Business Meets Community

Stronger Together

For more than 100 years, United Way has been the trusted nonprofit partner working at the intersection of business and community in Chautauqua County.

When workplaces engage with their community, powerful things happen. Employees gain a deeper understanding of local challenges, nonprofit organizations receive meaningful support, and businesses strengthen their connection to the communities where their employees and customers live.

Business Meets Community is a United Way initiative designed to help workplaces engage their teams through meaningful community experiences.

Through a series of facilitated opportunities, businesses can connect their employees to the real needs and real impact happening across Chautauqua County.

These experiences are designed to be both educational and hands-on, helping employees better understand community challenges while strengthening team culture through shared service.

Opportunities For Your Workplace

United Way offers several experiences through the Business Meets Community initiative that allow organizations to learn, volunteer, and connect with the nonprofit sector.

THE ALICE EXPERIENCE

The ALICE Experience is a powerful two-hour interactive workshop that challenges participants’ understanding of financial hardship in our community.

ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed — individuals and families who are working but still struggle to afford basic necessities such as housing, child care, food, health care and transportation.

In Chautauqua County, 48% of households are either living in poverty or fall into the ALICE category, meaning nearly half of our community faces financial hardship.

Through our hands-on simulation, employees step into the role of families navigating a month of financial decisions with limited resources. The experience often reveals how small disruptions can create significant challenges for working families. The ALICE Experience helps teams better understand the realities faced by many of their neighbors, customers, and coworkers while building empathy and awareness of the invisible challenges within our community.
Learn more about The ALICE Experience → Click here

IMPACT TOURS

Impact Tours give employees the opportunity to see United Way’s work in action.

Over the course of approximately two to three hours, United Way leads groups on a guided tour of local nonprofit agencies to hear directly from the people delivering services in our community.

Participants learn about the programs being supported, the challenges being addressed, and the lives being impacted across Chautauqua County.

Impact Tours help connect the dots between community needs, donor support, and the real impact made possible through United Way’s network of Community Partner agencies.

For many participants, it is the first time seeing firsthand how nonprofit organizations work together to support individuals and families throughout the county.
For more information about booking an Impact Tour, email arohler@unitedwaychq.org.

DAY OF CARING

Individually curated Day of Caring events give businesses the opportunity to give back through a coordinated volunteer experience.

United Way works directly with local nonprofit agencies to identify meaningful volunteer projects and handles the coordination so that participating businesses can focus on serving.

Projects may include activities such as:

1. Landscaping and outdoor improvements
2. Painting or facility projects
3. Sorting donations
4. Assisting with community programs
5. Supporting events or service activities

Day of Caring provides a valuable day of team building, employee engagement, and community impact. At the same time, it delivers much-needed support to local nonprofit organizations serving residents throughout Chautauqua County.
For more information about booking a Day of Caring, email arohler@unitedwaychq.org.

Why Business Engagement Matters

United Way is uniquely positioned to connect individuals, businesses, nonprofits, and government partners to create meaningful community impact.

Business participation strengthens the collective effort to address the most pressing challenges facing our community — from financial hardship and youth opportunity to health and community resiliency.

Through Business Meets Community, companies can empower their employees to:

  • Learn about the realities facing local families

  • Build stronger relationships within the community

  • Contribute their time and talents to meaningful causes

  • Be part of solutions that improve lives across Chautauqua County

When businesses and communities work together, the impact is greater for everyone.

Millennials and Gen Z value community engagement and have a high preference for direct service and volunteer opportunities. Stat: 75% percent of the global workforce is made up by millenials.

United Way of Chautauqua County would be happy to work with your organization to design a Business Meets Community experience that fits your team.

Whether through a workshop, volunteer event, or community tour, these opportunities provide meaningful ways for employees to engage with the community while strengthening workplace culture.

Contact United Way to learn how your organization can participate in Business Meets Community.