United Way of New York City, founded in 1938, fights poverty across the five boroughs by investing in food and benefits access, education, and advocacy. Here is what it does, how to get help, and how to give.
The affiliate designs and invests in evidence-based programs that give low-income New Yorkers both a safety net and a path to a better life. Rather than running a single service, it funds partners, builds coalitions, and pushes for policy change across the five boroughs.
Grace C. Bonilla serves as president and CEO. The work spans food security, education, and family economic mobility throughout New York City.
United Way of New York City focuses heavily on food and benefits access, working through a network of emergency food providers and benefits-enrollment support so families can reach the help they qualify for.
| Program | What it does |
|---|---|
| Food and benefits access | Support for emergency food providers and help connecting families to public benefits. |
| Education | Programs that support students and young people across the boroughs. |
| Advocacy | Policy work to expand the safety net and reduce poverty citywide. |
| ALICE research | Data showing that 56 percent of NYC households cannot afford the true cost of living. |
The affiliate is a founding member of the Policy Committee on New York City Hunger Resources, an alliance of government and nonprofit organizations working to reduce hunger.
United Way uses the ALICE framework, Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, to describe households that work but still cannot afford the basics. In New York City, ALICE data shows that more than half of households fall short of the true cost of living.
That figure helps explain why food and benefits access sit at the center of the affiliate's work: many families are employed yet still need help covering essentials.
You can donate directly, give through a workplace campaign, or designate a gift toward food, education, or economic-mobility programs. Donations support the affiliate's grants and coalitions.
Volunteers and advocates can support its food and policy work. Its EIN for tax-deductible gifts is 13-2617681, and it is listed on Charity Navigator for donors who want to review its finances.
Support for food providers and benefits enrollment.
Programs supporting students across the five boroughs.
Policy work to reduce poverty citywide.
Data on working households that cannot afford basics.
Funding directed to evidence-based local programs.
Payroll campaigns that fund the affiliate's work.
Sources: United Way of New York City (unitedwaynyc.org) our-story and food/benefits pages; United For ALICE; Charity Navigator and ProPublica (EIN 13-2617681). Retrieved June 2026. We are not affiliated with United Way of New York City and receive no compensation for this listing. Spotted an error? [email protected]