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 Amanda Heinsen at amanda.heinsen@unitedwayri.org.
Form Symbiotic Nonprofit Relationships
Forbes Nonprofit Council
"If not done carefully, a business relationship has the potential to hinder rather than help the work being done by both organizations. To prevent collaborations that hinder nonprofit work, 11 members of Forbes Nonprofit Council, including Cortney Nicolato, United Way of Rhode Island's president and CEO, share how nonprofit leaders can form mutually beneficial relationships with a partner or another organization."
Nonprofit Center Design Team Announced
GoLocalProv
"United Way of Rhode Island announced on Tuesday the... members of a 'Design Team' that will be tasked with co-creating a vision and plan for... a Nonprofit Resource Center... 'We had a strong application response, and [these] individuals particularly stood out for their collection of unique insights and commitment to collaboration,' said Cortney Nicolato, president and CEO of United Way."
401Gives raises $3.09M for 507 nonprofits
Providence Business News
"This year's 401Gives Day raised the bar, once again, in supporting the state's nonprofit sector. As of Monday afternoon, the annual online fundraising initiative raised $3.09M, breaking last year's record total by close to a million dollars. It also saw a record number of donors – 12,850 in total as of 2:15 p.m. Monday – and number of organizations supported at 507, exceeding last year's mark by 87."
Seeking Input for Nonprofit Resource Center
“The Design Team working with United Way of Rhode Island to create a vision and plan for a statewide Nonprofit Resource Center is seeking input from the community to help guide what the center could offer. The first virtual session will look at current nonprofit capacity, followed by a number of visioning sessions focused on brainstorming strategies to strengthen nonprofits.”
Olneyville Community Fund RFP Released
“Continuing its commitment to strengthening the neighborhood it calls home, United Way of Rhode Island has released a request for proposal (RFP) for funding from its Olneyville Community Fund. More than $100,000 in grants is being made available to nonprofits located in Olneyville and those whose work specifically serves the Olneyville community.”
11 Leaders Selected for Design Team
“Work to create a Nonprofit Resource Center to support Rhode Island organizations is picking up steam with the selection of the members of the Design Team that will be tasked with cocreating a vision and plan for what the effort will look like. United Way of Rhode Island… has named 11 nonprofit leaders to the team.”
UPCOMING EVENTS
Children’s Book Drive 2022
United Way of Rhode Island's Children's Book Drive is back! From April 1 - May 25, we're teaming up with Women United and Books Are Wings to help Rhode Island children build their own libraries at home. Want to donate books or host a drive with your family, friends, or coworkers? View our Children's Book Drive 2022 Frequently Asked Questions at the link below.
Visioning Session: Capacity Building Effort
United Way of Rhode Island is partnering with local nonprofit leaders to design a nonprofit resource hub for organizations across the state. Join us for a virtual, 90-minute visioning session to brainstorm strategies to address the needs of Rhode Island nonprofits and structural inequities in the sector. There will be five sessions — choose the one that best fits your schedule.
Day of Action
Join United Way of Rhode Island for Day of Action on Saturday, June 4 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m at United Way in Providence. We'll be sorting, labeling, and preparing books collected during our Children's Book Drive 2022 for distribution to kids in afterschool and summer learning programs. Three shifts are available — 9 - 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., and 2 - 4 p.m. This is a family friendly volunteer opportunity.
The Night Is Young
Don't miss the largest young professionals event of the year! Join United Way's Young Leaders Circle for The Night Is Young on Saturday, June 18 from 7 - 11 p.m. at Skyline at Waterplace. Register now to get early bird tickets for $45.