United Way Niagara falls short of 2024 fundraising goal

For the first time since 2008, United Way Niagara has not reached its fundraising goal ahead of their Mar. 31, deadline.

The charity raised $5.1 million this year, which fell about three per cent short of their goal of $5.25 million.

The money raised during its annual campaign is essential to supporting the most vulnerable people in the region.

Representatives say during difficult economic times the vulnerable get hit the hardest.

Francis Hallworth, CEO of United Way Niagara, says that while they are currently short of their goal, they are still optimistic of reaching the goal by Mar. 31.

Hallworth says it has been 17 years since the not-for-profit failed to meet their goal, saying times are tough.

“So it’s pretty challenging, it’s challenging for a lot of people,” she said. 

“The cost of living and inflation is tough on people and it reduces the amount they have in their disposable income, and like businesses, not-for-profits are not immune to what’s happening in the economy.”

Funds raised through United Way Niagara help to feed families, house the homeless, and support people struggling with their mental health among other things.

The money goes to organizations who help the most vulnerable in our communities, meaning when United Way doesn’t meet its fundraising goal, it can be worrisome.

Elisabeth Zimmermann, the executive director at the YWCA in Niagara, says she hopes local communities will see how important their work is.

“So yeah, we are concerned and certainly hoping the community will see how important the work that gets done through funding that United Way gives us,” she said.

The Niagara YWCA is an organization that helps house women and their families.

Zimmerman says that hard economic times are even more difficult for the vulnerable.

“We’ve already been in a housing crisis – for people in the lower income, they are already really struggling, so anything added to that will be significant,” she said.

Fortunately, falling short of their goal won’t immediately impact the programs that the United Way supports, because the organizations have three-year funding contracts, so that they know what to expect.

Donations can be given to United Way Niagara online here, while there are still weeks left to meet its fundraising goal.

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