662.841.9133

Learn more

about us

About us

United Way of Northeast Mississippi fights for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in Northeast Mississippi. Our mission is to create opportunities to improve lives in the communities we serve.

We do this by investing in programs and agencies that further the common good in the impact areas of Academic Success, Family Stability, and Health & Wellness. We also look for opportunities to convene community stakeholders around the big issues that affect all of us and to find innovative solutions to these community problems. This has led to the creation of the Early Childhood Coalition, the Hunger Coalition of Northeast Mississippi, Volunteer Northeast Mississippi, and the Northeast Mississippi Health Alliance.

We serve the the 8-county region of Chickasaw, Itawamba, Lee, Monroe, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Tishomingo, and Union counties and currently invest in 56 nonprofit organizations that serve 125,000 individuals residing in these counties each year.

Our goal is to invest funds and leverage volunteers to:

Provide our children and youth with the resources and training they need to become successful, self-sufficient adults.

Provide critical human services to help families meet their basic needs of food, clothing, and shelter.

Help families achieve financial and social stability and sustainable independence.

Provide access to affordable healthcare, especially preventative healthcare, to improve quality of life and help individuals remain self-supporting.

Our History

United Way of Northeast Mississippi began in 1961 as a group of interested citizens of Lee County, Mississippi, who were excited about the potential for growth in the area. The community was poised to become a cornerstone of the furniture manufacturing industry, and these citizens wanted to make sure that the growth was managed well–that we maintained the “small town feeling” while having “big city opportunity.” Part of what we now call the “Tupelo Spirit” fostered a sense of volunteerism and giving, from the highest paid corporate executive to the minimum wage line worker. There were many worthwhile local agencies serving local citizens in the growing Tupelo and Lee County area, and each individual should be able to learn about and support the work being done by these agencies.

The first meetings of what was then known as “Community Chest” were held with only about twelve board members and a recording secretary. The total budget for the organization was just over $100,000, with $77,624 in allocations given to agencies serving clients in Lee County, Mississippi. There was also a small amount budgeted for office expenses and reserves for absorbing pledges that were uncollectible.

Since those early days, we have grown into one of the most well-known and well-respected charities in our area. In 2007, we received the highly-regarded status of being an officially accredited charity by the Better Business Bureau in our state. We have undergone two name changes to further extend and specify the areas in which we serve.

Now known as United Way of Northeast Mississippi, we continue to foster the spirit of our founding fathers to ensure that every person in our region has the opportunity to live a great life. We invest in programs and agencies in the areas of Academic Success, Family Stability, and Health & Wellness — the building blocks of a good life. As a leader in the community, we also convene community stakeholders to tackle the community issues that affect all of us and to innovate new solutions to old problems.

Our Financials

For detailed United Way of Northeast Mississippi financial information, please view the documents below. Feel free to contact us if you have any further questions regarding financials or policies.

2020 Audited Financial Statements

Form W-9

Privacy Policy

Diversity Policy

United Way is committed to financial responsibility and transparency. We have had the honor of receiving the following certifications for our financial accountability.