100 STARTS WITH 1
HOPE IN ACTION WHERE WE INVEST
Tulsa Area United Way unites people and resources to improve lives and strengthen our communities. We mobilize communities to action so all members can flourish and thrive.
True to our founding spirit, whenever there is a need in our communities, United Way is there. We bring a comprehensive approach to challenges, actively listening and responding to local needs. Our reach across six counties in Eastern Oklahoma means we can share innovations and scale impact, and through the framework of 211 Eastern Oklahoma, we connect people to resources throughout 37 counties.
From strengthening local resilience to advancing health, youth opportunity, financial security, and community resiliency, we are working towards a future where every person in every community can reach their full potential.
OUR IMPACT AREAS
HEALTHY COMMUNITY
Improving health and well-being for all.
Scan the QR Code above or go to www.TAUW.org to learn more about Tulsa Area United Way.
TAUW service area
211 EOK service area
Tulsa Area United Way raises more than $25 million each year to support 160 programs within Tulsa, Creek Rogers, Okmulgee, Osage, and Wagoner counties. Our 211 Eastern Oklahoma Community Resource Specialists help people connect to resources in 37 Oklahoma counties.
OPPORTUNITY
Helping young people realize their full potential.
Building financial stability and strength.
Addressing urgent needs today for a better tomorrow.
To learn more about our funded partners, visit www.TAUW.org
SUSTAINABILITY FUNDING
Our largest funding stream, 160 programs reviewed annually by more than 180 trained volunteers ensure direct services and a compassionate safety net.
COLLABORATION GRANTS
Funding for transformational, cross-functional partnerships among nonprofits, educational institutions, and municipalities to address entrenched social problems.
INNOVATION GRANTS
Critical funding and mentorship for emerging and established nonprofits to test creative new programs and solutions within our impact areas.
CAPACITY BUILDING
Direct services and support from technology to training – that strengthen our partner nonprofits’ ability to operate efficiently.
HOW WE INVEST
We take a comprehensive approach to every challenge, bringing people together to find a better way forward.
• Our community-led approach is unique to the Tulsa area. Approximately 180 trained and trusted community volunteers dive deep into our investments, analyzing organizational governance, program outcomes, and more. After a thorough review, they make a formal recommendation for how much United Way should raise to support that work through community investments.
• We partner with and fund collaborative, highperforming initiatives – such as Hunger Free Oklahoma, Housing Solutions, and Safe Babies Court - that make a meaningful impact and take on some of our region’s biggest challenges.
• And, because the world around us is continuously changing, we offer Social Innovations Grants to provide funds, mentorship, and vital community connections to accelerate the growth and stability of our community’s most groundbreaking new programs.
Tulsa Area United Way has over a century of experience in raising vital funds for our service area through collective efforts of individuals and organizations. Our reliable methods bring millions of dollars to the most effective programs in our area each year – donations that stay local.
WORKPLACE AND CORPORATE GIVING
THE TAUW PROCESS A TRADITION OF GIVING
Review partner funding applications, conduct site visits, and assess partner performance and financial conditions.
Hundreds of companies and organizations run employee fundraising campaigns, representing 20,000+ donors.
Donors and volunteers learn, give, attend events, and participate in food drives, resource fairs, and Days of Caring for community impact and engagement.
Along with repeatable processes, we lean in to bold goals and transformational collaborations to solve complex problems.
Community Investment Cabinet finalizes partner funding amounts based on need and program outcomes.
Campaign volunteers visit top companies for economic insights to set annual fundraising goal aligned with community need.
Dollars raised are invested for the next calendar year.
We learn, improve, and repeat process for the following year.
Our efficient approach makes it accessible and easy for employees to give through their workplaces. Many times, these funds would not otherwise be raised for community programs. Support of Tulsa Area United Way benefits companies by:
• Investing in the region’s most effective nonprofit programs that build a healthy community, youth opportunity, financial security, and community resiliency.
• Educating employees about the needs in the community and services available to their families.
• Growing company pride and team spirit by helping people and making the community a better place to live.
Giving is easy! We provide everything you and your staff need to conduct a timely, convenient, and successful United Way campaign. Companies can also donate or sponsor with a corporate or foundation gift.
Call 918.583.7171 or email campaign@tauw.org to start making a lasting impact – and you will have a blast doing great work together!
INDIVIDUAL GIVING
Anyone can support Tulsa Area United Way through personal contributions or planned gifts. To learn more about how to give, visit www.TAUW.org/donate.
Donors who support our community with annual gifts of $250 or more can connect, learn, and lead through membership in an affinity group. Learn more at TAUW.org/affinitygroups/
NextGen United – For individuals in their 20s and 30s discovering a passion for philanthropy.
Women United – For women who support our community through leadership and service.
Always United – for loyal United Way supporters eager to learn and engage.
Tocqueville Society – for donors giving at a leadership level of $10,000 annually or more.
WHY WE INVEST: RECENT HIGHLIGHTS
Annual contributions support vital programs that keep families fed, seniors housed, and children safe. Recent examples from 2023 include:
HEALTHY COMMUNITY
The Tulsa Day Center’s programs enable their clients to avoid the trauma of homelessness. In 2023, 1,745 clients received homeless prevention services, and 2,243 clients received 6,966 medical services. This level of care provides support along clients’ journeys to stability and self-sufficiency.
YOUTH OPPORTUNITY
Through the efforts of TAUW collaboration partner Healthy Minds Policy Initiative, $13 million in federal funding was secured in 2023 to improve our area’s mental health system to support children and their families.
FINANCIAL SECURITY
Tulsa Area United Way’s focus on financial stability means supporting organizations like CAP Tulsa and its innovative 2Generation Approach, which uses evidence-based methods to disrupt intergenerational effects of poverty. CAP’s approach engages children, parents, and families in goal-achieving paths.
COMMUNITY RESILIENCY
TAUW’s 211 Eastern Oklahoma (211EOK) program received 68,486 calls, texts, and chats, along with 97,775 online database searches, successfully connecting Oklahomans across 37 counties to essential services, resulting in improved access to crucial support and resources that enhanced their overall well-being and stability.
VOLUNTEERISM
Tulsa Area United Way serves the business community as a conduit for corporate social responsibility. We work directly with companies to make it easy to give back, whether it be as an organized team volunteering for a Day of Caring project, serving as a Community Investments panelist, chairing an affinity group, or leading a company’s workplace giving campaign. Our opportunities offer teambuilding, fun, and an opportunity to lead within an organization.
DAYS OF CARING
Throughout the year, Tulsa Area United Way mobilizes thousands of volunteers to participate in a wide range of community service projects for local nonprofits, schools, and other community organizations. The events not only provide much-needed support to these organizations, but they also provide an opportunity for community members to learn more about the important work these organizations do. In 2023, the value of volunteerism through DOC equaled $2 Million in economic impact, completing projects our nonprofit community would not have had the time or resources to complete.
Organizations who volunteer for Days of Caring develop teamwork and build morale while giving back to the community. Learn more at www.TAUW.org.
YEAR-ROUND OPPORTUNITIES
We connect changemakers with local nonprofits and schools in need to make a difference in our sixcounty service area. Our volunteer website provides year-round, vetted opportunities for individuals and groups to impact the community using their time and talents. Learn more at volunteer.TAUW.org
Scan the QR Code to left to view our Day of Caring 2023 Recap Video.
BEHIND THE SCENES SUPPORT
Tulsa Area United Way is more than a funding source. We’re at the table, collaborating and leading to solve some of our communities’ most pressing issues. Below are just a few of the ways Tulsa Area United Way has recently mobilized the community to ensure its resilience.
RESEARCH AND DATA
Our research and data team collaborates across community initiatives to advance data equity throughout the region, fostering a more inclusive and effective use of data. Recent publications include:
• Living Wage Data and Simulation Exercise
• State of the Area Report
• Equality Indicators Report in partnership with the City of Tulsa
• Community Insights Report: The Impact of COVID-19 on Children and Youth in the TAUW Region
With this powerful data, we showcase our partners’ innovative strategies and shine a light on gaps in service and resources. Additionally, our designation as an official Census Information Center underscores our commitment to making census data accessible, particularly for underserved communities.
MEETING REAL NEEDS IN REAL TIME
Scan the QR Code above or go to www.TAUW.org /data-research to learn more about how we help.
211 Eastern Oklahoma (211EOK) is a centralized front door to connect Oklahomans across 37 counties in need to a wide array of free, confidential services, including food, housing, and utility assistance; physical and mental health resources; veteran, childcare, and family services; employment assistance; and links to crisis interventions.
No matter the situation, the specialists at 211 listen, identify underlying problems, and connect people in need with community resources and services that improve their lives. The 211 database includes thousands of organizations and services that are updated daily.
Knowing where and how to access available information and services is important to ensure that all members of our communities can get help when they need it. Tulsa Area United Way provides 211EOK as a free service, accessible 24/7/365, to connect communities to the resources they need. The service is available in multiple languages.
If someone needs help and doesn’t know where to start, they can call 211 for live help or text “HELP” to 877-836-2111.
CRISIS RELIEF
TAUW, our nonprofit partners, and foundations, including the American Red Cross and Tulsa Community Foundation, provide comprehensive crisis relief through immediate assistance and long-term support.
• Our nonprofit partners mobilize quickly to offer emergency supplies like food and shelter and ensure access to essential health services. Financial aid and employment support help stabilize affected individuals and families.
• We manage the federal Emergency Food and Shelter program, which allocates funds for food and shelter to help meet the needs of people experiencing hunger and homelessness in Tulsa, Creek, and Wagoner counties.
• Our partners’ efforts extend to vulnerable groups with tailored support, emphasizing resilience and preparedness for future crises.
• Additionally, TAUW’s 211 Eastern Oklahoma program serves as a vital resource for connecting individuals to necessary services and support during emergencies.
This collaborative approach, involving local government and private sector advocacy, ensures an effective and coordinated response to community needs.
CAPACITY BUILDING
TAUW enhances the capabilities of our nonprofit partners through a variety of capacity-building initiatives, ensuring these organizations can deliver sustainable and effective services.
• By covering operational costs like rent and utilities at facilities like the Sapulpa Family Resource Center and offering pro bono technological support through the NTech Collaborative IT program, TAUW ensures nonprofits have the necessary infrastructure and digital tools to operate efficiently.
• Additionally, TAUW’s New Voices Board Internship Program at Leadership Tulsa fosters professional development by training young professionals from underrepresented groups in board governance and leadership, preparing them to serve effectively on nonprofit boards.
Through these efforts, we not only support the immediate needs of nonprofits but also invest in their long-term success and governance.
MORE THAN A CENTURY OF SERVICE
More than 100 years of Tulsa Area United Way started with one. In 1924, one small group of business leaders, raising today’s equivalent of $4.5 million to fund a handful of nonprofits, sparked a movement. We began with 11 nonprofit partners, and six of those same partners remain today, along with many more. The early vision was to forge a more organized, united front to meet the growing community needs.
Through the decades, the Great Depression, World War II, and the HIV/AIDS epidemic are just some examples of how our commitment to the community shone brightly, showcasing resilience and adaptability.
Today we stand proud, supporting 160 programs across 70 organizations, addressing a wide array of community needs. Our work is as vital as ever.
Tulsa Area United Way
