About United Way of Whatcom County
For over 65 years, United Way of Whatcom County has championed solutions for our community’s most pressing issues. As stewards of our community’s generosity, we carefully invest donations into vetted local nonprofits to create lasting change. By using localized ALICE data, we are able to provide a holistic and targeted response to the most critical problems we face. We believe that our community is stronger when every person in it has the tools and resources they need to get to a better and more stable place. And that when we unite for the common good, amazing things can happen!
Our focus is on building financial stability for all. We do this by partnering with Whatcom County-based nonprofit organizations that operate within one of three impact areas: meeting basic needs, improving economic mobility, and breaking the cycle of poverty. We currently provide grant funding and maintain partnerships with over 20 local nonprofits. In addition to this, United Way funds and manages Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library for all of Whatcom County. The Imagination Library is a low-barrier literacy program that mails one book each month to registered children under 5 at no cost to families. By making this program available to our community, we help promote kindergarten readiness and long-term academic and career success for Whatcom County’s littlest learners.
Our Mission
To unite a network of local businesses, nonprofits, and community stakeholders to enable financial stability for every person in Whatcom County.
Our Vision
Fostering communities where all families and individuals have opportunity to thrive.
Our Values
Community | Trust/Integrity/Responsibility | Teamwork | Gratitude | Compassion
The Circle of Hope: More Than a Logo
Whether it’s on a presentation during a workplace campaign, on event signage, our brochures, or right here on our website, if you know United Way you’ve undoubtably seen our logo. But do you know the meaning behind it?
The Circle of Hope, the primary element of our logo, exemplifies our organization’s values and mission. The yellow rainbow symbolizes the hope we bring to complex issues. The blue hand represents the support we provide. The red icon in the middle represents humanity, our friends, neighbors, and fellow citizens who may need a hand to get back on their feet.
Hope. Support. Humanity. These three words help guide our work and the way we operate in our community.
We may be a small team, but the impact we have on the community, thanks to generous and community-minded people like you, is huge. Thank you for being a part of this work with us!
Love this work?
Generous folks like you make our work possible. Invest in the future of Whatcom County and help our struggling friends and neighbors find stability!