Our Approach
Unite with us for local impact
When you make a gift to your community’s United Way, you are investing in programs and services having the greatest impact on local lives. Together, we are keeping people housed, fed, safe, secure, and connected. That’s the United Way.
What Your Gift Supports
United Way Maritimes supports a network of vital community services. Your donation powers essential initiatives across six key focus areas:
Housing & Homelessness
Creating safe, stable, and affordable housing solutions for all.
Food Security
Ensuring every family has access to healthy, nutritious meals.
Education & Employment
Removing barriers to learning and meaningful work opportunities.
Wellbeing & Safety
Supporting mental health and physical safety in our neighborhoods.
Social Inclusion & Access
Building a region where everyone belongs and can access services.
Capacity Building
Strengthening the local non-profit sector to serve better.
I will always give at some level. It makes me proud to be a donor. When I see the lives United Way helps change, it makes me wonder if I can do more.
Heather Stewart
Proud Community Donor
Join the movement for positive social change across the Maritimes.
By uniting together, we can become a commanding engine of doers, dreamers, and donors who believe in the potential of every neighbor. Your action today is the catalyst for tomorrow's progress.
Donate Online
Support your community with a one-time or monthly credit card donation.
Give a gift of securities
A gift of securities is a simple, tax-efficient way to maximize your donation’s value.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fee for designating my donation to another charity?
If I designate a portion of my donation to another registered Canadian charity through my workplace’s United Way campaign, when will the charity receive my donation?
We provide designated donor dollars to other registered charities twice a year: in April and the following March. The exact timing depends on how and when you give. If you donate by credit card, cash, or cheque, your donation will be forwarded to the designated charity the following April. If you donate through a workplace payroll deduction campaign, your donation will be sent the following March, since payroll deductions are typically processed January through December.
For example: if you donate by credit card in October 2026, your donation will be sent to your designated charity in April 2027. If you sign up for payroll deduction in October 2026, your workplace will process your deduction from January to December 2027, and we will pay out your designation in March 2028.
In every case, we wait to fully receive your donation before passing it on — so your charity of choice receives the full impact of your gift, and we can keep processing costs (like bank fees or postage) as low as possible.
Where can I find my tax receipt?
- Tax receipts for payroll donations will be included on your T4 slip, issued by your employer.
- Tax receipts for cash, cheque, post-dated cheques, and one-time credit card donations of $25 or more will be emailed or mailed to you.
- Monthly credit card donations of $25 or more will receive a tax receipt no later than February of the following year. Your credit card statement will show the charge as "United Way Maritimes."
- You can also retrieve your tax receipt at any time by logging into your account at [link]*.
*Applicable to @work users only
How does United Way Maritimes protect donors’ privacy?
We are committed to protecting the privacy of our donors, volunteers, and community members. Read our full privacy policy.
What methods are available for making a donation to United Way?
What programs or charities does United Way Maritimes fund?
In our most recent funding cycle, we funded 136 organizations across the Maritimes. To see the complete list, visit our Who We Fund page.
How do you decide which programs received funding?
Our most recent funding cycle introduced an Expression of Interest process for organizations seeking program and/or operational funding for the first time, and made two-year funding commitments standard across all locations — creating greater stability within the non-profit social service sector.
Applications are reviewed by local volunteer Community Impact Councils (CICs), who bring local expertise and reflect the diversity of their communities. They evaluate applications based on local community needs, our funding principles, and the impact approaches outlined in our community impact framework — considering the dollars available per region and ensuring selected organizations are meeting the priority needs most significant to their community. CICs then make a recommendation to the Board for approval.