About Us

The United Way envisions a thriving, healthy and resilient Douglas County.
We are fighting poverty and improving lives by Uniting Douglas County.

Our vision is that all people have an equal opportunity to succeed. We focus on early education and jobs training as stairways leading to family-sustaining jobs for financial security, supported by healthy food and affordable housing. We believe that a community cannot be truly successful unless everyone in that community succeeds, most especially those with the least. We recognize structural racism and other forms of oppression have contributed to persistent disparities that United Way seeks to dismantle.

We work with residents, and public and private partners to co-create solutions that ensure everyone has the resources, support, opportunities, and networks they need to thrive. We commit to leveraging all of our assets (convening, strategic investments, awareness building, advocacy) to create more equitable communities.

United Way of Douglas County is committed to serving all people in Douglas County with dignity and respect. To ‘Live United’ means supporting all people, celebrating the diversity of each individual including socioeconomic status, race and ethnicity, ability, age, religion, national origin, gender identity and/or expression, or sexual orientation.

United Way of Douglas County is creating a more equitable community for us all. Through partnerships with nonprofits, local government, businesses, community advocates and volunteers, we are building a just and fair Douglas County with equitable inclusion in which all can participate, prosper, and reach their full potential. We invite you to join our fight. United, we can end poverty.

OUR MISSION: Fighting poverty and improving lives by Uniting Douglas County.

OUR VISION: A thriving, healthy and resilient Douglas County.

Tax ID # 48-0796320

Statement OF PRINCIPLE on Equity, diversity, and Inclusions

Our vision at United Way is that all people have an equal opportunity to succeed. We believe that a community, or an economy, cannot be truly successful unless everyone in that community succeeds, most especially those with the least. We recognize structural racism and other forms of oppression have contributed to persistent disparities that United Way seeks to dismantle.

Our United Way network strives to engage community members, especially those whose voices have traditionally been marginalized. We work with residents, and public and private partners to co-create solutions that ensure everyone has the resources, support, opportunities, and networks they need to thrive. We commit to leveraging all of our assets (convening, strategic investments, awareness building, advocacy) to create more equitable communities.

We actualize our vision by trying to ensure that all people have access to education, an opportunity to provide a livelihood for themselves and their families, and access to affordable quality health care. We also have made a real and deep commitment to the work of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The killings of George Floyd in Minneapolis and Breonna Taylor in Louisville are just the latest examples of excessive and deadly force used against Black people by police in the U.S., and the inadequate response of the justice system to the racist killings of Ahmaud Arbery and others—the list goes on and on—makes it clear that we have to act.

For 130+ years, United Way has worked to bring communities together. We know that communities are stronger not when they embrace hatred and distrust, but when they welcome diversity and address difficult problems based on the principles of equal rights and equal opportunity.

Our society will make the most progress when every one of us can contribute and share ideas, and have their basic rights and dignity respected. Now, more than ever, we must embrace ideas that unify us and make us stronger. To live better, we must Live United.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION ARE AT THE HEART OF WHAT IT MEANS TO LIVE UNITED

United Way fosters and promotes an inclusive environment that leverages the unique contributions of diverse individuals and organizations so that we can collectively and effectively create opportunities for a better life for all. United Way takes the broadest possible view of diversity, going beyond visible differences to affirm the essence of all individuals including the realities, identities, background, experiences, skills and perspectives that make each person who they are. Engaging the power of diverse talent and Community Impact Partners results in innovative solutions and the community ownership necessary to address complex community issues.

United Way of Douglas County is committed to serving all people in Douglas County with dignity and respect. To ‘Live United’ means supporting all people, celebrating the diversity of everyone including socioeconomic status, race and ethnicity, ability, age, religion, national origin, gender identity and/or expression, or sexual orientation.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN ABOUT OUR RACIAL eQUITY COMMUNITY FUND

United Way will practice nondiscrimination in the employment and promotion of staff, recruitment and utilization of volunteers and in the delivery of services to clients.

CODE OF ETHICS POLICY

a. Introduction:

The United Way of Douglas County (UWDC) plays a unique role as a local philanthropic leader. Throughout our local area, the UWDC and its community partners have earned the public trust, nurtured by years of ethical, honest and responsible charitable service. The continued success of the UWDC depends upon public confidence and broad public support fostered by the ethical conduct of each organization (United Way and its member agencies) as well as the ethical conduct of all employees and volunteers of each organization.

This code of ethics is the policy of the UWDC and expresses our fundamental values. Accordingly, this Code guides the conduct of all employees and members of the board of directors and allocations panel of the UWDC and is intended to foster an environment that promotes ethical conduct in carrying out responsibilities.

b. Responsibilities of Employees:

a. Employee Conduct:

• Foster positive relationships with the public.

• Comply with all federal, state and local laws.

• Respect and seek out the truth; avoid misrepresentation.

• Set an example, as employees of a leading nonprofit organization, for high standards of professionalism and high levels of performance.

• Promote public confidence in philanthropic institutions.

• Exhibit respect for co-workers, contributors and volunteers.

• Manage personal finances so as not to cause embarrassment or lack of confidence in the UWDC.

b. Financial responsibility

• Commit to the mission of the organization and ensure resources are used to achieve our stated purposes.

• Make a full and fair disclosure of all relevant information to contributors, who have a right to know how their dollars are spent.

• Spend contributor’s money wisely, efficiently and objectively and demonstrate good stewardship of contributions, grants or other earnings. Practice sound financial management. Assure that accurate financial records are kept.

c. Personal Gain

• Refrain from asking United Way to reimburse for food, transportation, or entertainment unless directly related to UWDC business.

• Request reimbursement for only those travel and related expenses that are incurred on a basis consistent with the mission of the UWDC.

• Refrain from using position at UWDC to influence a political campaign for public office or a political issue unless directed by the UWDC board.

c. Disclosure:

It is the responsibility of all United Way personnel and representatives, including members of the Board of Directors and volunteers, to adhere to the spirit of this code of ethics when making policy or otherwise managing the affairs of the organization.

UWDC employees and members of the board of directors and allocations panel are required to disclose any conflicts of interest or perceived breaches of the Code of Ethics of which they are aware. Disclosure should be made to a supervisor or the President of the Board of Directors. Any reported breaches will be investigated and appropriate action, if needed, will be taken. Confidentiality will be maintained for the person disclosing the breach, unless the matter raises serious legal implications. In such instances, the person disclosing the breach will be notified.

d. All employees and volunteers (including the Board of Directors) will be required to sign this Code. Any demonstrated violation of this Code of Ethics is punishable up to termination of the relationship with United Way of Douglas County.

SEXUAL AND OTHER UNLAWFuL HARASSMENT POLICY

The United Way of Douglas County (“UWDC”) believes that each employee is an important member of the organization and deserves to be treated with respect and dignity.

Discrimination, harassment, or different treatment, because of an employee’s race, sex, religion, color, national origin, age, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identify, gender expression, disability, or any other category protected by law is forbidden by local, state, and federal laws, and will not be tolerated. This may include, but is not limited to, any verbal, written, or physical act in which such a protected characteristic is used to make an employee feel uncomfortable at work or which interferes with an employee’s ability to perform his or her job.

Sexual harassment is a form of discrimination on the basis of sex and will not be tolerated. Sexual harassment is defined as follows:

• Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal and physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute sexual harassment when:

• submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s employment;

• submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment decisions affecting such individual;

• such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment.

Sexually harassing behavior includes, but is not limited to, sexually oriented conduct, offensive comments, innuendoes, and other sexually oriented statements, regardless of the audience, which unreasonably interfere with an employee’s work performance or create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment.

All UWDC employees are responsible for creating an atmosphere free from discrimination and harassment, sexual or otherwise. Further, employees are responsible for respecting the rights of their co-workers. If the UWDC determines that an employee has been harassing another employee, appropriate disciplinary action may be taken against the offending employee.

Employees who feel they may have been treated differently because of race, sex, religion, color, national origin, age, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, or any other category protected by law should report the incident promptly to their supervisor, who will investigate the matter and take appropriate action. If it would be inappropriate to discuss the matter with your supervisor, or if you for any reason feel uncomfortable reporting the matter to your supervisor, please report it directly to the President/CEO of UWDC or directly to a member of the Board of Directors (the “UWDC Board”). All complaints will remain confidential to the maximum extent allowed by law.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

OFFICERS

Kurt Schueler, Chair

Krystal Loomis, Chair-Elect

Jacy Hurst, Secretary

Kate Campbell, Treasurer

MEMBERS AT LARGE