UNITED SINCE 1936 for Cherokee, Spartanburg, and Union Counties
2025-2026 IMPACT UPDATE
THANK YOU TO OUR 2026-2027 CORNERSTONE SPONSORS
FROM OUR President
Dear Friends,
Ninety years ago, our community came together to solve problems no one could solve alone. That instinct hasn't changed. What has changed is how sharp our focus has become. This year, our new Strategic Plan gave us three clear priorities: helping every household build financial security, showing up with purpose in each county we serve, and powering the collective strength of the organizations doing the work alongside us. Ninety years of history taught us where the need is. This plan tells us where we're going next. Together we can keep building a community where everyone has a real shot at stability. Thank you for being part of it.
Paige Stephenson President & CEO United Way of the Piedmont
ASSET LIMITED, INCOME CONSTRAINED, EMPLOYED ALICE is a research-based measure of financial hardship that goes beyond the Federal Poverty Line to capture what the official numbers miss: the working households that earn too much to qualify for most assistance but not enough to actually get ahead. Together, we’re closing this gap for local households.
44%
of households in our region live below the ALICE threshold, struggling to meet their basic needs 2024 ALICE Data for Cherokee, Spartanburg, and Union Counties
$64,860
is what a family of four (two parents, two children) needs to cover the basics in our region, more than double the federal poverty line
In 2025, Renee came to our United Way facing homelessness with five children. A Community Resource Coordinator helped her find housing, work, and eventually a car she could afford, paid for in part with direct assistance. Renee picked up the keys in July 2026. Renee's name has been changed to protect her privacy.
SHE CAME TO US FACING A CRISIS AND LEFT WITH STABILITY, TRANSPORTATION, AND A CLEAR PATH FORWARD.
For 90 years, the community has asked us to show up in different ways depending on what it needed most: as a leader when the moment called for direction, a convener when the work needed more hands, a funder of the partners doing the work alongside us. and an implementer of programs. Here's how that showed up this year.
AS A LEADER AND CONVENER COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
Union Uplifted is our cradle-to-career partnership for every child in Union County, anchored alongside Union County Schools and Spartanburg Academic Movement. As lead partner and fiscal agent, we're working with the community to drive strategy on two priorities: early care and learning, and postsecondary and workforce pathways. Learn more about our partnerships at www.uwpiedmont.org/whatwedo
75% of Union County children enter kindergarten not ready to learn.
56%
of Union County households struggle to meet their basic needs.
AS A FUNDER
COMMUNITY INVESTMENT For 2026-2028, we're investing $1,140,000 annually in 47 local programs across our region. We invest deep rather than wide and prioritize programs with proven, measurable results.
In this first year of the new funding cycle, look for more ways to plug in directly, including volunteer opportunities with our funded program partners. Find opportunities at www.uwpiedmont.org/volunteer
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Upstate
AS AN IMPLEMENTER COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
2,394
VITA tax returns prepared in 2026, a program record.
$3,570,162 1973 Union United Fund
in total VITA refunds went back into local households.
$478k
saved in filing fees by VITA.
$78,182
1975 Annual Report
in direct financial assistance provided by Community Resource Coordinators (CRCs) in 2025.
33%
of households served by CRCs reported increased stability.
21,566 2008 VITA Clinic
households across our three counties connected to help by our 211 helpline in 2025.
HOW
WHERE
WHAT
WHERE WE’RE HEADED FINANCIAL SECURITY FOR EVERY HOUSEHOLD
We're leading and funding the work that helps individuals and families build real financial resilience — deploying data-driven investments tied to ALICE metrics and other community indicators, and measuring progress at both the population and individual level.
PRESENCE WITH PURPOSE
We want to be fully present across our service footprint. We're focusing on a stronger, more visible presence across each of our three counties so every community we serve has a partner they can count on.
POWERING COLLECTIVE STRENGTH
As a force multiplier behind other nonprofits already doing needed work, we will help build their capacity, reduce duplication, and expand shared tools like Charity Tracker and 211 so the whole sector moves further together than any one organization could alone.
Join us at https://qrco.de/uwpgive