2026-2031: IMPACT AGENDA

Our impact agenda is a board approved agenda directing our organizations commitments across the communities we serve through advocacy, collective action, community partnerships, direct services and grant funding opportunities to qualified organizations.

ADVOCACY

  • As a trusted community convener, United Way of Pekin will bring key stakeholders together to address our region's most critical issues, ground every program and investment decision in ALICE data, and uphold diversity, equity, and inclusion as core organizational values — ensuring that our work reflects, respects, and serves everyone.

COLLECTIVE ACTION

  • Remain responsive and flexible to community needs by establishing a volunteer portal for community organizations to use in support of their programs and to promote widespread volunteerism.

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

  • Actively establish and maintain key strategic connections throughout both the United Way of Pekin and, Greater Peoria region.

  • Establish an ISD - Integrated Service Delivery system to help facilitate and coordinate resource provider communication and delivery with a goal of reducing ALICE population numbers by 5% by 2031.

DIRECT SERVICE

  • By 2031, United Way of Pekin will reach 500 Tazewell County youth through the H.A.N.D. Project — offering life skills courses in resume building, interviewing, LinkedIn, and personal finance, with a commitment to expanding our curriculum as the needs of young people in our community evolve.

  • United Way of Pekin's Women United chapter will annually engage, uplift, and empower 50 or more local women through events, volunteer opportunities, and programming that builds community and celebrates leadership.

  • By 2031, United Way of Pekin will grow the 309 Small Business Initiative to 100 active members annually — providing local entrepreneurs with practical business education, meaningful networking opportunities, and a connected community of support that strengthens both individual businesses and the broader economic fabric of our region.

GRANTMAKING

Whole Health Approach To healthy communities

  • United Way of Pekin takes a comprehensive approach to healthy communities — funding grants across health and insurance access, nutrition and food security, and healthy spaces and physical activity, while maintaining collaborative relationships with area medical systems and connecting residents to care through 211 and our Community Resource Guide.

Prevention Programs

  • United Way of Pekin is committed to the long-term mental, behavioral, and physical wellbeing of area residents — investing in prevention, awareness, and recovery so that every neighbor has the support they need to thrive.

tomorrows future

  • Tazewell County's future is shaped by how well we invest in its young people today. United Way of Pekin supports and participates in programs such as the Pekin Alliance for Literacy to build literacy skills, reduce absenteeism, and nurture healthy, resilient youth — because strong kids grow into strong communities.

healthy families

  • United Way of Pekin believes every child deserves a healthy start and a stable, loving family to grow up in. Through investments in maternal and child health, nutrition support, and child advocacy, we work alongside partners to ensure our youngest residents are nourished, cared for, and supported.

integrated service approach

  • Guided by ALICE data and a commitment to integrated service delivery, United Way of Pekin will continue investing in the full continuum of financial stability — from public benefits and housing support to financial coaching, workforce development, and career readiness — so that every resident has a real pathway toward lasting economic security.

supporting local small businesses

  • Over the next five years, United Way of Pekin will deepen its commitment to local economic vitality — expanding the 309 Small Business Initiative, strengthening our economic development partnerships, and ensuring small business owners across our area can access the resources and connections they need to thrive.

Emergency Preparedness, Disaster Relief & Recovery

  • United Way of Pekin will maintain active participation in regional preparedness efforts through the COAD, United We Prepare, 211, and our Community Resource Guide — remaining positioned to mobilize resources, information, and partnerships in support of residents during times of emergency.

supporting those in crisis

  • United Way of Pekin's role in crisis support is one of sustained commitment — funding proven programs, strengthening strategic partnerships, and connecting residents in need to help through our Community Resource Guide and 211 — so that no one faces a crisis moment without a place to turn.

Environmental Stewardship & Sustainability

  • United Way of Pekin will partner with local organizations to transform underutilized and overgrown spaces into pollinator gardens and bee sanctuaries, restoring natural habitats while creating green spaces that benefit the health and wellbeing of our communities.