Our Impact | United Way of Northwest Oklahoma

“In northwest Oklahoma, we take community building seriously, with a hyper local focus and seek to improve education, financial stability and health. We help people invest in local solutions bringing people together through general charitable giving, volunteerism and public policy advocacy to make life better for our neighbors. And what connects us is a deep belief that people in northwest Oklahoma want to help each other and in intuitive understanding that education, financial stability and health are the cornerstones of a good life. If we improve those foundations together we build a stronger foundation for community and individual success. Together we build a stronger community and a better future for our children together we can live united. Thank you!” - Jessica Caruthers, United Way of NW OK President 2023-2024

United Way of Enid & NW Oklahoma is an autonomous community resource governed by a local Board of experienced volunteers. United Way of Enid & NW Oklahoma is solely responsible for which agencies and programs it chooses to support. United Way of Enid & NW Oklahoma focus on HEALTH, EDUCATION and INCOME.  Through a single community-wide campaign, United Way of Enid & NW Oklahoma raises funds to help meet local health and human-care needs. First recorded campaign was in 1934.  But, United Way is much more than a fund-raiser. Volunteers:  Assess current and future community needs.  Bring organizations and people together to address needs.  Determine where resources are needed most and then distribute them accordingly.  Recruit and train other volunteers.  Put people in touch with the services they need.  Offer management and technical help to a wide range of community agencies.  Apart from government, United Way support the greatest variety of health and human services reaching people from all walks of life and all income groups.  We provide services in Northwest Oklahoma through agencies that have local chapters. Some are small, one-of-a-kind, local agencies. United Way funding patterns are flexible; United Way supports not only “traditional” agencies, but also those that address new and emerging needs.  United Way of Enid & NW Oklahoma as well as all of our agencies receiving funds are nonprofit, tax exempt charities that are governed by volunteers, have annual independent financial oversight, provides services at a reasonable cost, and maintains a policies of diversity and non - discrimination.  United Ways are among the most efficient charitable organizations.  United Way of Enid & NW Oklahoma has 14 agency partners throughout our community. Thanks to all our donations received, 98.5% stays local, we pay 1.5% to United Way Worldwide for dues; however some of that comes back to our community to pay for training. We have a salary overhead that averages between 11-14 %.