Nonprofit Support

United Way of Westchester and Putnam (UWWP) has been mobilizing strategic partnerships and leveraging resources to create a more equitable community since 1962.

It does this by advancing education, financial stability, and health initiatives as well as supporting crisis response and community resilience efforts.

In addition to operating a number of direct service programs helping hundreds of thousands of children and families each year, UWWP is perhaps most recognizable as an investor in some of our community’s most impactful nonprofit organizations.

Grants to Nonprofit partners

UWWP administers several grant initiatives throughout the year and generally operates on a Trust-based Philanthropy model welcoming new grantees each cycle. All UWWP grants are reviewed and approved by volunteers with staff having no say in the decision-making process:

Community Impact Grants – Announced via RFP typically in the spring, this initiative welcomes both general operating and programmatic requests from 501c3 organizations serving Westchester and/or Putnam. For more information, subscribe to our eNews via our homepage or check our website in the spring.
Capacity Building Grants – These grants are offered by invitation-only, typically in the fall, and support Westchester and/or Putnam-based nonprofit organizations that serve other nonprofit organizations.
Emergency Food and Shelter Program Grants – UWWP is the local administrator of the federal Emergency Food and Shelter Program, created in 1983 under the Reagen Administration and currently administered by FEMA. These grants have no set timeline and are dependent upon the procurement of Congressional funding for the Program. Grantors must be set-up to receive federal funding in order to apply for these grants. For more information, subscribe to our eNews via our homepage or check our website in the spring
Crisis Response Grants – These grants are ad hoc and designed to respond to a wide-spread need in the community — i.e., Hurricane relief, Pandemic response, SNAP Benefit/Food Insecurity, etc.

Professional Development

Since 2002, UWWP has hosted the annual Nonprofit Leadership Summit – an all-day capacity-building conference for the purpose-driven organizations of this community. Since that time, more than 10,000 attendees from more than 1,000 organizations have come together to learn from nationally-recognized visionary leaders, as well as local practitioners and changemakers. Attendees also forge connections and explore innovative strategies that empower organizations to thrive! This year’s event can be found here: https://www.uwwp.org/summit-2026/

Get Stuff for Your Clients

Did you know United Way donates between $5 – $6 million in new In-Kind donations to nonprofits each year through its Essential Goods for Basic Needs Program? Sign-up your nonprofit to be a partner. Learn more.

Connect People in Need to Your Programs Services

For more than 21 years, The 211 Helpline has been an important governmental and nonprofit partner connecting people in need 24/7/365 to tens of thousands of programs and services. A national product that locally is operated by UWWP out of its offices in White Plains. Our 211 Call Center serves almost 8 million New Yorkers across the Hudson Valley, Long Island, Capital Area and the Adirondacks – and in 2025, we fielded 727K requests for help around basic human needs like food insecurity, housing insecurity, rental and utility assistance, and so much more. Make sure your nonprofit is listed in our database so that we can refer clients to your organization. To find out more, visit United Way’s 2-1-1.

Environmental Health Capacity Building

Annually, UWWP hosts a free Shred event (in late spring) and a free eWaste event (early fall) for the nonprofit community. Through this program, UWWP offers secure disposal of sensitive materials, improving efficiency and cutting costs. Many smaller organizations struggle with the high expense of shredding (as much as $1/pound) and limited e-waste recycling options. Consequently, they often store these items, creating clutter and reducing valuable space needed for community services. For more information, contact our Impact Department.