United Way of the National Capital Area

For nearly 100 years, United Way of the National Capital Area (United Way NCA) has worked diligently to improve the lives of underserved individuals by focusing community resources on creating measurable and lasting impact. United Way NCA serves the following regions throughout the national capital area: Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties in Maryland, District of Columbia, City of Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax/Falls Church, Loudoun, Prince William, Rappahannock, Culpeper, and Fauquier Counties in Virginia. We are uniquely positioned at the intersection of the public, private, philanthropic, and nonprofit sectors, and we leverage our partnerships to mobilize resources and people to lead collective impact for our community. Through our Community Commitment and programs in health, education, and economic opportunity, we are transforming the health and well-being of thousands of people in our region each year.  

United Way NCA’s programs primarily serve the Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) population, low- and moderate-income individuals and families that earn more than the Federal Poverty Level but less than the basic cost of living for the county/state in which they live. We provide a holistic approach that addresses the barriers and challenges community members face and offer a range of programs that provide equitable opportunities to help children and families lead healthy, successful lives.  We understand that to truly address the challenges ALICE households face we must support innovative, collaborative solutions to end systemic inequities that deepen economic, health, and educational disparities for the ALICE population, particularly those from Black and Brown communities. Only then can United Way NCA reach its ambitious goal of reducing the number of ALICE households in our region. 

ALICE Lives Here 

ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) is the way that United Way NCA defines and helps policymakers, the business community, funders, and community members understand the struggles of households that earn above the Federal Poverty Level but not enough to afford a bare-bones household budget. United Way NCA is part of the national United Way United for ALICE initiative, which supports our efforts at the regional level. Through a standardized methodology that assesses the cost of living in every county, this project provides a comprehensive look at financial hardship in communities across the country. Our ALICE Lives Here initiative provides clear, data-driven information about the challenges ALICE households face and helps to drive innovative, collaborative solutions. While some of our peer organizations may prioritize individuals and families already in poverty, United Way NCA’s approach is preventative, anticipating trends and providing programs and services that prevent ALICE families from sinking below the poverty line.