United is the Way to Create Change
Every day, over 1.3 million people in our region struggle to afford essentials like housing, food, and health care. This is the reality of our ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) neighbors.
United Way NCA improves the lives of underserved individuals in the National Capital Area by focusing community resources on creating measurable and lasting impact.
United is the way for community impact
We bring people and resources together to tackle our communities’ toughest challenges.
33,300
Students and families served by our programs
1,800
Dedicated volunteers committed their time and service
3,900
Students supported across educational programs
$1.1 mil
In tax refunds secured through financial empowerment
Explore Our Programs
United Way NCA is committed to providing resources to address inequity and help build a community where everyone can thrive.
United Way NCA promotes wellness by providing physical, nutritional, and mental health resources and by removing systemic barriers to food security, physical exercise, healthy eating, and mental health education services. [Learn More]
United Way NCA is committed to supporting Title I schools to support students from middle school onward to address attendance, behavior, and course performance to help our ALICE students thrive. [Learn More]
United Way NCA works to ensure the financial security of everyone in our community. Through our financial empowerment centers, we remove barriers to a range of financial services. [Learn More]
Create Lasting Impact, Get Involved View All Upcoming Events
2026 Annual Meeting
06/10/2026
3:30 pm - 6:00 pm
As a trusted convener, United Way NCA is uniquely positioned to mobilize partners across sectors to support ALICE families. Our Annual Meeting brings these partners together in one place to address both critical, immediate needs and foster long-term collaboration. Join us to learn how United Way NCA is driving transformational change for ALICE.
2026 Back to School Stuff the Bus
08/13/2026
United Way NCA’s Stuff the Bus campaign provides backpacks filled with grade-appropriate school supplies to middle school students attending our Community Schools in DC and surrounding counties in Northern Virginia and Maryland. Join us this August as United Way NCA partners with the DC Mystics to support ALICE, more details to follow.
2026 Tee Up for Equity
10/07/2026
11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Tee Up for Equity supports ALICE students and families in Loudoun County. Over the past six years, United Way NCA’s Regional Advisory Council has raised over $200,000 to provide necessities through pantry programs in Loudoun schools and assistance for local families experiencing housing insecurity. Join us this October 7th, more details to follow.
Volunteering With United Way NCA
When we make the call, you show up ready to create a lasting impact for the community we serve. Without your commitment of time and service, United Way NCA would not be able to reach our most vulnerable neighbors. Ready to make a difference? Join us and volunteer today.
What you can do Other Ways to Take Action & Make a Difference
Donate Now
Invest in people. Invest in your neighborhood. Invest in a stronger National Capital Area. Donate today to change lives.
Volunteer Locally
Share your time. Share your talents. Share your love for community. Volunteer with your local United Way to change lives.
Success Stories View All Success Stories
Walt Whitman’s Food Market Is Sustaining Its Community
April 22, 2026
Faced with rising living costs and a 29% household poverty rate in Fairfax County, the Walt Whitman Middle School Family Food Market provides a vital monthly lifeline, offering fresh produce and essential groceries to over 200 families to help bridge the gap between their income and the cost of basic necessities.
Service In Transition: How Volunteering Keeps Gia Simms Engaged & Empowered
April 8, 2026
Driven by a desire for human connection while navigating a career transition, educator Gia Simms found a renewed sense of purpose and perspective by volunteering with United Way NCA, transforming the solitary challenge of job hunting into a powerful opportunity to uplift local students and stay grounded through community service.
Empowering Students Through Real‑World Experience
March 13, 2026
Students from H.D. Woodson High School in Washington, DC attended mock interviews at United Way of the National Capital Area’s downtown office in February.
Honoring Dr. King’s Legacy: United Way NCA Turns Reflection Into Action
February 6, 2026
Every January, we return to the words, the wisdom and the work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King believed change is built through action—through people choosing, again and again, to serve one another.