UNITED FOR GOOD CAMPAIGN
For 55 years, United Way of the Wine Country has been dedicated to community grantmaking, advocacy, convening, and service
We recognize that racism, social injustice, and unfair economic systems create deep inequities in our community, impacting everyone. We also acknowledge our own past involvement in these systems and practices, and are committed to addressing and rectifying these issues. We now know that 25-30% of households in our region cannot make ends meet, and families of color are disproportionately represented among these households. In response, United Way and our mission are evolving to shift these paradigms.
Today, while we continue to connect people with the vital resources they need to achieve financial stability and contribute to the well-being of our shared communities, we are also advocating for and investing in equity-centered systems change. We are prioritizing our core values of fairness/equity, inclusivity, integrity, accountability, transparency, and collaboration, along with practices and policies that build belonging.
“There’s plenty of poverty above the poverty line.” - Matthew Desmond, Poverty, By America
According to the United Way 2023 Real Cost Measure Report, nearly one in three households in our region from Petaluma to the Oregon border struggles to make ends meet.
Importantly, income inadequacy is not equally distributed across racial lines. While families of all races face financial challenges, those led by people of color are disproportionately affected. The Real Cost Measure reveals a sobering reality for many families of color in California.
Raising awareness and understanding of the long-standing race, economic, and social systems that perpetuate inequities is essential to United Way’s advocacy for and investment in strategic action. This work will change the face of philanthropy in our region forever, as we explore and implement the principles of Community-Centric Fundraising both in our own fundraising, management, and grantmaking efforts and as part of a larger CCF Community of Practice in Sonoma County.
THE IMPORTANCE OF ADDRESSING RACIAL AND ECONOMIC INEQUITY
Income, Wages, and Wealth Inequities
The United States has some of the highest levels of wealth inequity among developed countries, with racial wealth gaps persisting for generations. African American/Black and Latine families have significantly less retirement and emergency savings compared to white families, reflecting the long-term effects of discriminatory policies rather than individual shortcomings.
Housing Affordability, Stability, and Environmental Risks to Wellbeing
As with income and wage disparities, people of color are more likely to be extremely low-income renters, struggling to afford rent due to lower wages and current and historical discrimination in housing. In addition, due to decades of redlining and race-based housing discrimination and segregation, families of color often live in lower-opportunity areas, affecting access to nutritious food, quality education, safe environments, and opportunities for employment leading to upward economic mobility.
Housing Affordability, Stability, and Environmental Risks to Wellbeing
Racial and ethnic minority groups in the United States experience higher rates of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and asthma, along with higher mortality rates from COVID-19 and increased incidence of cancer, maternal mortality, mental health challenges, and premature death. For example, diabetes affects 12.1% of African American/Black people and 11.8% of Latine people, compared to 7.4% of white people. African American/Black people have 1.3 times the rate of hypertension compared to white people. The CDC reports that infant mortality rates among African American/Black people are double those of white people.
*Historic and systemic erasure of Indigenous communities results in a lack of data involving Native people. We prioritize the voices and needs of this vibrant community in our work, and advocate for the same in others.
Sources: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, www.cdc.gov, www.ahajournals.org,
minorityhealth.hhs.gov
HOW WE ARE CHANGING LOCAL PHILANTHROPY
HOW YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Philanthropy and Nonprofit Operational Sustainability
The traditional practices of philanthropy often perpetuate inequities by focusing on program funding over operational sustainability. This practice results in inadequate support for essential nonprofit functions, leading to operational challenges and reduced effectiveness. The recent closure of Social Advocates for Youth (SAY) in Sonoma County highlights the operational and financial challenges faced by nonprofits, exacerbated by restricted funding and a lack of support for core functions such as finance management, staffing, recruitment, development, and retention.
Community-Centric Fundraising, Philanthropy, and Advocacy
United Way adopted Community-Centric Fundraising principles to transform local philanthropy and nonprofit management. CCF promotes fundraising grounded in equity and social justice, emphasizing collaboration over competition and advocating for the holistic well-being of communities. By removing competition in fundraising and grantmaking, investing in nonprofit operations, especially those led by people of color, and mutually, collaboratively building highly networked resources, we will be strengthening our collective capacity to achieve our missions. Ultimately, our goal is nothing short of transforming how we do fundraising and community investment in Sonoma County.
Strategic support from the community is essential for these solutions. Our campaign goal is to raise $1.65 million in unrestricted revenue for FY 2025 to build our operational capacity and sustainability so we can do the same in the future with our community partners. Your support will enable us to:
Build the infrastructure needed to support ongoing fundraising and grantmaking efforts, ensuring the long-term sustainability of our work.
Continue collaboratively developing Sonoma County’s Community of Practice to more deeply implement CCF principles and shift fundraising and community investment practices from transactional to deeply relational.
Advocate for policies and practices that promote equity and inclusion in philanthropy and nonprofit management.
