Women United
A growing, global force of 75,000+ women in 165 countries
Women United members are United Way leadership donors who want to do more.
They work actively to further childhood literacy through grantmaking and volunteering.
Since 2011, these powerful women have donated more than $5.3 million to United Way of Rhode Island to support our community. The group made grants of more than $1 million to support childhood literacy. And they also have fun together at members-only events throughout the year.
See our Women United Membership list.
Women on a mission
Women United’s mission is to engage and mobilize the power and leadership of women through education, philanthropy, advocacy, and service to ensure that every child in every Rhode Island neighborhood has equitable opportunities to learn to read. (Read more about United Way’s strategic focus on childhood literacy)
- Women United Executive Committee reviews applications and makes grants to Rhode Island literacy-focused nonprofits, granting $395,000 to eight organizations last year alone.
- Members also donate their time, volunteering 542 hours collectively last year.
Want to support Women United’s mission? Text WUGive to 51555 or visit our Women United donation page.
Membership benefits
Women United members donate $1,000 or more annually to United Way’s Community Impact Fund and/or the Women United fund.
The benefits of Women United membership include:
- Belonging to a community of like-minded women who share their time, talent and treasure
- Volunteering alongside others who want to make a difference
- Collaborating with business and community leaders
- Helping young Rhode Islanders with literacy opportunities, including STEM
- Participating in fun and educational members-only events
- Power of the Purse signature event: preferred tickets, preferred seating
- Opportunity to join and participate in Women United committees
- Women United members are “at the table” with both the United Way of Rhode Island Board and the Community Advisory Board
- Participation in members Facebook and LinkedIn groups
To discuss whether membership is for you, please contact Anita Oliver at anita.oliver@unitedwayri.org
Zoning laws hindering housing construction
The Boston Globe
"Cortney Nicolato, the CEO of United Way of Rhode Island and another member of the special legislative commission, said most of the state’s land use enabling legislation was written in 1991... 'When you have 100 amendments in a 30-year legislation, it's clearly not working... The housing crisis cannot be truly transformed until we tackle systemic barriers, like zoning laws and land use.'"
McKee Proposes $250 Million for Housing
GoLocalProv
"Our state's housing crisis is significant and must be a priority in the budget. But just as important, the investment needs to combine with transformational change in the systems surrounding housing as a whole," said Cortney Nicolato, president and CEO of United Way of Rhode Island.
Community Focus: United Way/Kyle Bennett
WPRI 12
"Director of Policy and Equity for United Way of Rhode Island Kyle Bennett joined 12 News at 4 to discuss the Good Neighbor Energy Fund, how many families benefited from it, and what residents can do to help."
Voting Begins for Nonprofit Innovation Lab
“Following months of honing their innovative ideas to create positive social impact in our state, leaders of six nonprofits will make their pitch to Rhode Islanders via brief videos in hopes of winning the Public Choice Award of the Nonprofit Innovation Lab. The voting opens Jan. 19 and ends on Jan. 24, with the winning organization receiving $5,000 in funding.”
Leaders Selected for ED Learning Circle
“Leaders of 11 local nonprofits have been selected by United Way of Rhode Island as fellows for its next Executive Director Learning Circle series. The year-long program takes an innovative approach to building the capacity of, and strengthening, the state’s nonprofit sector.”
211: On the Line
“It’s been very, very difficult at times,” shares Evelyn Cabrera, a senior community resource specialist and team leader for United Way 211 in Rhode Island. “But I couldn’t be more proud of our work and the ways we’ve been there to help our fellow Rhode Islanders throughout this crisis.”
UPCOMING EVENTS
National 211 Day Celebration
Join United Way of Rhode Island for our National 211 Day Celebration on Friday, Feb. 11 from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. Together, we're celebrating our 211 team who is always there, our donors who make it possible to answer each call, and our community partners who help callers get the services they need. This is a free, virtual event.
Equity Challenge 2022
Ready to learn more about racial equity? Join our Equity Challenge 2022. You can start when we launch on Feb. 28, 2022 or anytime after that. After registering, you'll receive an email each weekday for three weeks with resources, reflection questions, and actions you can take to help create a more equitable Rhode Island.