Relief Bill Includes $300 Tax Break for Charitable Gifts

Americans have access to a new tax incentive this year when making a donation to qualifying charities, including United Way of the Battle Creek Region and many of our local nonprofit partners. The federal relief stimulus under the CARES Act allows taxpayers to claim an additional $300 deduction on their taxes without itemizing. The universal…

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Knowing ALICE: Jakaria’s Story

Building a better life isn’t easy. ALICE* households are reminded of this fact every day. But as Jakaria’s story reveals, having the right people and help available can forge a pathway to success. “I was in an apartment that I liked, and it was a good price and location, but it was infested with roaches,…

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10 Years & Counting!

United Way Earns Top Honor The last voyage of the Space Shuttle. Prince William and Kate Middleton tie the knot. The iPhone 4S debuts. That’s what was happening during the first year your United Way received Charity Navigator’s coveted 4-Star rating. This week, we made it an even decade. Charity Navigator rates nonprofits in two…

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ALICE 2020 Needs You

We’ve all faced an inconvenient expense. Your car battery dies. One of your kids is sick and can’t go to school. You’ve got a cavity that needs fixing. Now imagine you’re living paycheck to paycheck, just barely keeping up with your bills. Suddenly, that inconvenience becomes a crisis. That’s the reality for 61,000 households in…

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Year in Review: Advocacy Efforts

Give. Advocate. Volunteer. These are the core elements of what we do at United Way. We’ve put an especially strong focus on advocacy in 2019, as public policy continues to be an area in which we can work to eliminate barriers and improve systems that impact many in our community. Looking outward, we are turning…

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Year in Review:
Pop Up Giving

Did you attend a Pop Up Giving this year? If so, you know that they are eye-opening, impactful, and always involve good eats. We hope you also know that you made a difference. Pop Up Giving popped up four times this year, and between donations from attendees, match sponsors and event sponsors, we were able…

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Impact Week: Initiatives, Advocacy Move the Work Forward

Grantmaking, in one form or another, has been a part of United Way’s history for decades. For a lot of people, it’s what we’re known for, and supporting our partners with funding is still a big part of how we drive impact. However, grantmaking alone won’t propel us to our community level goals of increased…

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