United Way Worldwide
United Way Worldwide is the leadership and support organization for the network of nearly 1,800 community-based United Ways in 45 countries and territories. United Way works to advance the common good by focusing on improving education, helping people achieve financial stability, promoting healthy lives and by mobilizing millions of people to give, advocate and volunteer to improve the conditions in which they live.
United Way Worldwide provides:
National leadership: United Way Worldwide invests in the programs and services that strengthen the ability of local United Ways to identify and build a coalition around a set of community priorities and measure success based on community impact.
Public policy: United Way Worldwide works with Congress and the Administration to promote policies and programs that activate national resources to address local priorities.
Membership support: United Way Worldwide supports its members with services that include national brand advertising, the NFL partnership, training, public relations, research and management of relationships with national corporate and philanthropic partners.
Governance and structure: A volunteer board consisting of 45 members governs United Way Worldwide. The worldwide office does not govern how local United Ways raise or distribute funds. The first national service center was established in 1918.
United Way of Southeast Mississippi sends only one percent of the local money pledged in the annual campaign to United Way Worldwide in exchange for these many support services.