FRequently Asked questions

Tulsa Area United Way (TAUW) unites people and resources to improve lives and strengthen our communities. To do this, TAUW — with thousands of individual donors and companies — raises more than $25 million each year to support innovation grants, collaborative initiatives, shared technology services, and human services organizations. This means 160+ programs within Tulsa, Creek, Rogers, Okmulgee, Osage, and Wagoner counties empower a community working together to ensure that all of its members flourish and thrive.  

During TAUW’s annual Day of Caring events, more than 6,300 volunteers provide direct service to area schools and nonprofits. In June 2023, TAUW took over operations of 211 Eastern Oklahoma, which offers 24/7 free service available to citizens of Eastern Oklahoma through a direct phone call, live chat, text message or online search across 37 counties.  

If you have any questions we haven’t provided answers to, please contact us at 918-583-7171. We look forward to talking with you very soon!

What is the Tulsa Area United Way?

Tulsa Area United Way (TAUW) unites donors, advocates, volunteers and partners to advance the health, education and financial stability of every person in every community. 

  • Sustaining Lives via Social Safety Net
    • Advance the common good by investing in three building blocks of a better quality of life: health/safety, education and financial stability. 
  • Community Collaborations
    • Fund community-wide responses to solve social challenges, encouraging collaborative partnerships between nonprofits, businesses, foundations, government and educational institutions.
  • Social Innovation 
    • Provide financial assistance to nonprofit organizations that offer creative, innovative solutions to unmet community challenges

Why give through United Way?

Tulsa Area United Way is the steward of a robust, volunteer-led process to assess and invest in community needs for equitable and accountable distribution of funds, ensuring every donation is going to highly successful nonprofit organizations. 

When you support Tulsa Area United Way and its partner nonprofits, you know that your contributions are making the greatest difference possible, right here in your community. Hundreds of thousands of lives are touched, changed, or perhaps even saved through area contributions.

If I donate, will my name and address be sold to others?

No! Tulsa Area United Way honors the confidentiality of information and the privacy of our donors and beneficiaries.

If I need services, where can I get help?

Tulsa Area United Way helps fund an information and referral service called 2-1-1 HelpLine. Simply dial 211 or CLICK HERE to view a list of Tulsa Area United Way partner agencies.

What makes the Tulsa Area United Way so effective?

By working closely with business, labor, government and human services organizations, TAUW is uniquely positioned to have the greatest possible impact on our community’s most pressing needs. 

United Way volunteers encourage agencies to combine their resources to avoid duplication of efforts and provide the best services possible, maximizing your donation and maximizing your impact.

No other organization gathers the information, does the research, or follows up as efficiently and effectively as the TAUW.

How much of my contribution stays in the Tulsa area?

Tulsa Area United Way receives support and provides help in Creek, Okmulgee, Osage, Rogers, Tulsa and Wagoner counties. All money raised in our six county service area stays to help residents in those counties. 

What does the Tulsa Area United Way do besides raise money?

TAUW works closely with service providers, governments and other funders to identify health and human service problems in our communities and develops plans to address them. 

Tulsa Area United Way assists nonprofit organizations in a variety of other ways, such as:

  • Recruiting and training volunteers
  • Nonprofit leadership development
  • Technology services 

In addition, TAUW lobbies for supportive health and human services policies, and helps create collaborative partnerships to improve the community’s capacity to solve problems. 

Who runs the Tulsa Area United Way?

Community volunteers from all walks of life run Tulsa Area United Way.

  • Members of the Board of Directors establish and monitor policy 
  • Community investment volunteers visit agencies and review their programs and budgets before making funding recommendations
  • About 2,000 campaign volunteers raise the money

Many others oversee the programs of our partner nonprofits and evaluate the impact these programs have on our communities. 

What is United Way Worldwide?

United Way Worldwide (UWW) is an international service and training center for local United Ways.

Its purpose is to help local United Ways accomplish their mission by doing things which local United Ways cannot do on their own, such as the donated TV spots from the National Football League. 

How is the Tulsa Area United Way related to United Way Worldwide and other United Ways across the country?

Our Tulsa Area United Way is independent of UWW and other local United Ways. Our organization is governed by our local volunteers; decisions made by other United Ways have no impact on decisions made in the Tulsa Area.

Tulsa Area United Way’s relationship with UWW remains strong, and the services it provides are valuable. Each year, TAUW spends under one percent of its campaign total on various services from the UWW.

What is TAUW’s Tax ID number?

TAUW’s Tax ID number is 73-0580283.

MORE FAQ Answers

We often get questions about what TAUW invests community dollars to. The answer is these three building blocks for better lives:

EDUCATION

TAUW supports lifelong learning in our community from our youngest to our oldest citizens through the provision of educational information, training, and counseling.

FINANCIAL STABILITY

Thanks to supporters like you, thousands of Tulsa area residents have obtained employment, pulled themselves out of debt, and have been able to provide for their families.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Many of our partner agencies offer information, training and/or counseling to help Tulsa area residents live longer, healthier, and more productive lives.