgomery, and Saratoga counties. 

“Folks can always find out about volunteerism at unitedtovolunteer.org, which is our local volunteer connection site,” he explains. “There's hundreds and hundreds of volunteer opportunities on there at any given time. Folks can go on, track their hours and their impact. We also do one big day of giving on 518 day.” (He tells me this year’s 518 day will actually take place on May 16th, due to the 18th falling on a Sunday.) 

The day of giving is an event that United Way of the Greater Capital Region has been putting on for close to a decade. It’s also an event that captures the essence of their organization. “We hope it's a catalyst to get people to volunteer all year long and give back,” Gannon says. “If you can't participate in something we're doing officially, then obviously you can help your neighbor. That kindness and spirit of coming together, that spirit of community – it’s what that weekend, and United Way, is all about.”

For more information, visit https://www.unitedwaygcr.org/