Valley of the Sun United Way, founded in 1925, works across Maricopa County on health, housing and homelessness, education, and workforce development. Here is what it does, how to get help, and how to give.
The affiliate raises money and directs it to programs and partners across Maricopa County, organizing its work around four impact areas: health, housing and homelessness, education, and workforce development. It calls this work being a force of Mighty Change.
Carla Vargas Jasa serves as president and CEO. The organization has united the Valley since 1925 and recently announced millions of dollars in grants to Maricopa County nonprofits and schools.
Arizona residents can dial 211 to reach a free, confidential line connecting them to local services. Valley of the Sun United Way directs its own work to the four impact areas and funds programs that deliver those services.
| Program | What it does |
|---|---|
| 2-1-1 access | Arizona's free line connecting residents to food, housing, and other local services. |
| Housing and homelessness | Programs that help people find and keep stable housing. |
| Education and early childhood | Work supporting children, including partnership with First Things First. |
| Workforce development | Programs that help people build skills and find better jobs. |
The affiliate also supports more than 10,000 children statewide through its early-childhood partnerships.
Rather than spreading evenly across many causes, Valley of the Sun United Way concentrates on four impact areas: health, housing and homelessness, education, and workforce development. It directs grants to nonprofits and schools working in those areas across Maricopa County.
United Way also uses the ALICE framework, Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, to describe households that work but cannot afford the basics, which informs where it focuses.
You can donate directly, give through a workplace campaign, or designate a gift to a specific cause. Donations support the affiliate's grants to Maricopa County nonprofits and schools.
Volunteers help across the four impact areas. Valley of the Sun United Way's EIN for tax-deductible gifts is 86-0104419, and it is listed on Charity Navigator for donors who want to review its finances.
Programs that help people find and keep housing.
Support for children, with First Things First.
Programs to build skills and find better jobs.
Work to improve health access in Maricopa County.
Data on working households that cannot afford basics.
Payroll campaigns that fund the affiliate's work.
Sources: Valley of the Sun United Way (vsuw.org) and its grant announcements; Charity Navigator and ProPublica (EIN 86-0104419). Retrieved June 2026. We are not affiliated with Valley of the Sun United Way and receive no compensation for this listing. Spotted an error? [email protected]
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