United Way Of Northern New Jersey Inc

UNITED WAY MOBILIZES THE CARING POWER OF COMMUNITIES TO ADVANCE THE COMMON GOOD. WE IMPROVE LIVES AND COMMUNITY CONDITIONS BY ASSESSING NEEDS, DEVELOPING SOLUTIONS, RAISING FUNDS, CONVENING PARTNERS AND MOBILIZING CITIZENS TO ACT.

UNITED IN CARE TO SUPPORT THE WORKING ALICE POPULATION IN THE EXTENDED COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND THE PROJECTED LONG-TERM ECONOMIC RECOVERY, UNITED WAY OF NORTHERN NEW JERSEY WAS IDENTIFIED AS A LEAD PARTNER FOR A FOUR-YEAR PILOT PROJECT TO DIRECTLY ADDRESS THE STRUCTURAL DEFICIENCIES WITHIN THE CHILD CARE SYSTEM. THIS PILOT IS SEEKING TO REVERSE CHILD CARE DESERTS IN FOUR REGIONS ACROSS NEW JERSEY, INCREASING THE AVAILABILITY OF QUALITY, AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR WORKING FAMILIES. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, UNITED IN CARE IS CREATING ALLIANCES THAT PAIR TWO PREVIOUSLY DISCONNECTED PILLARS OF THE CHILD CARE SYSTEMHIGHLY RATED CENTERS AND LOCAL FAMILY CHILD CARE PROVIDERSTO EXPAND CAPACITY, LEVERAGE A COLLECTIVE EXPERTISE, AND SHARE CRITICAL RESOURCES. THIS DATA-DRIVEN PILOT IS MEASURING KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS GATHERED THROUGH FEEDBACK FROM THE PARTICIPATING FAMILIES, CENTERS AND PROVIDERS AND ANALYZED BY EXPERTS. METRICS, DASHBOARDS, AND EVALUATION TOOLS ARE THE BEDROCK FOR UNITED IN CARE'S EVOLUTION AND CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT. THIS PILOT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME A NATIONAL MODEL BY TRANSFORMING THIS SECTOR, PROMOTING QUALITY CHILD CARE AND EARLY EDUCATION, AND SUPPORTING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR WORKING PARENTS AND EARLY EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS.

UNITED FOR ALICEUNITED FOR ALICE IS A DRIVER OF INNOVATION, RESEARCH AND ACTION TO IMPROVE LIFE ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR ALICE (ASSET LIMITED, INCOME CONSTRAINED, EMPLOYED) AND FOR ALL. THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ALICE MEASUREMENTS, A COMPREHENSIVE, UNBIASED PICTURE OF FINANCIAL HARDSHIP HAS EMERGED. HARNESSING THIS DATA AND RESEARCH ON THE MISMATCH BETWEEN LOW-PAYING JOBS AND THE COST OF SURVIVAL, ALICE PARTNERS CONVENE, ADVOCATE AND COLLABORATE ON SOLUTIONS THAT PROMOTE FINANCIAL STABILITY AT LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL LEVELS. THIS GRASSROOTS ALICE MOVEMENT, LED BY UNITED WAY OF NORTHERN NEW JERSEY, HAS SPREAD TO 24 STATES AND INCLUDES UNITED WAYS, CORPORATIONS, NONPROFITS AND FOUNDATIONS.

BUILDING SAVINGS, CAREERS AND STABILITY WE BELIEVE THAT PUTTING IN A HARD DAY'S WORK SHOULD MEAN THAT ALICE WORKERS CAN AFFORD BASIC BILLS AND SET ASIDE SAVINGS TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES ON GOOD DAYS AND BAD. NEARLY ONE THIRD OF NORTHERN NEW JERSEY HOUSEHOLDS ARE WALKING A FINANCIAL TIGHTROPE, UNABLE TO MEET EXPENSES, DEAL WITH UNEXPECTED HARDSHIPS, AND SAVE FOR THE FUTURE. OUR TAX PREPARATION PROGRAM ENSURES OUR CLIENTS RECEIVE FREE IRS-QUALIFIED TAX PREPARATION DURING TAX FILING SEASON, THOSE WITHOUT SUFFICIENT KNOWLEDGE OF TAX LAWS OR THE RESOURCES TO HIRE A TAX PREPARER CAN BE AT A DISADVANTAGE. INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES MIGHT MISS OUT ON PROGRAMS, CREDITS AND DEDUCTIONS THAT COULD HELP LOWER THEIR TAX LIABILITY OR RESULT IN A REFUND THAT COULD HELP PAY DOWN BILLS OR CREATE SAVINGS FOR FUTURE EMERGENCIES. WE ENSURE ALL APPROPRIATE DEDUCTIONS AND CREDITS ARE CLAIMED TO MAXIMIZE REFUNDS.

ALICE @ WORK EXPENSES: $_675,670_ INCLUDING GRANTS OF: $__INTERCONNECTED RACIAL AND ECONOMIC INEQUITIES KEEP ALICE WORKERS FROM ACHIEVING THEIR POTENTIAL. WHEN EMPLOYERS UNDERSTAND THESE INEQUITIES ALICE WORKERS FACE, TOGETHER, WE CAN DEVELOP STRATEGIES TO SUPPORT WORKERS, HELPING TO STABILIZE THIS WORKFORCE WHILE ALSO ACHIEVING BUSINESS OBJECTIVES. UNITED WAY IS PARTNERING WITH EMPLOYERS THROUGH OUR ALICE@WORK INITIATIVE TO RAISE AWARENESS AND DEVELOP STRATEGIES THAT IMPROVE LIFE FOR LOW-INCOME WORKERS WHO MAY ALSO BE JUGGLING WORK ALONG WITH CARING FOR AN ILL, AGING, OR DISABLED LOVED ONE. PANDEMIC RESPONSE: ALICE RECOVERY EXPENSES: $ 285,275_ INCLUDING GRANTS OF: $ _239,000THE ALICE RECOVERY FUND WAS ESTABLISHED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UNITED WAY OF HUNTERDON COUNTY TO ADDRESS EMERGING NEEDS OF ALICE HOUSEHOLDS AND THOSE IN POVERTY IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. THE STATE OF EMERGENCY CREATED BY THE SPREAD OF THE CORONAVIRUS EXPOSED CRITICAL SHORTCOMINGS IN OUR ECONOMY, HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, AND PUBLIC EDUCATION. WE WORKED CLOSELY WITH COMMUNITY AND GOVERNMENT PARTNERS TO IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS AREAS OF CONCERN THROUGHOUT OUR FOOTPRINT VIA A MULTI-PHASE APPROACH DEVELOPED AROUND OUR ANCHOR INITIATIVES. SINCE INCEPTION, WE HAVE PAID OUT OVER $1,506,000 TO INDIVIDUALS AND NONPROFIT PARTNERS. GENERAL COMMUNITY SUPPORTS EXPENSES: $ _237,250_ INCLUDING GRANTS OF: $ _ UNITED WAY OF NORTHERN NEW JERSEY BOLDLY FOUNDED A MOVEMENT IN 2009 TO BETTER UNDERSTAND, SUPPORT, AND AMPLIFY THE NEEDS OF WORKERS WHO ARE PUTTING IN THE HOURS BUT STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY. WE CALLED THESE LOW-WAGE WORKERS ALICE (ASSET LIMITED, INCOME CONSTRAINED, EMPLOYED). ACCORDING TO THE LATEST UNITED WAY OF NORTHERN NEW JERSEY ALICE REPORT, BEFORE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC 10% OF STRUGGLING NEW JERSEY HOUSEHOLDS WERE LIVING BELOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL (FPL) AND ANOTHER 27% WERE ALICE. THESE ALICE HOUSEHOLDS EARN ABOVE THE POVERTY LEVEL, BUT TOO LITTLE TO AFFORD THE BASICS. LIKEWISE, ALICE OFTEN DOESN'T QUALIFY FOR GOVERNMENT SUPPORT. AS A RESULT, ALICE REGULARLY FACES EXCRUCIATING CHOICES. PAY FOR QUALITY CHILD CARE OR THE HEATING BILL? GROCERIES OR A COSTLY MEDICATION? UNITED WAY IS DEDICATED TO BUILDING A FUTURE WHERE ALICE AND THOSE IN POVERTY CAN SAVE FOR AN EMERGENCY, ACCESS QUALITY CARE FOR VULNERABLE FAMILY MEMBERS, AND BENEFIT FROM AN EQUITABLE WORKPLACE. OUR NATIONALLY RENOWNED RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS ENGINE UNITED FOR ALICE PLACES A SPOTLIGHT ON ALICE'S UNIQUE STRUGGLE. USING THIS DATA AND RESEARCH, WE, AND CHAMPIONS FOR ALICE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, ARE INNOVATING, ADVOCATING, AND COLLABORATING ON SOLUTIONS THAT SEEK TO ADDRESS RACIAL AND ECONOMIC INEQUITIES AT THE LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL LEVELS.