United Way of Dane County mobilizes the caring power of our community so all can thrive. True to our founding spirit, whenever lives are impacted and well-being is at stake in our community, United Way is there. Our mission – to unite the community to achieve measurable results that change lives – is rooted in innovation and action. And through our network of caring connections, we solve big-picture issues no one person or organization can address alone.

United Way listens to what our community needs most, and aligns nonprofit efforts, to use your dollars to make the most positive change. From advancing health and education to strengthening livelihoods and local resilience, we connect people to possibility. We invest in programs aligned to strategies that have the highest opportunities for meaningful and measurable impact within our Plan for Community Well-Being in the areas of Youth Opportunity, Financial Security, Healthy Community and Community Resiliency.

A donation from longtime supporters Dan and Patti Rashke and their Dan & Patti Rashke (TASC) Family Foundation acts as a powerful catalyst and amplifies the impact of your generosity by covering the administrative costs connected to undesignated, individual giving.  Learn more here.

We’ve worked hard over the years to keep our operating and fundraising costs (also known as overhead) low, knowing they ensure your dollars are well-spent: auditing the funds, protecting your dollars, verifying they get invested properly and multiplying your impact.

We proudly invest 86% of all dollars raised in programs and initiatives right here in Dane County. 14% of all dollars raised are administratively dedicated to running a strong, transparent organization – engaging more businesses and individuals to strengthen our community.

Yes, your gift can be restricted within our portfolio of work through the Plan for Community Well-Being in the areas of Youth Opportunity, Financial Security, Healthy Community and Community Resiliency. These four impact areas have the highest opportunities for meaningful and measurable change right here in Dane County.

Undesignated: A gift given to the greatest local needs and effective strategies developed by United Way’s convening and accountability expertise.

United Way invests in programs aligned to strategies that have the highest opportunities for meaningful and measurable impact in Dane County. Our Plan for Community Well-Being achieves measurable outcomes and brings life-changing solutions to our neighbors in these four areas: Youth Opportunity, Financial Security, Healthy Community and Community Resiliency.

Designated: The donor selects a nonprofit agency (501c3) of choice through United Way. United Way remains accountable for the distribution of your designated gift.

Thanks to the generosity of our community, United Way is the largest source of private funding for nonprofits in Dane County. Partnering with us means knowing your donation will be strategically invested to create lasting impact. We take seriously the trust our community places in us to ensure every dollar is well spent.

Accountability is at the core of everything we do. United Way of Dane County is guided by a strong Board of Directors and supported by dedicated community volunteer committees, such as the Vision Council and the Finance and Audit Committee. These groups provide oversight, strategic guidance and financial stewardship.

We’re also proud to be consistently recognized by respected third-party evaluators:

• Charity Navigator: For the 16th consecutive year, United Way of Dane County has ranked among the top 2% of nonprofits nationwide for effectiveness and efficiency – exceeding industry standards and outperforming most charities.
• Candid (formerly GuideStar): We’ve earned the prestigious 2025 Platinum Seal of Transparency, the highest level of recognition for nonprofit accountability and transparency – an honor achieved by fewer than 3% of eligible organizations.

Be one of the ones to change lives in Dane County. Make your individual undesignated donation today to unleash the power of your dollar and invite others to make a difference.

You can donate to the Plan for Community Well-Being through our website, your workplace campaign or by mail/phone.