It’s said that if you don’t hold fast to your values, whether in good times or bad, then your “values” are really just hobbies.

At United Way, our values are fundamental. They drive every aspect of our work—who we are, what we do, how we interact with each other, and how we engage with our partners and our community.

“You can’t grow meaningful, lasting life-changing impact without being rooted in positive values,” said Chris Sargent, President & CEO of United Way BCKR.

Sit in on a United Way staff meeting, and you’ll hear values brought up a lot. Listen to United Way representatives and partners interact, and values are part of the discussion. Decisions large and small are constantly tied to the organization’s values.

“When you lead with values, you show up in an authentic way,” Sargent said. “You partner authentically, you do the work authentically, you hold yourself and others accountable. Best of all, you unleash the power of the people around you to do amazing things that benefit the community equitably.”

At United Way, we embrace these values:

Equity

Collaborating with communities most affected by inequities. We do this by building capacity, increasing accountability in our partnerships, and looking at our own organizational behavior to make sure we do what’s right and equitable.

Leadership

Modeling the behaviors we expect of others and supporting our colleagues in service.

Accountability

Being transparent, taking ownership of our work, our decisions and our actions.

Integrity

Always doing what’s right, even when no one is looking.

Creativity

Encouraging and developing new ideas through innovation and transparency.

Connected to Community

Always working to engage with our community through authentic partnerships with individuals and organizations.

“Our values are never ‘behind the scenes,’” said Sargent. “They are front and center of our work and our impact. When we lead with our values, we bring more partners who share those values and want to make a difference.”

What can you do?

Study the graphic on this page that describes United Way’s values. Do they resonate with you? If so, you’re the partner we need to impact our community! Check out the JOIN US menu at the top of the page and find your place to plug in.