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 here.)
- 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@uwri.org
IN THE NEWS
United Way to invest $100M to build racial equity
THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL
"The LIVE UNITED 2025 initiative is aimed at improving education, ensuring availability of housing that is affordable and safe for all, and empowering nonprofit organizations, among other objectives."
Cortney Nicolato: 20 who made a difference in 2020
GO LOCAL PROV
"When she was tapped as one of GoLocal’s 19 to Watch in 2019, like so many others, United Way President Cortney Nicolato couldn’t have imagined her role in 2020."
Five Questions With: Larry Warner
Providence Business News
"Redlining, racial covenants and discriminatory lending practices were fully legal practices that decreased homeownership among Blacks over several decades… Moreover, there is evidence of patterns of lower home valuations for BIPOC homeowners versus whites with comparable homes. Why does this matter, and how is it a root cause? Homeownership is highly correlated with accumulation of wealth."
UPCOMING EVENTS
Young Leaders Circle Virtual Networking Night
Meet and reconnect virtually with other young professionals from 6 to 7 pm. We'll be using the Remo platform, so make sure to sign up in advance.
Women United Community Learning Partners
Join us via Zoom from 5-6 pm for the next event in this series, featuring Newport Partnership for Families.
From Hello to Help: 211 Day Event
Join us at 10 am for a Zoom webinar, "From hello to help: 211 is always there." Check back here or sign up for e-news below to receive registration details.